I just discovered some new information that said that a person should not flush toilter paper down toilets in the DR due to the low sewage pressure. If I live in Santo Domingo, then I should never flush toilet paper down the toilets? The article said people keep a special container by the toilet for toilet paper.
- Thread starter live_for_life
- Start date
Is it true that a person should not flush toilet paper down toilets in the DR?
A
apostropheman
Guest
I suspect that it's not really an issue in any modern area in the DR, pero en el campo o barrio...the plumbing and septic system may really not be able to handle much paperwork 
A
apostropheman
Guest
In reality modern toilet paper dissolves very rapidly in water and is not a legitimate issue to any but the worst, most antique plumbing. This putting the paper in the basket habit is not based in reality IMO...and I did inquire of a plumber in the past to verify that my feelings were accurate. It's based on generations old perceptions and not fact...even taking into account the state of the drainage systems in the DR...still shouldn't be an issue.
I have noticed a lot of bathrooms in the country where they put the paper in the wastebasket.
Everywhere I have lived since arriving here, I had good enough plumbing to flush the paper away.
Everywhere I have lived since arriving here, I had good enough plumbing to flush the paper away.
If it's your own house & all the pipes are located under the ceramic floor, you do not want to run the risk of a blockage which could mean taking the floor up..........:cheeky: Damage control! Can't exactly call Dyno-Rod out here so try and avoid the problem happening in the first place. The problem in older houses is the narrow nature of the pipes used as well.
A
apostropheman
Guest
I confess...
Then I asked him about it, got the real scoop, and tried to apologize to the chicas doing the cleaning ...Pero ellos no entendieron. :cheeky::bunny::bunny:
(Well, it sure was funny at the time)
on my first trip, many years ago now, when I stayed at Rocky's I initially placed the dirty paper in the basket out of respect.
Then I asked him about it, got the real scoop, and tried to apologize to the chicas doing the cleaning
...Pero ellos no entendieron. :cheeky::bunny::bunny:(Well, it sure was funny at the time
)I think it's more an issue of filling the septic tanks with solid waste.
Yes the paper flushes, however it takes a whole lot longer to biodegrade in the holding tank and can clog up the 'filtrante'.
Anyone who knows a little of the workings of a septic system will understand what I mean.
Dominican septic systems are no where near the efficient models we use back home. I've seen how ours here in Juan Dolio is built and while it is very well built and efficient it needs fairly regular clean outs, which are almost unheard of back home.
I would have thought that the warm temps here would help the degradation process but having seen the system I understand why it doesn't.
(Not claiming to be a septic system maestro-just happen to know a bit about them)
Yes the paper flushes, however it takes a whole lot longer to biodegrade in the holding tank and can clog up the 'filtrante'.
Anyone who knows a little of the workings of a septic system will understand what I mean.
Dominican septic systems are no where near the efficient models we use back home. I've seen how ours here in Juan Dolio is built and while it is very well built and efficient it needs fairly regular clean outs, which are almost unheard of back home.
I would have thought that the warm temps here would help the degradation process but having seen the system I understand why it doesn't.
(Not claiming to be a septic system maestro-just happen to know a bit about them)
I don't happen to have problems with the septic tank and never need it emptied, but even if I did, I would still ask people to flush the paper down, for health reasons, not to mention that it's a bit on the gross side.
You could always put that gigantic "hole" in the ground to the right of your casa to good use, It seems underutilized right now as a rebar depot. Why not fill it up slowly?
tambo'
It would be better as a giant swimming pool, don't you think?You could always put that gigantic "hole" in the ground to the right of your casa to good use, It seems underutilized right now as a rebar depot. Why not fill it up slowly?
tambo'
its all simple:
I throw paper in all bathroom toilets in all my 9 yrs of living here and it has never been clogged once. here is why it does get clogged.
Instead of using the toilet paper like we do in the rest of the world, the dominican use like a whole half of the toilet role and wrap it around their hand then wipe. I just don't understand this concept. Why would someone waste so much paper to wipe? They start wrapping paper around their hand until it become a big role around their 4 fingers and then they wipe. Then if you throw this huge role into toilet i am sure it will clog the pipes. This is why if a dominican goes to your bathroom like 2 or 3 times, the whole roll is gone.
Now if you used like 6 sheets of paper at once, then there is no worry about clogging the pipes. I have been doing this for 9 yrs already.
AZB
I throw paper in all bathroom toilets in all my 9 yrs of living here and it has never been clogged once. here is why it does get clogged.
Instead of using the toilet paper like we do in the rest of the world, the dominican use like a whole half of the toilet role and wrap it around their hand then wipe. I just don't understand this concept. Why would someone waste so much paper to wipe? They start wrapping paper around their hand until it become a big role around their 4 fingers and then they wipe. Then if you throw this huge role into toilet i am sure it will clog the pipes. This is why if a dominican goes to your bathroom like 2 or 3 times, the whole roll is gone.
Now if you used like 6 sheets of paper at once, then there is no worry about clogging the pipes. I have been doing this for 9 yrs already.
AZB
Most Dominicans(incl the gov't) will tell you to not throw the toilet paper in the toilet. The reasons are due to a number of reasons. One, the poor condition of the sanitary sewer system, two, to make things simple for the people, ie they might be confused as to what type of paper can be used and if the system is onsite or public - onsite systems clog up faster with paper of any kind because of the lack of a septic tank to separate the solids fom the effluent. Three, even though they have all of the plumbing equipment for large and small sewers here, they don't have the resources to be constantly using them.
As a civil engineer I am well familiar with sanitary sewer design, etc. and I personally throw the paper down the toilet wherever I go and have never have had a problem. Therefore, even though the sanitary systems here are suspect, given the low number of foreigners I say toss it down the toilet as long as it is a public system. If it is an onsite system, depending on the state of the sewage pit, it may or may not affect it. The sandier soil one has on their property, the better though.
As a civil engineer I am well familiar with sanitary sewer design, etc. and I personally throw the paper down the toilet wherever I go and have never have had a problem. Therefore, even though the sanitary systems here are suspect, given the low number of foreigners I say toss it down the toilet as long as it is a public system. If it is an onsite system, depending on the state of the sewage pit, it may or may not affect it. The sandier soil one has on their property, the better though.
J
John Evans
Guest
can we stop this now - im having horrible visions- by the way if you have been to greece they do it there also and have the lovely toilets with just handles and a hole that one squats over
... couple of months ago .... interesting reading ...
http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/60588-dominican-toilet-paper-habits.html
http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/60588-dominican-toilet-paper-habits.html