Taking Conservation to Far or Out of The Mouths of Babes

Wow. I think that is taking conservation a little bit too far. I recognize the need to save on water usage and am respectful of that, however, you are correct that it isn't sanitary for to let a toilet go that long without flushing. Besides, flushing a toilet doesn't waste that much water...it is running the water continuously in the sink that does more harm. Maybe it is more of a money issue with this little girls mom, but even then, I can't see it costing that much to flush a toilet. Hmmm, what did your friend say to the little girl in response? I don't know what I would have done, other than go in and flush the toilet.

I don't practice this at my house, but i know many who do. the rule is "if it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down". Urine is actually perfectly sterile. Most of the time when you are in a public bathroom, the cleanest place is the toilet seat, because it regularly is sprayed with microbeads of urine. I know it's gross to think about, but it is true. It poses no health risks to young children -- as long as all that is allowed to sit in the bowl is urine -- and it really does save money and preserve clean water. every time you flush, a treatment facility has to process that water, wasting electricity and valuable filtration space. It's gross, but it makes sense.

Well I personally will pay the extra to flush, because this is how I taught. For others I know exactly where this came from. When an area is in a drought and lack of water is a concern this is one of the first things the Governor of that state will mention. Do not flush unless absolutely necessary. If a person gets in the habit of not flushing because of droughts then it just sticks and they continue to do this so as not to cause another drought. I live in an area that bans the use of water at different times during the summer months, but I will continue to flush no matter what.

I know that is disgusting but I can add to it. I had a friend or rather an acquaintance and she was always penny pinching. Not alone would she tell her children not to flush the toilet, but all hell would break lose if they let the bath water out before everybody had their bath. Their was five in the family and they all used the same bath water in order to save on electricity. I don't visit her anymore as I would be afraid of catching something.

I used to babysit for some people when I was a teenager. The first time I babysat one of the kids said when I came out of the bathroom, "did you poop?" I said no, why? She said cause you don't have to flush unless you poop. Mamma will flush it when she comes home and goes to bed. I thought that was strange. I don't really think it saves that much water to not flush. It certainly can't be good to have old urine sitting in the toilet for god knows how long....eeewwwww

hhhmmm, wonder what Al Gore does? wonder if his $2,000+/- monthly utility bill includes flushes?

Well I think it is so unsanitry and it must stink up the house too. I know water is very expensive and we should not waste it, but there are toilets that use only half the tank and other gadgets that you can insert in your toilet tank that save water. I have heard of people who do not flush the toilet if they have to pee in the night so they don't wake other people up, but even that would bother me, if I was the first one in the morning to use the toilet.

Yes that is very unhealthy and I certainly do not agree that it should be like that. She is putting the Children at risk as so many Germs will accumilate in that toilet.

theres nothing wrong with that at all...When I was in Labouire St.Lucia I stayed with "family" and thats how they do it too...you only flush when its really yellow OR if you've had a poop...

I would say very unhealthy and Water really dont cost that much. To depends on the womens money how much she hs but I would think that flushing wouldnt hurt her budget to much

your right its not healthy,to have urine sitting in a tolet.it ashame a little girl have to say those things that her mom is teaching her.it dont cost that much to flush tolets.it would cost more if a child got sick from smelling it all the time.

I agree,it can't be healthy.....if people want to teach their kids things like this,that's fine but you have to also teach them how to behave outside the home.....explain to them that it's ok to do this at home,just not at other peoples homes

When I was 9 or 10 we lived in a trailer wile our house was being built on our property. We had to haul our own water and use it very very sparingly! We lived there for about 10 months while our hoome was built and our well was drilled. We took 5 minute showers, Did not flush unless we went #2 and alot of other things as well I won't hurt anything, It is just a way of conserving water,no harm in it. ( a little gross but not harmful)

If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down. Ever heard that before? Flushing the toilet uses several gallons of water each time you do it. The health risks of letting urine sit in the toilet are minute considering that chances are, you are someone else will be going again shortly.

Flushing does use a lot of water, actually. The comment on response #1 is a good tip for using less water.((brick)) They also make toilets that use only a small fraction of water, in comparisson to most. My Mom has one and she said it saves her a lot of money in water bills. I'm unsure of the health risks, if any. My concern would be about the feces that are being splashed up onto my bum, EEeewww!

When I was very young, I remember neighbours doing that, as they were very poor. It's not something I would ever practise, unless quite desperate to save water. We are on water restrictions, and never has this been suggested.

Flushing does use a lot of water. If there is going to be someone else to use the facility within the next hour or so, there is really no harm. As another poster has already posted, urine is sterile and doesn't readily grown bacteria due to its pH. The only thing that not flushing would cause might be an odor! In times of draught, not flushing unless someone has a BM is standard.

Well yuck! Sometimes during the summer when our well is at the lowest we will save the bath water and use that to flush with but we still flush everytime.

"If it's yellow then let it mellow. If it plops then let it drop"...not my words, but something I heard long ago.

Ewwww, that sounds real gross! I have to say I really think thats taking conservation WAY too far! I do believe we all should do our bit, including recycling where we can and so on, but not to the point that it's going to be a health risk.