Topic

Name

Date

Question/Answer

Greek

Toilets

Greek Mythology

Pat

Jarvis

24/01/07

Are the sewers constructed to take toilet paper?  If not, can you explain why please ?  I have been told that the reason is that sewers were constructed many years ago with small-bore pipes—hence the problem.

If the sewers are new to accommodate the premises then I presume there will no longer be a problem??

Kefalonian Homes

27/01/07

We’ve done a lot of research into this strangely Greek phenomenon and have come to the conclusion that loos should be included in the genre ‘Greek Mythology.  

The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of soil pipes are the same diameter as in the rest of the world.  All new buildings, hotels and even the very latest Greek international Superferries are all equipped with  large-bore soil pipes—and yet all still request that only human waste be flushed away.   The ubiquitous ’toilet-bin’ is supplied for disposal of anything else i.e. toilet paper, sanitary towels, tampons, disposable nappies, condoms, paper towels etc.

So what are the roots of this strange custom ?  We have a theory:

Being a hot Mediterranean country Greece has limited, though sufficient, water supplies.  It is at the lower end of the European economic ladder with (except its three main cities) many remote villages and farms.  Lack of government funding meant that most out-of-town homes had no access to mains sewers:  cess-tanks and soakaways are the order of the day.  

Now, statistics show that the average number of loo visits per person is around 200/month.  The average number of sheets of loo paper used is 6-7 per visit. In an attempt to save water most newer loos worldwide have a flushing capacity of about two gallons. (It used to be up to eight !)

Thus, in a year, a family of four uses around 67,200 sheets of loo paper—that’s a tank-clogging 420 rolls per year. Add to that other paper and cotton-wool sanitary products that Westerners are used to flushing away and there is barely enough room for the human waste products for which the tank was designed.

Let’s have a look at the advantages of the ‘Greek way’.

Water is metered and every drop costs money.  Less water is needed to flush just human waste. Many Greeks leave a large rock in the cistern to further reduce the amount used per flush.  This can save the family nearly 10,000 litres of water per year.  

Statistics show that 60% of people look at the paper after they wipe (sorry about this.. but there is a point),  At least one is assured that the cleansing is complete when having to put the used paper in the bin.  (Think of this—-if you covered your hands with peanut butter  could you guarantee wiping it all off with dry paper IF YOU WERE BLINDFOLDED ?!!  Doctors will agree that several medical conditions can be diagnosed early by awareness of ones bodily functions.

So, the Greek method saves water (less needed for flushing) and saves considerable costs on septic tank emptying and soak-away clogging.

In the larger towns the sewage works require less capital investment when dealing only with human waste.  As refuse is collected every day, or other day, all soiled paper/cotton goods are incinerated very quickly.

In a way the Greeks have it right !!

Please also see previous question re plumbing and sewage by clicking here.