Andy DehnartIn this edition of Ask Andy, I answer several questions about Survivor, including about where Survivor contestants go to the bathroom, and related questions such as if they have facilities and/or latrines, access to toilet paper, or fresh water. First, though, a question about returning players who say no to returning to the show.
I was wondering if you have heard of/ know if any past contestants have ever turned down the opportunity to return for another season of Survivor and why? Or perhaps, anyone on Big Brother or The Amazing Race?
I ask because of the apparent inclusion of Greg from S1 of Survivor. I always thought he would be an obvious choice to bring back and had wondered if maybe he just didn’t want to. —Kwanisha
Your question provides the answer, for Greg and others: Yes, former reality contestants are asked to come back and say no all the time, for various reasons.
For Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, Jeff Probst named those who said no. He told EW the production approached Greg Buis and Greg wanted to do it, but he’d just been given this really great opportunity as the CEO of a nonprofit and he said, ‘I just can’t. I can’t take the job and leave.'”
Others who said no: Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Jeff Kent, and RC Saint-Amour.
Going through casting, production, and everything else is a significant commitment that requires leaving families and jobs for a period of time.
Never mind opening oneself up to the glare of cameras, viewer criticism, and other stresses. Some cast members don’t want to repeat all of that, while others want the experience (or the attention) again and again.
Where do they go to the bathroom on Survivor? Toilet facilities, toilet paper, and boiled water
I’m curious about hygiene and sanitation issues on Survivor. In early seasons it seems that the cast was not even given toilet paper. I remember Survivor Africa that we saw a cast member taking a shovel going out somewhere to dig a hole.
Obviously over the years things have changed as Survivor has become more environmentally aware. What is being provided for bathrooms, etc?
Are they still boiling water, or is clean water now being provided? —Robert
All great questions, Robert! Let’s break these down separately. First:
Where Survivor contestants poop
Not all that much has changed, actually, regarding the cast’s toilet facilities—or lack thereof.
In inland, non-ocean seasons, contestants have typically gone to a designated area, dug a hole, and used that.
In island, oceanside seasons—such as the show’s now-permanent home of Fiji—the trend has been to swim out in the ocean and just let it go.
This is called the aquadump, and it’s been featured on the show at least once, during Survivor Kaoh Rong. A player during that season, Darnell, revealed that the cast had a “designated area” along the beach to go out in the ocean for pooping purposes.
Keep in mind that eating rice, beans, and the occasional reward means that there isn’t necessarily a lot of regularity—unless you’re poor Stephen #SevereGastrointestinalDistress Fishbach (and, apparently, Joe) who need to go again and again and again.
As to the need for toilet paper, while contestants are provided with feminine products and other medical supplies, they do not receive toilet paper or anything that could be used for wiping.
They presumably improvise—and presumably, that’s what makes the ocean and aquadumping more desirable, since there’s no need for toilet paper there.
Do Survivor contestants get fresh water?
As to water: Yes, they boil water, and yes, clean water is provided.
How is that possible? Well, the cast boils their water, but all accounts suggest that’s unnecessary. The wells are installed by the production, and have drinkable water.
(The wells seem to have become more and more obviously fake/installed in recent seasons, or perhaps I’m just looking more carefully.)
A camera operator for the show confirmed this on Reddit in 2011.
And earlier this year, Survivor Worlds Apart cast member Max Dawson said his tribe drank the water unboiled and “none of us suffered gastrointestinal distress as a result of drinking the untreated water. The moral: drink water until you get fire.”