Other countries, other customs – and WCs are no exception

When we travel to distant countries, often the biggest culture shock we experience is when we need to visit the bathroom. Buckets, hoses, remote controls… some of the hygienic apparatus we are then confronted with abroad requires a little getting used to. From South America to the Middle East, and as far as India and Japan – we take a look at the sanitary practices in other cultures. Everyone needs to ‘take care of business’, as it were, but the approach to doing so differs widely.

Surprises big and small: a traveller’s bathroom experiences
Going with the flow – cistern or flush valve?
SCHELL products around the world

Surprises big and small: a traveller’s bathroom experiences

A trip to the loo around the world can be much more varied than one would expect. In some South American countries, for example, an entirely novel WC experience awaits visitors from Europe. The sanitary situation presents a particular set of challenges here, as piping cross-sections are much narrower than in Germany. As a result, the system can get clogged up much more easily, which is why toilet paper must never be flushed down the toilet. Instead, it is collected in waste bins and disposed of separately.

Things get decidedly more athletic in many Asian countries and parts of the Middle East. Squat toilets – which are tub-like ceramic fittings recessed into the ground – are still in widespread use here. The toilet is flushed using a flush valve or water from a bucket. Alternatively, a hose may be provided that is connected to a standpipe next to the toilet with a rotating flush valve. This kind of toilet can still be encountered even in parts of Europe.

India was long seen as playing catch-up in terms of sanitary hygiene. A high incidence of outdoor defecation, endemic cholera and polluted rivers all painted a negative picture of the world’s largest subcontinent. Things have been changing since the mid-2010s, however, with the government funding the installation of 100 million new toilets.

SCHELL-Design-Handbrause-Bidet_SCHELL-design-hand-shower-bidet

In Arab countries, bidet hand showers are often used for sanitary purposes instead of toilet paper after using the toilet. These showers are typically installed next to the toilet and often serve the dual purpose of flushing the toilet. The use of these hand showers requires the strict observance of certain standards. In Germany, for example, their use is completely forbidden. In many South America countries, the traditional porcelain bidet is often used instead. This low ‘seated wash basin’ consists of a porcelain bowl equipped with a fitting. Bidets are usually located next to the toilet and can be found in almost every Italian household, for example. Many people in Germany first encounter a bidet when holidaying in France, Italy or Portugal – and typically ignore it studiously.

Probably the most luxurious toilet experience awaits globetrotters in Japan. High-tech with remote controls is de rigueur in the land of the rising sun. As one example, the bidet-toilet combo often used here raises its lid automatically when the user enters the cubicle. The seat is pre-heated and a shower nozzle gets everything squeaky clean. After this intimate shower, the user is then dried by a gentle upward breeze. The correct use of toilets in Japan is assured if you take the trouble to learn the corresponding Japanese characters. Often, a remote control will be provided for triggering the flush: the character 大 stands for a large flush and 小 means a small flush. Due to their comfort and convenience, bidet-toilet combinations are also becoming more popular in Germany.

Going with the flow – cistern or flush valve?

Water is almost always used for flushing – with drinking water used in the West. Research into grey water flushing is also ongoing. Hong Kong typically uses seawater for flushing, while India also uses reclaimed water in hotels and large residential blocks. Two sorts of flushing system are also used: the cistern and the flush valve. With a cistern, the retained water is released suddenly when the flush button is pressed and this water is used for the flush process.

SCHELL-Betaetigungsplatte-MONTUS-PLACE-MONTUS-TOWER-Unterputz-Spuelkasten_SCHELL-operating-panel-MONTUS-PLACE-MONTUS-TOWER-concealed-WC-cistern

A traditional flush valve makes use of the static water pressure in the mains line: when the lever or push-button is pressed, the system releases the flush water from the pipe. The system is controlled by an integrated cartridge, whose mechanism ensures the valve closes again automatically.

Aufputz-WC-und-Urinal-Druckspueler-SCHELLOMAT-von-SCHELL_exposed-WC-and-urinal-flush-valve-SCHELLOMAT

SCHELL products around the world

SCHELL has long enjoyed a global reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality sanitary equipment. As a result, our products can be found in sanitary facilities all over the world. The Amar Tech Park in India, for example, has installed a bidet hand shower as well as the MODUS Trend E HD-K contactless wash basin tap plus the COMPACT II concealed WC flush valve with a SCHELL EDITION ECO operating panel. In a hospital in Kuwait, we find the COMPACT II concealed WC flush valve with the SCHELL EDITION ECO operating panel as well as the EDITION E Manual WC control. A large selection of other projects from around the world featuring SCHELL products can be found on our website.