4 ms·

Eh, when someone says "it sure feels strange, and very difficult to get used," it doesn't have to be negative. You can take it as a "character flaw" jibe, but i

Eh, when someone says "it sure feels strange, and very difficult to get used," it doesn't have to be negative. You can take it as a "character flaw" jibe, but it's really just an observation. source: American that is still in shock by septic tank users that have to throw their feces-paper in the trashcan.

Crisco 9y ago
I lived in the Dominican Republic for a few years, and it was a little weird to me at first, but after a while you get used to putting dirty paper in the trash. I never once had to deal with a clogged toilet. After moving back to the USA it was just as weird to put paper in the toilets (though drinking the same water you bathe in was the weirdest part). I think people exaggerate the weirdness and difficulty of adjustment, because in both instances it took me a week at most to get used to either way.
- adventured 9y ago
  > though drinking the same water you bathe in was the weirdest part Surely you mean the water that enters the house via plumbing, is used for both bathing and drinking from via a faucet. As opposed to drinking bath water. Is the weirdness of that because they don't drink tap water in the Dominican?
  - BeeOnRope 9y ago
    > Is the weirdness of that because they don't drink tap water in the Dominican? Yes, almost nowhere in Central America would you (or locals) drink water from the tap. Things like brushing your teeth are a grey area.
  - wstrange 9y ago
    Unless you are on well, you don't drink tap water in most places in the DR
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  The fact that the vast majority of people don't travel more than a week or two (if ever) probably contributes to the lack of perspective.
tzs 9y ago
> source: American that is still in shock by septic tank users that have to throw their feces-paper in the trashcan. What? Where/when/why is that necessary?
- andrewwharton 9y ago
  Greece/present day/crap plumbing. https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/greece/toilets-in-greece-water-safety https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/greece/toil...
- jjeaff 9y ago
  When you have an undersized septic tank, this can become necessary. But not necessary for most.
stephengillie 9y ago
I grew up near Tacoma, WA with a septic tank. Every house on the street has one. We had to have a septic truck come out and pump it every few years. Otherwise it was just like sewer. They did put sewers in about 15 years after the houses were built, and mandated hooking into it on the next septic tank pumping. But the tanks are left underground, as removing them would leave a 20 foot hole in the backyard of each house. In short, what's this about tossing your stool in the trash?
- poulsbohemian 9y ago
  When I lived in a house with a septic tank, I was shocked at how much of a non-issue it was. Even with a family, the tank really didn't need to be pumped more than every 5+ years at the most, and was very inexpensive. Never backed up or had any issues.
jjeaff 9y ago
That's only if your septic tank is improperly sized or otherwise malfunctioning. Around 20% of homes in America have their own septic tank. And essentially all of them flush their toilet paper like everyone else.
- ridgeguy 9y ago
  My home is on a septic tank. We flush TP. No problem so far (18 years).

Crisco 9y ago

I lived in the Dominican Republic for a few years, and it was a little weird to me at first, but after a while you get used to putting dirty paper in the trash. I never once had to deal with a clogged toilet. After moving back to the USA it was just as weird to put paper in the toilets (though drinking the same water you bathe in was the weirdest part). I think people exaggerate the weirdness and difficulty of adjustment, because in both instances it took me a week at most to get used to either way.

adventured 9y ago
> though drinking the same water you bathe in was the weirdest part Surely you mean the water that enters the house via plumbing, is used for both bathing and drinking from via a faucet. As opposed to drinking bath water. Is the weirdness of that because they don't drink tap water in the Dominican?
- BeeOnRope 9y ago
  > Is the weirdness of that because they don't drink tap water in the Dominican? Yes, almost nowhere in Central America would you (or locals) drink water from the tap. Things like brushing your teeth are a grey area.
- wstrange 9y ago
  Unless you are on well, you don't drink tap water in most places in the DR
mixmastamyk 9y ago
The fact that the vast majority of people don't travel more than a week or two (if ever) probably contributes to the lack of perspective.

tzs 9y ago

> source: American that is still in shock by septic tank users that have to throw their feces-paper in the trashcan. What? Where/when/why is that necessary?

andrewwharton 9y ago
Greece/present day/crap plumbing. https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/greece/toilets-in-greece-water-safety https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/greece/toil...
jjeaff 9y ago
When you have an undersized septic tank, this can become necessary. But not necessary for most.

stephengillie 9y ago

I grew up near Tacoma, WA with a septic tank. Every house on the street has one. We had to have a septic truck come out and pump it every few years. Otherwise it was just like sewer. They did put sewers in about 15 years after the houses were built, and mandated hooking into it on the next septic tank pumping. But the tanks are left underground, as removing them would leave a 20 foot hole in the backyard of each house. In short, what's this about tossing your stool in the trash?

poulsbohemian 9y ago
When I lived in a house with a septic tank, I was shocked at how much of a non-issue it was. Even with a family, the tank really didn't need to be pumped more than every 5+ years at the most, and was very inexpensive. Never backed up or had any issues.

jjeaff 9y ago

That's only if your septic tank is improperly sized or otherwise malfunctioning. Around 20% of homes in America have their own septic tank. And essentially all of them flush their toilet paper like everyone else.

ridgeguy 9y ago
My home is on a septic tank. We flush TP. No problem so far (18 years).