While on a cruise ship in Spitsbergen, Norway, we had to use toilets which would only flush if the lid was closed to create a seal. Sometimes you had to hold the lid down to ensure the seal was intact. How did they work?
• I have seen this type of toilet on yachts. When the lid is closed to form a seal, the waste is automatically pumped out. This causes a reduction in the air pressure inside the bowl. The reduced pressure draws in water through a separate pipe, which is used to flush the bowl clean.
If the seat is damaged the seal may not form correctly and the toilet won’t work. Therefore it is essential for all yachts to carry a spare seat.
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Doug Grigg, Cannonvale, Queensland, Australia