Catching up on casual reading this am and came across this article in Real Simple, September issue. Is it OK to sit on a public toilet? Most people say absolutely not, but epidemiologist say, go ahead, a public toilet isn’t the dirtiest thing in your (potential) life. The takeaway: “The risk of the seat harboring bad bugs that could cause illness or infection is essentially zero.” WHOA. When water managers talk about recycling “purified” water, wastewater that has been treated then re-treated as drinking water, there is usually a chorus of YUCK. We call it the “yuck factor.” The reaction is visceral even though the water fine. Experts telling people that the water is fine is as effective as the epidemiologist telling us, “have a seat.” I’m good with the water, but thank you, in a public place, I’ll stand while I drink it.
