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toilet

A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting position popular in Europe and North America with a toilet seat, with additional considerations for those with disabilities, or for a squatting posture more popular in Asia (see squat toilet). In urban areas, flush toilets are usually connected to a sewer system that leads to septic tanks in isolated areas. The waste is known as blackwater and the combined effluent including other sources is sewage. Dry toilets are connected to a pit, removable container, composting chamber, or other storage and treatment device, including urine diversion with a urine-diverting toilet.
The technology used for modern toilets varies. Toilets are commonly made of ceramic (porcelain), concrete, plastic, or wood. Newer toilet technologies include dual flushing, low flushing, toilet seat warming, self-cleaning, female urinals and waterless urinals. Japan is known for its toilet technology. Airplane toilets are specially designed to operate in the air. The need to maintain anal hygiene post-defecation is universally recognized and toilet paper (often held by a toilet roll holder), which may also be used to wipe the vulva after urination, is widely used (as well as bidets).
In private homes, depending on the region and style, the toilet may exist in the same bathroom as the sink, bath, and shower. Another option is to have one room for body washing (also called "bathroom") and a separate one for the toilet and handwashing sink (toilet room). Public toilets (restrooms) consist of one or more toilets (and commonly single urinals or trough urinals) which are available for use by the general public. Products like urinal blocks and toilet blocks help maintain the smell and cleanliness of toilets. Toilet seat covers are sometimes used. Portable toilets (frequently chemical "porta johns") may be brought in for large and temporary gatherings.
Historically, sanitation has been a concern from the earliest stages of human settlements. However, many poor households in developing countries use very basic, and often unhygienic, toilets - and nearly one billion people have no access to a toilet at all; they must openly defecate and urinate. Or else they must resort to a "flying toilet": a plastic bag. These issues can lead to the spread of diseases transmitted via the fecal-oral route, or the transmission of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. Therefore, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 wants to "achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation".

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  1. P

    Cracks around rim jets on toilet bowl

    Hi guys. I noticed when I was cleaning the toilet the other day that there are some large cracks just under the rim jet area of my toilet bowl. The toilet itself is old, I've not noticed it before, but I dont usually go looking inside the toilet much, just pop some bleach up there etc. The...
  2. U

    Sealing side of toilet cistern

    I have fitted this brass float valve to my toilet cistern. Obviously the inlet is the same level as the overflow pipe so it needs to be water tight. The inlet pipe is not flexible and enters the cistern at a slight angle to the side of the cistern, the washer I used is not squishy. The result...
  3. CCANON

    Drain blockage downstairs toilet twice in 6 months

    Hi We have been in our property for about 6 months. It was built in 2019. After about a month the downstairs toilet was blocked so we called Dyno-rod who did their stuff and about £200 later it was fixed! 5 months later and it has happened again - I can't afford to keep paying for the fix...
  4. M

    installing toilet water valve, hoping for advice

    I have two toilet water valves to install. I'm new to this but have watched enough videos to think I can do it. Both water valves are standard turn off sweat valves that have been soldered on. One has at least two inches of exposed copper pipe extending beyond the wall flange and the other has...
  5. d36csr

    Mysterious Toilet Blockage

    Hi there, I have a commercial customer who asked me a few months ago to investigate a toilet that kept blocking. They'd just had the blockage professionally pressure washed out, but wanted me to see what I could do to avoid it happening again. On inspection, I found that the soil pipe leading...
  6. P

    How fix new fill valve plastic part?

    Hi, one of the two hooks on my toilet Torbeck fill valve has broken, and so the float can't connect. I've bought a new fill valve, however it's incredibly difficult to access underneath and replace the whole valve. I therefore just want to replace the plastic part that has the two hooks...
  7. G

    New toilet waste question

    Hi all, I had this installed by a plumber the other day and if I’m honest, I’m not happy really. All in flexis when i think it could have been rigid and solvent welded . Then a dodgy installed clip at the bend. I kinda went with it at the time but it doesn’t seem right and I’m going to call...
  8. H

    URGENT Looking for Beta Cistern Washer for old 1930's Armitage Shanks Toilet.

