{$title-component}PTS:
0E
{$title-class}Class:
Environmental
{$title-sub}Area of Effect: Toilets
N/A
{$title-one}Frequency
Seconds
{$title-two}Duration
Nil
{$title-three}Intensity
Toilet in Level 11.
Description
Phenomenon 69 refers to the peculiar mechanism by which human excrement and waste is discarded from toilets in Level 11.
It has long been known that there is no one hypothesis on the waterworks within the Backrooms that provides a satisfying, unified explanation as to what happens to faeces, urine, vomit, tissues, and other undesirables that are discarded within lavatories throughout the different levels. Some levels appear to have their own intricate plumbing systems that remove and relocate waste1, whilst others simply do not. Obviously, some levels do not even have toilets, leading to many wanderers having to resort to open defecation, though where the utilities are present, it is generally the case that structurally intact bathrooms within the Backrooms make do one way or the other2. Thankfully, Level 11 possesses the relevant amenities so as to allow hygiene to proceed with some degree of normalcy left intact, though it operates uniquely from other lavatorial technology.
Defecation and urination occur without interruption; the anomaly presents specifically upon flushing. Flushing typical toilets releases water to flush out the contents, they go through the trapway, and the bowl is refilled – in Level 11, sanitary waste abruptly disappears, and clean water is spontaneously generated to replace it. The effect is conducive only to toilets or structures that serve the function of toilets (viz. porta-potties, outhouses, etc), and does not seem to apply to sinks, showers, bidets3, or other such fixtures. Likewise, only things that are generally understood to be waste seem to be affected by the mechanism itself, though the exact definition of what counts as ‘disposable waste’ is a vague black box for all intents and purposes. Should one attempt to flush waste that is not eligible, toilets in Level 11 simply do not work – if unflushable waste is added onto waste that is otherwise flushable, the offending material is left in the bowl intact.
Level 11 does not have any sanitation plants, and no functional septic tank has ever been found. Where the excrement is transported remains unknown. We do not know why this is the case specifically in Level 11 only.
In essence, this is all there is to know about Phenomenon 69.
Addendum
A series of tests were conducted using the Base Beta staff toilet so as to narrow down what Phenomenon 69 is actually capable of disposing. The following is an abridged collection of relevant tests made available for wanderer perusal. Researcher names have been anonymised for what we hope are obvious reasons.
Test 69-001
Waste: Faeces and urine
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Nil
Test 69-002
Waste: Tissue soiled with mucous
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Nil
Test 69-004
Waste: Wet wipe used to clean the rim of a toilet
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Because even in the Backrooms, people still haven’t figured out that the rim exists for a very specific reason.
Test 69-009
Waste: Tampon
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Good to know Phenomenon 69 has women in mind, I guess.
Test 69-015
Waste: Cigarette butt
Result: Not flushed
Note: We’d like to remind everyone that, just because we’re not in baseline reality, it doesn’t mean that smoking in bathrooms during a ‘bathroom break’ is at all acceptable. Please keep decency in mind.
Test 69-019
Waste: Variety of food colourings
Result: Not flushed
Note: Nil
Test 69-021
Waste: Blood sample taken from a volunteering researcher
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Nil
Test 69-029
Waste: Cooking oils from a staff dinner
Result: Not flushed
Note: Nil
Test 69-035
Waste: Torn up love letter
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Well, it’s an excrement of the heart in a sense?
Test 69-037
Waste: Cat litter
Result: Faeces vanished, the litter itself was not flushed
Note: Interesting that the sand isn’t considered waste. Let’s not try to clog the toilets for the sake of experimentation.
Test 69-038
Waste: As much cat litter as the toilet bowl could hold
Result: Toilet overflowed until all litter expelled. Janitorial team sent to aid clean-up Responsible researchers forced to clean up as part of disciplinary action
Note: What I said before wasn’t an invitation to try it out.
Tests 69-042 to 045
Waste: Escherichia coli strain, cultivated from human faecal samples
Result: Testing of water showed no traces of bacterial colonisation
Waste: Escherichia coli strain, cultivated from bovine faecal samples
Result: Testing of water showed no traces of bacterial colonisation
Waste: Surgical knife contaminated with a variety of typical skin microbiota.
Result: Knife not flushed, but was found to be completely sterile on later experimentation. Testing of water showed no traces of bacterial colonisation
Waste: Escherichia coli strain, cultivated from water samples obtained from Level 0.5
Result: Testing of water showed signs of Escherichia coli colonisation.
Note: Human and animal derived bacteria seems to be considered waste, but the same doesn’t hold true for environmental strains. I don’t think we should be sterilising our equipment with toilets just so that’s clear, but it’s definitely interesting. Try to disinfect the toilet before someone else uses it in the meantime.
Test 69-063
Waste: Discarded foodstuffs – meat, bones, vegetables, etc
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Nil
Test 69-068
Waste: Cocaine pouch
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Report submitted anonymously to my desk. Not sure what we’re supposed to do with this information.
Test 69-075
Waste: An assortment of live snails, beetles, worms, and mice
Result: Not flushed
Note: The sociopath that conducted these tests and expected us to reward their ‘discovery’ has been disciplined and sent for psychiatric review.
Tests 69-081 to 083
Waste: Toilet set on fire, then subsequently flushed
Result: Fire completely put out without issue
Waste: Mobile phone
Result: Not flushed. Not working either
Waste: Collectible figurine
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Reports submitted anonymously. I’d like to know who exactly is taking the time out of their day to conduct these kinds of tests?
Test 69-084
Waste: Whole toilet brush
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: Also submitted anonymously. Ok. Whatever man.
Test 69-091
Waste: Entire bottle of dish soap
Result: Vanished without issue
Note: We’re clearly running out of ideas, this is all quite frankly wasteful and hasn’t really led us anywhere. Recommending we stop accepting submissions before this gets out of hand.
Test 69-105
Waste: Five dollar bill, keepsake from the Frontrooms
Result: Vanished without issue. A waterproof, crudely-written note was expelled seconds after water re-materialised
Note: Verbatim, the contents of the paper read as follows: “Tank you 4 the tip! We are engoying all delishious humans grime and disgustings that you are giving 2 us, but we apreshiate this eeven more!”. Recommending vehemently that we stop testing.