Thursday, September 18, 2008

Of restrooms and pisspots

America is land of the Free (Drinking Water). Hugely impressed by the plentiful supply of drinking fountains in toilets, public buildings and public spaces. So far, so predictable - although they seem to have dropped off the funding radar in the UK - but even in private buildings with substantial public passage, like the Marshall Fields department store, you'll find fountains. Water availability is also mirrored in restaurants where iced water is readily given. There is none of this "still or sparkling?" question prevalent in the UK followed by The Look implying you're being a skinflint who is going to ruin the exquisite cuisine by imbibing the ghastly Chateau Eau du Robinet.

In general, toilets or the confusingly named "restrooms" given that rest is not the usual activity, are sparkling and plentiful. Difficult not to find a decent loo plus they've embraced modernity by labelling them all "Women". I ain't no lady although this doesn't appear to have been noticed by most Texans who use the term abundantly. However, the one thing that disappoints is the lack of awareness of water efficiency. In the whole of Texas where the rivers have run dry and North Carolina where one restaurant posted a notice saying that because of the drought water would not automatically be bought to table, I only found one loo with a flush saver function. In fact the loos are going the other way by installing the infra-red sensors which flush if you so much as blow your nose. This is going to make retrofitting difficult. A little technology is a dangerous thing.

Strange Loo Fact #1: In Austin Airport, the ladies loo is the designated hurricane shelter.
If you have any more strange loo facts, please add.

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