Non-fiction

The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters

Name: The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters
Author: Rose George

Rose George

30 minAudio9 insights

What you'll learn

•The historical development and importance of sanitation systems in public health.
•Cultural attitudes and technological innovations related to toilets worldwide.
•The scale and impact of the global sanitation crisis on health and society.
•Innovative community-driven and technological solutions to sanitation challenges.
•Sanitation issues specific to urban slums and marginalized communities.
•Emerging trends in sanitation including environmental sustainability and space technology.
•The critical role of political will, social change, and awareness in improving sanitation.

Who should read this

✓Public health professionals and policymakers
✓Environmental and sanitation engineers
✓Social activists and community organizers
✓Students and scholars of global health and development

About this book

An eye-opening investigation into the global sanitation crisis, its cultural dimensions, technological innovations, and urgent need for sustainable solutions.

Did You Know?

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The average human spends about three years of their life going to the toilet.

2 more facts available in the app

Audio Summary

Section 1

The Hidden World Beneath Our Feet: Sanitation's Silent Foundation

3:45

10 Sections

Preview: The Hidden World Beneath Our Feet: Sanitation's Silent Foundation

Imagine the labyrinthine underworld beneath bustling cities—brick tunnels stretching for miles, carrying away the byproducts of millions of lives. This hidden infrastructure is the silent guardian of public health, yet few give it a thought. The men and women who venture into these dark, damp sewers face dangers unimaginable to most. Toxic gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide lurk in the air, invisible yet deadly, capable of killing by suffocation. Rainstorms can transform calm streams of sewage into raging torrents, threatening to sweep away anyone in their path. Even with modern equipment—hard hats with lights, protective suits, breathing apparatuses—the risks remain. These workers, often called flushers, maintain the flow that keeps cities clean and safe.

Joseph Bazalgette’s vision in the 19th century changed the fate of London. Designing a sewer system for a population of 3 million, he built it with 25% extra capacity, anticipating growth that would far exceed expectations. His monumental work, using over 318 million bricks, helped end recurring cholera outbreaks and drastically cut child mortality.

Yet, today, the same system struggles under the weight of over 13 million residents. Aging pipes, blockages caused by fat and other debris, and insufficient maintenance threaten to undo the progress made. Sewage backups flood homes, and environmental pollution persists. Sewer workers continue to battle these challenges, armed with humor and resilience, often invisible and underappreciated.

Understanding this hidden world reveals how sanitation is not merely about toilets but about the complex, dangerous systems that protect our health and dignity. It reminds us that the foundations of modern life rest on bricks, water, and the courage of those who keep the flow going.

As we emerge from the depths of the sewers, we turn our gaze to the fascinating evolution of toilets themselves—technological marvels and cultural symbols that tell stories of human progress and attitudes towards the most basic of bodily functions.