    Hi, I need a Beta Cistern Washer for an old 1930's Armitage Shanks Toilet. Nobody has one. Can someone help. Or know anywhere that I might get it ? Any help much appreciated.. Hazel...
  9. R

    Strange brown substance coming up into toilet bowl

    Hi all, I'm hoping someone on here will be able to help me with an issue I'm having at home. We've just returned from a week long holiday and have noticed that one of our toilets (a catalano toilet on a geberit frame) seems to have brown water coming up into the toilet bowl. When we flush, the...
  10. P

    En-suite toilet plumbing - advice required.

    Hi, all. Advice required. I want to install an En-suite toilet and wash basin. It's in a guest room and will only see occasional use. There's no room for a shower pan, but I can squeeze in one of those combined basin and toilet units. My question is - can I install a toilet and basin where...
  11. Alexob1

    Back to wall toilet with side waste

    I’d like to replace the toilet in my house with a back to wall one. The plan is to build a panel on stud work to conceal the cistern and then use the existing soil pipe which goes out to the right. All the back to wall toilets on Victoria Plum have a cross through the side waste which has...
  12. L

    Fitting a Macerator behind a CC Toilet

    Hi Guys I am at the design stage of having a En-Suite built and have an issue that I cannot seem to resolve. For long and complex reasons I have to have a macerator and that needs to sit behind a close coupled toilet. this will take the waste from a sink, shower and toilet. Saniflow say I need...
  13. L

    Fitting a macerator behind a CC toilet

    Grudfos do a unit called Sololift WC3 that has a recessed front that suggests it might fit behind better but as I cannot get to speak to anyone at Grundfos other than an automated messaging system, I cannot confirm this. So my question is, have any plumbers on the forum had issues fitting...
  14. B

    Toilet has large gap between it and tiled floor

    I have a potential issue with a toilet on a newly tiled floor and looking for some advice on acceptable tolerances and what to do. The back of the toilet sits at about 2mm from floor and the sides vary between 2mm - 16mm. It is a closed back on toilet base and approximately 190mm to 200mm from...
  15. FloowToilet

    How do I tighten this toilet seat?

    Just moved into a new place and the toilet seat is super loose. Spent about 2 hours trying to figure out how to tighten this toilet seat. I did try unscrewing it from the bottom, took it out and inspected it but couldn't see any obvious way to tighten. Tried screwing the bottom screws in tigher...
  16. P

    Closed couple toilet

    Our builder set up the soil pipe and supply for the closed couple toilet but says it's actually impossible to connect to the wall securely (ie he says he can't get bolts in). It's silicone'd to the floor which he is claiming is fine. Is this right? There must be a way even if in means breaking...
  17. D

    Rough toilet pan outlet?

    Hey all. I'm installing a new toilet (Bunnings special...) in my ensuite. I seemingly had it all connected properly, but when I was testing for leaks by flushing over and over it started leaking.. It seems like it's leaking where the rubber vario bend seal goes over the china toilet pan outlet...
  18. V

    TOTO WC - Hand Shower

    Hello, I live in Central London and have the TOTO systems installed in my house. I need to get a separate HAND SHOWER installed as I am not happy with the spray that is built into it. Anyone who has worked on the TOTO WC and can do this, Thanks Vik
  19. T

    Internal soil pipe to toilet

    Hi firstly no expert so apologies in advance but have a little bit of knowledge ( sometimes dangerous I know, lol) The wife is wanting to change the house around a bit, refurbishing old en-suite which is at front of house but does not have a toilet at the moment, so obviously would like one. So...
  20. L

    Need help finding a particular toilet/ vanity unit

    Hi, I'm in the process of buying the fittings for my new bathroom and I'm trying to find a combo toilet/ vanity unit. The one i'm looking for is the darky navy one the second image on the gallery on mabathrooms .co.uk . I spoke to the guy who owns ma bathrooms and he said that the customer...
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