It’s one of several household fixtures you use every day, but you probably don’t think much about the toilet unless you’re in the bathroom. How did this humble fixture come to be, and what contributed to the development of products like portable toilets? Below, find an overview of this device’s evolution through history.

Origins of the Modern Toilet

While ancient peoples used simple pipes, pans, and sewer systems to dispose of human waste thousands of years ago, the creation of the contemporary toilet that society recognizes today is attributed to Sir John Harington, a 16^th-century godson of Queen Elizabeth I. His invention was so successful that the queen herself installed one. They called it the “Ajax,” and its premise was straightforward: It forced waste into a subterranean cesspool. However, there was no convenient way to mask the odor, so people largely dismissed it.

The Flush Goes Public

Up through the 19^th century, people typically relieved themselves in a hole in the ground or a pot. Advancements in plumbing, however, signaled a new era of the loo. Englishman George Jennings installed flush toilets in the Crystal Palace for The Great Exhibition of 1851. The sanitary method of waste disposal garnered instant praise and exaltation; dozens of towns throughout England were suddenly furnished with them. The design was so functional that it eventually became a mainstay in other parts of Europe — including Berlin, Paris, and Florence.

Innovation in Toilet Design

Toilets in the Victorian era were not merely contraptions but elegant works of art made from high-end materials like copper and marble with glazed finishes. As the years passed, water closets grew more functional and less beautiful, but their popularity and usefulness did not wane. It became a matter of extreme convenience to have a commode close at hand. Portable toilets became mainstays during World War II because they epitomized utility. Later, advancements in the port-a-potty helped prevent odors and improved the overall experience of going “outside,” especially in environments like parties and weddings.

Today, both standard and portable toilets are everyday conveniences that serve critical roles in everyone’s lives. A toilet is available in nearly every building. If builders can’t fit one into a property or there’s a large outdoor event, a portable toilet rental satisfies the need.

Nothing says convenience like a high-quality portable toilet. The team at Apollo Portable Toilets & Pumping Service, LLC, in Mexico, MO, is committed to your satisfaction. That’s why they provide portable toilet rentals for everything from your backyard event to your construction project. No matter what you need, from they have it — including hand wash stations to promote sanitation. Visit them online to learn more about their products, or call (573) 581-6306 to request a quote.