The search for a clean waste-disposal method is as old as human history. From the first earthenware pan to today’s portable toilets, the evolution of the bathroom throne spans thousands of years and almost as many variations. Here’s a look at how the toilet began and how it became what it is today.

Ancient Waste Disposal

Nobody knows exactly who invented the first toilet. Evidence points to both the Scots, who built drains into the walls of stone huts in 3000 B.C., and the Greeks, who used earthenware pans in 1700 B.C. The Romans are often credited with the first public toilets. For them, using the loo was a social scene. People would sit on keyhole-shaped drains and chat with their neighbors. This is a bit more civil than in Medieval England, where people often threw the contents of their “potties” out the window and onto the street. If you were rich, you might use a garderobe, a drain that channeled waste down to the castle moat.

Modern Thrones

Credit for the first modern flushing toilet goes to Sir John Harrington, who invented the first basic water closet in 1592 with a small pipe of water running through to flush the waste. However, his invention was all but forgotten until 1775, when Alexander Cummings invented a design that kept the stench out of the house through a small, s-shaped pipe.

The next advance in modern sanitation came in 18^th century London when disease from polluted water became so severe that the government decreed every house must contain a water closet. In 1861, Thomas Crapper was hired by the King of England to install several of his modern flushing models, and the trend quickly caught on.

The familiar model of a toilet wasn’t designed until the 20^th century, which also brought toilet paper rolls, lifted water reservoirs, and flushing valves. Now, modern toilets are required to be low-flush, and many public toilets are automatic to reduce the spread of germs. Even portable toilets are now clean and modern, with a self-contained water supply and flushing capabilities — a long way from the days of throwing a bucket into the street.

Econ-O-Johns provides quality portable toilet and shower station rentals to Waterloo, Belleville, and Columbia, IL. Their staff will help you decide which portable toilet rental is correct for your needs, from flushing units to hand wash stations and handicapped-accessible units. Ask about their weekly and monthly discounted rates or special event pricing. For more information, call (618) 939-3001 or visit them online.