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==General Information== |
==General Information== |
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Portable toilets are referred to colloquially as P-Pot,<ref>[http://www.ppots.com P-Pots Portable Toilets]. Ppots.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-20.</ref> Porta-John, PortaJane, Port-O-Let, Port-a-Loo, Porta Loo, Portaloo<ref name="NZ_Herald_10708754">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708754 |title=Christchurch earthquake: Survival in the suburbs |author=Masters, Catherine |date=26 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |quote=I just wish we had a portaloo... |accessdate=4 November 2011}}</ref> Porta-Potty, Tidy John, Kybo, Biffs, Portable Restrooms<ref name="WTOP.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2477536|title=Game of Thrones: 2 Va. restrooms vie for best in country|author=Meera, Pal |date=2 August 2011 |work=[[WTOP Radio 103.5FM]] |quote=Also making the list of best bathroom finalists is Chantilly-based Don's Johns, the self-described leading provider of portable restrooms... |accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref>, Elsan, Dixi |
Portable toilets are referred to colloquially as P-Pot,<ref>[http://www.ppots.com P-Pots Portable Toilets]. Ppots.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-20.</ref> Porta-John, PortaJane, Port-O-Let, Port-a-Loo, Porta Loo, Portaloo<ref name="NZ_Herald_10708754">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708754 |title=Christchurch earthquake: Survival in the suburbs |author=Masters, Catherine |date=26 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |quote=I just wish we had a portaloo... |accessdate=4 November 2011}}</ref> Porta-Potty, Tidy John, Kybo, Biffs, Portable Restrooms<ref name="WTOP.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2477536|title=Game of Thrones: 2 Va. restrooms vie for best in country|author=Meera, Pal |date=2 August 2011 |work=[[WTOP Radio 103.5FM]] |quote=Also making the list of best bathroom finalists is Chantilly-based Don's Johns, the self-described leading provider of portable restrooms... |accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref>, Elsan, Dixi, Toi-Toi and A "Tardis" is a UK industry-wide nickname for a single portable toilet unit. |
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– some of which may be trademarked – and more formally as a '''"Portable Sanitation Unit'''".<ref>[http://www.psai.org/about.html "Portable Sanitation Association International"]</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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This article relies excessively on referencestoprimary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Portable toilet" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Portable toilets are simple portable enclosures containing a chemical toilet which are typically used as a temporary toilet for construction sites and large gatherings and events. Most portable toilets have black open-front U-shaped toilet seats with a cover. They are often constructed out of lightweight molded plastic.
Portable toilets are referred to colloquially as P-Pot,[1] Porta-John, PortaJane, Port-O-Let, Port-a-Loo, Porta Loo, Portaloo[2] Porta-Potty, Tidy John, Kybo, Biffs, Portable Restrooms[3], Elsan, Dixi, Toi-Toi and A "Tardis" is a UK industry-wide nickname for a single portable toilet unit.
– some of which may be trademarked – and more formally as a "Portable Sanitation Unit".[4]
The modern plastic portable toilet has been manufactured since the 1960s.
Portable toilets are large enough for a single occupant – usually about 90 cm (35 in) square by 210 cm (83 in) high. While the units are typically free standing structures, their stability is augmented by the weight of the waste tank, which usually contains an empty liquid disinfectant dispenser and deodorizer. Some include both a seated toilet and a urinal. Most include lockable doors, ventilation near the top, and a vent pipe for the holding tank. When wind is blowing over the vent pipe it creates a low pressure area sucking the odor out. Leaving the toilet lid open will reverse the flow of the venting of the tank.[5]
Newer models include toilet paper and, occasionally, antibacterial hand sanitizer dispensers. It has become common for portable toilets to be paired with a internal hand washing station. These sink stations provide a foot pump to dispense water to wash one's hands after using the toilet. Soap and towels may be provided.[6]
Another common pairing are portable toilets on trailers known commonly as a "portable toilet trailer". These trailers are typically found in 1-2 toilet configurations with a hand wash ability using either a hand washing station or a plastic barrel full of water. These trailers are often seen on agricultural fields or at road construction sites. These restrooms are ideal for situations where the workers (users) are very mobile. However this configuration has proven problematic, most modern portable toilet waste tank designs have proven inadequate to deal with the common problem of splash-outs from the waste holding tank while being towed down bumpy roads. Also when being towed the high winds blow in from the vents creating a hurricane effect inside ejecting any toilet paper rolls from the portable toilet if it's not secured.
'Luxury' portable toilets also exist.[7] These are typically conventional domestic plumbing fixtures within a portakabin-like structure.[8]
Use in outdoor advertising
Another recent innovation in the portable toilet arena is their use as a form of outdoor advertising. Some advertisers wrap portable toilets with vinyl material similar to that commonly used on cars and buses. The graphic wraps are intended to catch the attention of potential customers waiting in line to use the toilet.[9]
Benefits
Though more expensive than a standard permanent outdoor latrine, portable toilets have several significant benefits mostly related to their portability. They are rented to customers by companies that guarantee their cleanliness, and so as a rule are drained, cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized on a regular basis. It's typically cheaper to rent a portable toilet than to hire a janitorial service to clean the restrooms on a weekly basis.As they are not plumbed, they do not clog. A single portable toilet can be hauled in the back of a pick-up truck. An average portable toilet is able to hold enough sewage for 10 people during the course of a 40 hour work week before the hold reaches unsanitary conditions.
Disadvantages
Because portable toilets are not plumbed they keep the waste inside the bathroom, this can lead to a sewage smell if the portable toilet is not cleaned properly or is over used. It's also seen as an eye sore to most communities, some of which dis-allow the use of a portable toilet without special permission from the city or municipality.
They are frequently seen at outdoor work sites, particularly construction sites, farms, ranches, camp sites and large banks of dozens of portable toilets allow for ready sanitation at large gatherings such as outdoor music festivals. Several portable toilets arranged in these large banks are referred to as a 'sitting' of portable toilets.
In the United Kingdom, the Trade Association representing operators of Portable Sanitation units is PSE. PSE also has a number of European members and works closely with similar trade organisations worldwide. PSE has a close working relationship with Government departments such as the Health and Safety Executive and Department of the Environment to improve stands of cleanliness and hygiene, and to promote good practice by its members. Unique to the PSE is its members' award scheme. Presently members are able to qualify for a Gold Award after completing a stringent set of assessments set by PSE. In the United States, a similar organization exists called the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI).
I just wish we had a portaloo...
Also making the list of best bathroom finalists is Chantilly-based Don's Johns, the self-described leading provider of portable restrooms...
