Eli5: Why are most public toilets plumbed directly to the water supply but home toilets have the tank?
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This is a great question that has to do with how toilets work and how water pressure affects them. Toilets use a siphon effect to flush away waste from the bowl. This means that water has to enter the bowl fast enough and with enough force to fill up a tube at the bottom of the bowl and create a vacuum that sucks everything out.
Home toilets have a tank of water attached to them because most residential water supply lines are not strong enough to provide enough water pressure for a siphon effect. The tank stores water and releases it all at once when you flush, creating enough force to activate the siphon. The tank also acts as a buffer between your toilet and your plumbing system, preventing clogs and leaks.
Public toilets, on the other hand, are plumbed directly to the water supply because they have access to much higher water pressure than home toilets. They don’t need a tank because they can receive enough water from the supply line at once to trigger the siphon effect. Public toilets also have wider pipes and valves than home toilets, which allow more water flow and less resistance.
Public toilets are designed to handle more frequent use and more varied waste than home toilets. They can flush away anything that people might throw in them without clogging or overflowing. They also save space and water by eliminating the need for a tank.
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