Removal of Mobile Toilets in Xi'an
There are indeed cases of mobile toilet removal in Xi'an, mainly due to the following two types of reasons:
Urban Renovation and Construction Needs
In the process of urban development, some areas will undergo large-scale renovation and construction, which may lead to the removal of existing mobile toilets because they fall within the scope of the project. For example, the public toilet in Wolong Lane was removed in January 2017 as it was within the scope of the Caojia Lane shantytown renovation project. Shantytown renovation is an important urban renewal project aimed at improving residents' living conditions and enhancing the overall image and functionality of the city. During this process, some existing public facilities, including mobile toilets, may be removed because they do not conform to the new planning layout or need to make way for new buildings, roads, etc. Moreover, in this case, the newly built public toilet was removed again due to the construction needs of the demolition site, which further illustrates that the dynamic and complex nature of construction during urban renovation and construction can affect the survival of public facilities. Construction parties may adjust and remove surrounding facilities according to the construction needs at different stages to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
Ecological Governance and Regulatory Requirements
To protect the ecological environment and comply with relevant regulations, some areas will remove facilities that do not meet the requirements. From April to December 2021, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission and the Provincial Water Resources Department conducted inspections on the governance project of the Weihe River floodplain in Xi'an and required the removal of service facilities such as mobile toilets that had been built in the floodplain. The Weihe River floodplain is an important ecological area that is of great significance for maintaining the ecological balance of the river and ensuring flood control safety. The construction of service facilities such as mobile toilets in the floodplain may have a certain impact on the ecological environment of the floodplain, such as damaging the vegetation of the floodplain and affecting the natural flow of water bodies. At the same time, the construction of these facilities may not comply with relevant ecological governance regulations and requirements. Therefore, to strengthen the ecological protection of the Weihe River floodplain, relevant departments will require the removal of these non-compliant facilities to restore the natural ecological functions of the floodplain.
