Sanitation, not celebration, is the heart of World Toilet Day.
2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with feces. That’s what makes November 19 worth talking about.
November 19 is World Toilet Day. You probably don’t have plans on your calendar. But you should.
WTD calls attention to the 3.5 billion people around the world who don’t have toilets for proper sanitation and disposal of their waste.
If you’re following this blog or really any of our social media, you know we have no problem with potty humor or more serious discussions about the water cycle or wastewater treatment. But WTD is about more than that.
RELATED NEWS: Common diseases associated with sanitation, via WHO
As its mission statement points out, “World Toilet Day is not just about toilet humor, or an attempt to make toilets sexy. World Toilet Day has a serious purpose: it aims to stimulate dialogue about sanitation and break the taboo that still surrounds this issue. In addition, it supports advocacy that highlights the profound impact of the sanitation crisis in a rigorous manner, and seeks to bring to the forefront the health and emotional consequences, as well as the economic impact of inadequate sanitation.”
The Sewer District has been in the clean-water business since 1972 where we have helped reduce pollution and bring a nearly dead river and unhealthy Great Lake back to life.
Combine that with a 25-year program to reduce bacteria in Lake Erie and all sorts of infrastructure work, it makes sense that we would support World Toilet Day to bring appreciation to the clean-water and sanitation access we enjoy — while billions of people suffer without it.
What are some things you can do for World Toilet Day? Here are a few to get you thinking.
- Share a post about #WorldToiletDay
- Learn more from organizations like worldtoilet.org and worldtoiletday.org
- Talk about it. Make it a part of conversation.
- Donate. Find an organization that supports sanitation efforts.
- Change behavior. We can consider some of the sewer problems closer to home. What can you do to be more sustainable?
Updated November 2023
