How Do Porta-Potties Work? Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know
Contents
- Porta-Potties: Their Structure and Parts
- How Do Porta Potties Work?
- Are Porta-Potties Sanitary?
- Can Porta-Potties Get Clogged Up?
- Debunking Common Porta-Potty Myths
- Myth #1: Porta-Potties look disgusting. This isn’t true. Many porta-potties are well-designed and there are even companies that offer luxury porta-potties and portable restroom trailers. When a rental company keeps to its service schedule, they are also well-maintained. A crew comes in to pump out the waste, clean the unit and refill it with fresh deodorizer.
- Myth #2: They are not comfortable. Some might look at these cubicles and instantly feel claustrophobia. While it might not be the most excellent bathroom experience, certainly not a hotel-like experience, it isn’t that bad. And when you have to go, you will be glad to use one. Just consider the alternative. Rather than relieve yourself in the woods where people might see you, just go to one of these toilets.
- Myth #3: They are hard to use for little ones and for people with babies. Porta-potties have actually come a long way. There are now companies that offer additional features such as a baby station where there are additional features like a changing station. You can safely and comfortably change your baby’s diapers here. Porta-potties can also work for little ones, though young kids should always have an adult with them. Wheelchair-accessible units with more room and grab bars are also available.
- Myth #4: Porta-potties overflow easily.
- Myth #5: Renting a porta-potty is expensive.
- Sources
Have you ever been to a camping ground or a festival and seen portable toilets stationed everywhere? These are called porta-potties. They are essential in areas where there is no easy access to a clean toilet. Events that expect a big crowd often set up porta-potties to make sure there is enough toilet for people to use to relieve themselves.
Porta-Potties: Their Structure and Parts
The construction of porta-potties is actually quite simple. These are usually made from a durable plastic material that is structured to look like cubicles in a restroom. There are also added features such as a hook for the toilet paper.
Don’t be surprised to find a different kind of toilet seat. The seat sits on top of a big plastic holding tank built into the base of the unit, which catches the waste. Units are usually placed on level ground, and some are staked down so they don’t tip over.
How Do Porta Potties Work?
The holding tank contains a liquid deodorizer that slows the growth of odor-causing bacteria and masks smells. There is no single formula. Manufacturers use their own blends but, in most cases, you can find a biocide, some fragrances and a blue dye that hides the contents. Some newer products use enzymes or other non-formaldehyde formulas. Don’t worry because these tanks are large enough to hold a large volume of waste.
An organized event will usually have a service crew come in on a set schedule, often daily for busy multi-day events, to empty out these tanks and then clean the units before they are used again. Organizers usually contact sanitation companies. They have the equipment needed to suck out the collected waste using a kind of vacuum technology. It will go directly into their trucks with tanks.
After the waste is removed, these professionals will then restock the basins with fresh chemical solutions and then fill up the porta-potties with a fresh supply of toilet paper.
Most standard porta-potties have no flush at all, and waste drops straight into the tank. Some deluxe units have a foot-pump or recirculating flush that rinses the bowl into the holding tank.[1]
Are Porta-Potties Sanitary?
The idea of using a toilet that doesn’t connect to a sewer or septic system might seem disgusting, but well-serviced porta-potties are reasonably safe to use. Of course, you still need to practice proper hygiene techniques to make sure that you don’t spread germs everywhere.
Some people prefer to hover rather than sit. Either way, keep your clothes clear of the seat and the tank opening. Once you are done, use toilet paper to wipe yourself clean. Wet wipes can help, but throw them in a trash bin if one is provided, since they don’t break down in the tank.
Many porta-potty companies also offer handwashing stations, and some units have a built-in hand sanitizer dispenser. Once you are done, wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, the CDC says to use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Can Porta-Potties Get Clogged Up?
If you have experienced walking in a porta-potty and then had the misfortune of seeing solid and liquid wastes overflowing, you might think they can get clogged up. But the truth is, they don’t. They are not installed to any plumbing fixtures, so they are not likely to get clogged up. However, they can overflow. The holding tanks have a specific capacity, and when they go over capacity, they overflow. That is one of the things that porta-potty companies should avoid.
Event organizers must know how many people are going in order to determine how many porta-potties are needed to accommodate the demands of the number of people going to the event. On construction sites, OSHA’s sanitation standard sets a minimum of one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers once a crew reaches 20 people. If there are more event-goers than porta-potties, they can get inundated fast and this can result to overflowing.
A standard porta-potty tank typically holds around 60 gallons of waste, though sizes vary by model. For bigger events, organizers can rent units with larger tanks, add urinal stations, or schedule more frequent pumping.
Debunking Common Porta-Potty Myths
Myth #1: Porta-Potties look disgusting. This isn’t true. Many porta-potties are well-designed and there are even companies that offer luxury porta-potties and portable restroom trailers. When a rental company keeps to its service schedule, they are also well-maintained. A crew comes in to pump out the waste, clean the unit and refill it with fresh deodorizer.
Myth #2: They are not comfortable. Some might look at these cubicles and instantly feel claustrophobia. While it might not be the most excellent bathroom experience, certainly not a hotel-like experience, it isn’t that bad. And when you have to go, you will be glad to use one. Just consider the alternative. Rather than relieve yourself in the woods where people might see you, just go to one of these toilets.
Myth #3: They are hard to use for little ones and for people with babies. Porta-potties have actually come a long way. There are now companies that offer additional features such as a baby station where there are additional features like a changing station. You can safely and comfortably change your baby’s diapers here. Porta-potties can also work for little ones, though young kids should always have an adult with them. Wheelchair-accessible units with more room and grab bars are also available.
Myth #4: Porta-potties overflow easily.
They don’t if there are enough of these stationed at an event. This is why it is important for organizers to be careful about computing the number of porta-potties needed for the event. You don’t want to have a long line of people waiting to use a few porta-potties. Organizers can ask porta-potty companies how many are needed for the specific volume of people you are expecting.
Myth #5: Renting a porta-potty is expensive.
Do you need porta-potties for an event? Don’t be afraid to ask what the rates are. They can be more affordable than you think, and prices vary by region, unit type and how often they need service. You can even arrange for an extended package if you have an event that will go on for days.
These are the things you should know about how porta-potties work.
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Sources
- About Handwashing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 1926.51 Sanitation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
