The Good and the Bad with Porta Potties.
Portable restrooms or porta potties, as they are more commonly known, are incredibly popular for festivals, concerts, trails, and other events and activities that have limited access to pre-built facilities. For some they are a godsend, offering relief and peace of mind when out and away from cities and establishments. For others, those flapping plastic doors are a hard line in the sand that will never be walked across. Porta potties are not glamorous, but they are incredibly utilitarian. Regardless of their divisive popularity, porta potties are here to stay, and they may be more far reaching effects than most people think.
Porta poties have a bad reputation.
There is a unique smell when it comes to porta potties.
Portable restrooms have no running water. They are usually all in one unit, so all the waste sits in a reservoir underneath the seat. Fortunately, most porta potties will have the unmistakable blue liquid that is meant to deodorize and partially sanitize the reservoirs contents until it’s time for it to be cleaned. Unfortunately, the deodorizer can only do some much for so long and, if left unchecked, the unit will start to produce those noxious smells that have kept many at bay from using its amenities.
Some people view them as unsanitary.
Even though many portable restrooms these days come with hand sanitizer dispensers, how well they are kept stocked is still up to the renter. Some units come with a separate hand washing station that uses a foot pump to provide running water, but because the water comes from a pre-filled tank, its effectiveness is also dependent on upkeep. And usually because of the high traffic they may experience, especially those placed at festivals or large concert events, there is no telling what condition the unit is in after the previous user has left.
Porta potties are not glamorous or very pretty to look at.
As useful as they can be in an emergency, they are often an eyesore that can distract from an event. Like mentioned earlier, if they are allowed to, they can start to smell and can easily become a trap for bacteria if left unserviced, or not serviced enough.
The chemicals in a porta potty seem very strong.
The blue liquid that is often associated with porta potties is a mix of strong chemicals, fragrances, and dyes. For a while, formaldehyde was the go-to chemical for servicing the units. It is the same chemical used in embalming corpses and is incredibly potent. In fact, many states have been banning the use of the chemical in portable restrooms because many waste management systems are not able to properly handle formaldehyde. Fortunately, newer “greener” solutions have come into play such as using beneficial enzymes and microbes to eat and stop the bacteria that cause odors.
Porta Potties can either get too hot or too cold.
Theses plastic boxes offer no real protections from mother nature. That means that its contents are also susceptible to the heat and the cold. High temperatures can cause the porta potty. In the winter, these portable units can suffer from freezing over and can become a nightmare to clean. Fortunately, there tricks to keeping things from getting out of control but like with other cons, it is based on how well the porta potty is taken care of.
Porta Potties are actually beneficial.
Portable restrooms are surprisingly good for the environment. In many ways these all-in-one plastic units can lower our human impact on the world around us.
Portable restrooms are reusable.
If well kept, a porta potty can have an effective life of 15-30 years before needing to be replaced. They have manufactured plastic parts that can be fixed as wear and tear happens which help to keep the overall unit functioning and out of landfills.
They provide a place to relieve oneself.
If you ever wonder, why there are usually porta potties seen alongside of camping sites? It is because people have been known to relieve themselves in nature. These practices, if not done correctly by using proper disposal methods, can actually lead to a cascade of negative effects in the surrounding ecosystems. Porta potties relieve this strain from the environment by giving people a more environmentally friendly place to relieve their waste.
Porta potties are really good at saving water.
Porta potties are all-in-one units and don’t need any plumbing or running water to function. In fact, porta potties around the world can save an estimated 45 billion gallons of fresh water every year. Flushing a toilet is notorious for being a strain on the water system and waste up to 200 gallons a day. But because of the water less nature of a porta potty, that water is saved.
They have allowed nature areas to stay untouched.
In a way, porta potties have saved major nature areas from being affected by construction and plumbing. They provide the relief that people need without the building and the underground pipes that come with the established bathrooms. This practice has saved wildlife that may reside under the ground, lowered the noise pollution from heavy construction vehicles, and protected the area from unsightly human made buildings.
Porta potties are temporary.
They are easily moved and are easily removed in the event that an area becomes protected. Porta potties don’t have a large environmental footprint and these small units are able to provide necessary amenities along a hiking trail with very minimal set up.
Portable restrooms can also provide sanitation and relief to under served areas.
They give the members of the community a place to relieve themselves away from their homes and in a spot that can be regularly cleaned and maintained. These often-avoided units can actually be lifesaving in certain parts of the world.
They can be used to protect the environment, and, in some cases, they can even provide safety for certain communities. While they can produce unwanted smells and are generally unsightly, they provide convenience and relief to those who need them. With the right maintenance and upkeep, porta potties can be a welcome addition to many different events and places in the world.