Every year, UN-Water — the UN's coordination mechanism on water and sanitation — sets the theme for World Toilet Day. In 2025, the theme is ‘Sanitation in a changing world', reminding us that no matter what the future holds, we'll always need the toilet.
Did you know the average toilet is one of the biggest water users in a home?
World Toilet Day is a great opportunity to show students how water, engineering, and health are all connected — and how a well-working toilet helps protect our rivers, our community, and the planet. 🌎🚽
💭 Classroom Connections: Challenge students to think of ways to stop water waste at home or school.
- Water
Science: Discover how the water cycle doesn't end at the faucet — it
includes what happens after we flush.
- Engineering:
Discuss how toilets use gravity, pressure, and design to save water.
- Conservation:
A single leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day!
🧪 Simple Activities
- Leak
Detective Test:
Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to a toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing, it’s leaking!
(Encourage students to ask a grown-up to try this at home.) - Toilet
Timeline:
Have students research how toilets have changed over time — from ancient latrines to modern water-saving models. - Design
Challenge:
Ask: What would a “perfect toilet” look like for conserving water and keeping people healthy worldwide?
💬 Discussion Starters
- Where
does water go after it leaves your house or school?
- Why is
clean water important for everyone?
- How can fixing or upgrading toilets save water in our community?
🔰Resources
- Toilet Dye Tablets - Email Andrea Short at andrea.short@ThorntonCO.gov
- WaterAid - Free teaching resources
- Centers for Disease Control - Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
- United Nations - World Toilet Day | UN-Water
🪠 Final Message
World Toilet Day helps students understand that every flush is part of their water story.
By keeping toilets in good working order and learning how they connect to clean water, students discover how small actions make a big difference.
