Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/743040
W EEKLY EDITION OCT 26, 2016 Joke of the Week Cousin Itt was getting tired of being just the hired hand around the Addams family household. The family ha d moved to the feudal nation of Armenia and Itt decided to run for feudal lord. While not quite a democracy, elections were still the path t o choosing the next leader who would exercise power and authority over the nation. With Gomez, Morticia and Festus fiercely campaigning for their beloved candidate, Election Day arrived. The precincts opened, ballots we cast, and the votes were counted. The polls had shown a close contest between the four candidates running, but when the final tally was announced, Cous in Itt had received the most votes. With all of the Addams family and his supporters cheering him on, Cousin Itt was beside himself as he approached the podium. "I won! I won!" Itt screamed. "Bring me the wine. I'm serving!" With glass raised, Gomez sho uted, "When ITT reigns, ITT pours!" © Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) • 2626 E 82 n d Street, Suite 175 • Bloomington, MN 55425 www.psai.org • 952 - 854 - 8300 Alaskan Natives No Longer Have to PASS Up Indoor Plumbing A rural Alaskan community passes the one - year mark of an indoor sanitation system pilot project, which has been dubbed a success with plans for progression. In the Alaskan Native village of Kivalina, a select group of residents have spent the last year as subjects of a pilot program put on by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortiu m (ANTHC) that has changed their lives in an essential way. These individuals hav e been testing the Portable Alternative Sanitation System (PASS) in their homes, as an alternative to a self - hauling method to dispose of human waste involving buckets and trash bag s. Because many rural Alaskan villages lack accessibility to clean water an d sewer systems, and with common occurrences of erosion and flooding preventing agencies from building sewer infrastructures, a man named John Warren with the ANTHC began brainstorming alternative methods. While the self - hauling concept has worked thanks to its simplicity, there is no system in place to regulate the disposal, leaving vast potential for health risks. The PASS provides a non - hazardous alternative that comprises a complete water and sanitation system all within the home, using both collected rainwater and hand - hauled water, which allows for flushing capabilities. The genius behind the PASS system is that it can be assembled and reassembled if the homeowner or community needs to relocate, as it does not rely on traditional piped water and sew er systems to operate. As Alaskan communities currently face threats of climate change, this mobility may be a necessity. As the team at ANTHC reviews their first year, they have already learned a few lessons and have made refinements to the PASS. Their ch allenge now is finding funding to implement the next phase of the project. READ THE STORY