103
Building Toilets
Human waste (feces and urine) can pollute water, food, and soil with germs and
worms, leading to serious health problems (see pages 51 to 58). The safe disposal
of human waste (sanitation) by building and maintaining toilets and washing
hands prevents the spread of germs and is necessary for good health.
Whether your community uses pit toilets, toilets that turn human waste
into fertilizer (ecological sanitation), toilets that flush human wastes and water
(sewage), or another type of toilet, the main goal is to prevent human waste from
contaminating drinking water, food, and our hands. Just as important as a safe
and comfortable toilet is a way to wash hands after using it. Safe toilets and
hand washing together can prevent most of the illnesses that come from germs
in human waste.
Poorly built toilets and sewage systems are a major cause of illness and
groundwater contamination. As clean water becomes more scarce, disposing
of human waste in ways that do not cause more water contamination becomes
increasingly important.