I am wondering where toucan purchase this in Corfu? Given that there is problems with septic tanks in private homes, not to mention tavernas etc, this might help?
Message posted by binary_finary on 23 April 2010 at 2:54am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I must say this very quietly as
1. It's bad advice and
2. It's a bit disgusting (so don't read if you're eating);
but toilet paper breaks down far more easily than the average "movement", rendering the whole 'toilet paper in the bin' idea surely a little pointless from a scientific point of view?
However, it reduces the load on the system I suppose and it's a rule to be respected.
It is however, disgusting and makes me feel slightly ill just thinking of it.
Message posted by Graham T-A on 23 April 2010 at 7:41am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Quote: Originally posted by jrk on 23 April 2010
I am wondering where toucan purchase this in Corfu?
Given that there is problems with septic tanks in
private homes, not to mention
tavernas etc, this might help?
What problems are these in private homes?? I can understand a problem in tavernas because of the quantity involved but I didn't know there was a problem in private homes as I am sure toilet paper is biodegradable anyway.
I heard that there used to be a problem with small bore pipes many years ago but this no longer applies to modern homes
Message posted by ElaineK (Paxos) on 23 April 2010 at 7:49am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
English folks in a modern villa in our area put all paper in the bin. They think it would be too much for the tank to handle. Maybe a sort of Greek habit now?
Just set me thinking about it. I put paper down the toilet hoping that there will not problems. I vaguely recall some one saying you can get specially fast degrading toilet paper as opposed to the bog standard
stuff. Maybe it was in relation to camping. Not sure what the bottom line is actually.
Message posted by MartynG on 23 April 2010 at 1:02pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I really don't think there is an issue - we have a septic tank in the UK (needs emptying twice a year) and a vothros in Greece. In neither place is ordenary toilet tissue a problem.
Martyn
Message posted by jrk on 23 April 2010 at 1:40pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Just had to say I have no problems when visiting Greece with the paper problems over the years and it just comes naturally to place in a bin - unfortunately when I get back to the UK it always catches me out and I end up throwing it on the floor on the first day home - ooops :)
Message posted by tully on 23 April 2010 at 7:59pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
We put paper down the toilet in our house in Corfu, I was advised to put a tablet down once a month to accelarate the break down process. You buy these in the supermarket.
Message posted by Mrs D on 23 April 2010 at 9:17pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Prompted by this string I decided today to drill a hole in the top of my votros and see how deep the water/yeuk was after 8 year, about 1 foot deep. This is almost certainly from the last few days. If after 8 years it's one foot deep how many years will it be before it fills the 7 foot (2M) hole? If it continues I will be 110 years old when it finaly fills. No Problem.
The hole is now sealed for the next 40 years and the paper will continue to go down the loo!!!
Please remember though that this is a soakaway. If you have a septic tank it will need to be emptied, probably every 6 months. We have frieds who own a small house in the middle of a greek village who pay €200 a month to have their tank emptied as it's all below their house and no soakaway.
Message posted by flynnmo on 24 April 2010 at 2:12am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Sorry, I just can't see what the problem is in putting toilet paper in a bin. You wouldn't dream of putting a disposable nappy down the toilet! I agree it's a bit strange when you're not used to it, but as someone else said, once you've done it, coming home you look for the bin! Moyra
Message posted by maggy on 24 April 2010 at 2:20am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
200 euros a month Graham, that is pricey! Why do they clean it monthly?
Trouble with putting toilet paper I'm the bin is that it attacts flys, you have there potentially disease causing bacteria as well as parasites.
Then if folks have the runs which they often do when they change diet, then it is not very pleasant for the person (mywife) cleaning the bin.
And it seems it from this strand that binning is not needed after all?
Message posted by sarah Acharavi on 24 April 2010 at 11:07am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
The trouble is, each one is different. Each area has different soil, some have been incorrectly installed...there are a number of reasons. Graham is extremely lucky but so many people are not. The holes for the soak away get clogged up with waste of one sort or another and nothing soaks away, consequently needs emptying.
