Portable Toilet

A portable toilet is a facility that can be moved as a whole and provides toilet services to the public, suitable for various locations and featuring multiple types and advantages.

Definition and Composition

A portable toilet (Portable toilet) refers to a facility that can be moved as a whole and is set up at locations with fixed or temporary needs to provide toilet services to the public and customers. It generally consists of a fecal sewage storage tank (or fecal sewage treatment device), floor, sanitary ware, walls, washing equipment, water tank, roof, and mobile device.

Development History

Initially made from materials such as wood, with simple construction and functions and prone to absorbing odors, it gradually evolved to use materials like fiberglass and polyethylene.

Classification Methods

• By structural form: Divided into single-structure portable toilets and composite-structure portable toilets.
• By mobility method: Divided into lifting and handling portable toilets, and powered and towed portable toilets.
• By sewage treatment method: Divided into water-flush and waterless suction portable toilets, circulating water-flush portable toilets, and dry-packing portable toilets.

Advantages

It has the advantages of being movable, combinable, and easy to transport, allowing it to be conveniently carried to any location where a toilet needs to be set up and can be used repeatedly.

Design Principles

It should adhere to the principles of mobility and convenience, economic durability; environmental protection and ecological friendliness, beneficial to the environment; improving efficiency and promoting humanity. The overall structure should be lightweight, using lightweight and durable materials as much as possible, with a sturdy structure. The design should also consider controlling the height and width of the toilet, and the mobile device should be fully considered for completeness and rationality. For example, some portable toilets use an integrated shell + reinforced chassis, with an internal vacuum squat pan and pneumatic flushing, requiring only 1 liter of water per flush, saving 80% compared to ordinary toilets.

Suitable Locations

It is suitable for stations, docks, tourist attractions, villa areas, newly built residential areas, large construction sites, squares, densely populated public places, and bustling commercial streets. It originated from the temporary and阶段性 (phased) needs for toilets in certain situations. The government sets them up in areas where it is relatively difficult to build fixed public toilets to make up for the shortage of public toilet supply and unreasonable layout. For example, in 2023, portable toilets were gradually installed and put into use in the Lanzhou Yellow River Scenic Area.