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Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human

The Struggle for Sanitation Justice in the United States

PHLUSH is celebrating World Toilet Day with a new website section on Sanitation Justice in the United States. Sanitation Justice requires everyone to have a safe place to meet their bodily needs and an accompanying system that treats human excrement to protect the health of people and the environment.

Native American, Black, and Latinix communities have been left out of infrastructure improvements, which have not been distributed fairly. There’s a history of building wastewater treatment plants adjacent to low-income communities. Probelms with storm surges, heavy rainfull, combined sewer overflows fall disproprotionately on these already marginalized neighborhoods. As for rural homeowners, many cannot afford new septic systems or costly repairs. State or local regulations may leave older systems out of compliance, triggering fines that compound financial burdens. Newer policies are likely to disallow sustainable, resilient, inexpensive systems, such as dry toilets with compost treatment.

People experiencing homelessness without available restrooms face perpetual injustice, which is exacerbated by the criminalization of open urination and defecation. Sanitation Justice means accessibility for all. Individuals whose need “to go” comes without warning and those who need space for mobility equipment or specialized devices, find it difficult to visit places without appropriate restrooms. Shared restrooms need to welcome people of all sexual, gender, racial, or religious, identities with respect, dignity, acceptance, comfort, and safety.

A Second Evening with Laura Allen of Greywater Action

Resources: Science, Toilet Technologies, Talks, & Conferences

Greywater Action Online Education. Kailash Ecovillage Ecological Sanitation System. Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard for the Built Environment - WE Stand. A Conversation on Science Communication with Lina Zeldovich and Bryn Nelson “They write about poop. So what are the rest of us so freaked out about? (video). Current wastewater treatment targets are insufficient to protect surface water quality. By Edward R. Jones et al. October 2022. Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance Newsletter for Q4 Federal Water Tap for Nov 21, 2022. PHLUSH Disaster Sanitation Resource List.

About the Housing+Sanitation Learning Series

Upcoming and Past Events

Got Ideas? Got Questions? About workforce housing? Email Kelsey or visit the Housing Solutions Network. About sanitation? Email Carol or visit PHLUSH.

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