In other areas where there is a lot of clay for example, or where the situation of the house means there is a lot of 'run off' water in the ground, the soak away acutally soaks in! filling up from the water in the ground around it.
One of the best things about the sewage treatment plants we have is that you can put toilet paper down the toilet (I know people who haven't built here because they thought they wouldn't be able to...everyone has their own limits!!!) and best of all, the water that comes out of it, is of a very good quality, clear, with no smell and can be used for watering the garden. In some areas, this is a godsend as we know the water situation during the summer months!
Message posted by tully on 24 April 2010 at 1:09pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
JRK, the one that gets emptied every month is in a village so not a soakaway, but a big holding tank. Most village houses have sinks outside and the water runs onto the garden and also they empty the washing machine down the olive grove via a long hosepipe so not much into the tank but being English they put everything into the tank which gets full very quickly when they are here. Due to access a small tanker is needed to take the waste to a larger tanker over several trips, hence the price.
Tully, 60 years is about how long I calculated before ours is full.
Message posted by jrk on 24 April 2010 at 2:12pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Reply from our vendor when we enquired regarding sewage before we bought our village house:-
"You asked about the age of the house, water and sewage. The ground floor was built in around 1950 and the first floor added in 1970. It was totally renovated 5 years ago. It is connected to mains water and for sewage there is a soak away septic tank. There is an access to the septic tank at the house and should you need to arrange for emptying, it costs approx €75. Having said that, since the house has been lived in (1970) the septic tank has not needed emptying."
I thought a septic tank and soakaway were two different things? I am confused now
Alison
Message posted by Graham T-A on 24 April 2010 at 5:36pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
You can get water soluble toilet paper (it doesnt dissolve immediately but only takes a few minutes) and its made for use with macerators (a pump with blades in that fits behind the toilet so you can use very small pipes).
Dont suppose you will find it on Corfu though.
A septic tank if properly set up should never need emptying as the waste degrades and eventually runs out through the soakaway outlet pipe (this is where the confusion has set in I think).
Septic tanks have an outlet pipe where excess fluid soaks away into the ground.
The problem with a lot of modern tanks is not with the set up but due to the fact that people put bleach and other chemicals down the loo that stops the aneorobic action from dissolving the waste.
I personally chuck a dead chicken or two in the tank every year to feed the microbes!
Message posted by Daniel&Sylvie on 25 April 2010 at 2:28am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
The tank may not be the only reason for avoiding paper in the toilet.
When buying an older house, check how pipes from all toilets run to the soakaway or tank. Sharp corners and long nearly horizontal pipes are suspicious.
When letting to tourists there may be guests that use lots of paper and when that all has to pass a 90 degrees joint with considerable lime settlement, it can easily get clogged.
Message posted by jrk on 25 April 2010 at 10:57am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
My house was built in 1780- not sure if toilets were installed then, however the brick sewers functioned brilliantly, always put loo paper down etc.
Unfortunately we do not know where the two vothro are, and now the house has been renovated and will have more occupants (hopefully paying decent sums of money to do so) the plumber said we needed a brand new three chamber one. It has just been completed (would rather have spent money on a pool though). I just hope that it is as successful as the old ones were.
Message posted by ChrissieB on 25 April 2010 at 5:38pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
You learn something every day! I now have a much better understanding of how sewage is managed in the villages. The use for the dead chicken really surprised me!
We are of the school that finds the bin idea disgusting so put the paper down the old but reliable toilet. The bendy pipe issue Daniel mentioned applies to us so we do take care not to put down too much at a time, and when in doubt chase it with a pailful of water. Wasteful, but better than the bin especially in town where the water requires "adjusting to..." We do explain all this to guests, which can be embarrassing but you have to tell them about the bins they will encounter when out and about anyway.
Message posted by jrk on 27 April 2010 at 12:21am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I hear what people say about it being OK to put paper down the loo but I have very often seen blocked toilets in Corfu restaurants/airport so those toilets clearly can't handle the paper.
Would love to put paper down my loos but have never dared!
If you wish to post a reply to this thread you must first Login
If you are not already registered you must first register
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission.
Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel
Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund
Topic:
