Problems with Mobile Toilets
The problems with mobile toilets mainly include usage pain points, construction and layout issues, leasing problems, and practical challenges, as detailed below:
Usage Pain Points: The issue of unpleasant odors is prominent. The volatile smell of chemical degradants is unbearable in enclosed spaces. Fecal matter sticking to the walls leaves a lingering odor, and inadequate maintenance of the sewage system can cause odors to spread. Maintenance is cumbersome, requiring the emptying of black water tanks and the addition of degradants every two to three days. Sticky feces need to be manually wiped off, and the replacement of blades in shredding toilets every six months is costly, with the additional need for antifreeze in winter. Costs are high, as degradants, shredding toilet blades, and seals are not inexpensive, and the initial investment in biodegradable toilets is substantial. Environmental adaptability is poor; in cities, designated sewage discharge points must be found, while adding degradants in open fields may damage the soil. In places like Tibet, there are few sewage stations, the capacity of gray water tanks is insufficient, and the biodegradation cycle lengthens during the rainy season.
Construction and Layout Issues: Construction is unreasonable, with inappropriate construction densities. There are few mobile toilets in main urban areas, density varies at city boundaries, and newly expanded areas are heavily indebted. The removal of portable toilets makes restoration difficult, and new constructions are often located on the city's outskirts, resulting in an unbalanced structure. It is difficult to find land for toilet construction, as newly built mobile toilets require an area of 40 - 100 square meters, which is hard to implement on precious land in major commercial streets and bustling centers. Some urban plans omit mobile toilet facilities. There is a lack of guiding indicators, with some areas lacking scientific guidance signs, making it difficult to locate publicly accessible toilets in open units.
Leasing Problems: Hygiene issues are apparent. If cleaning is inadequate, unpleasant odors spread, seriously affecting the user experience.
Practical Challenges: Site selection is difficult, as reliance on water supply and drainage infrastructure limits site options and increases construction costs. Over 60% of scenic spots, remote construction sites, and islands have shelved the construction of traditional public toilets due to pipeline network issues. There are many operational and maintenance management problems. Purchasers overlook long-term operational and maintenance costs. Traditional mobile toilets consume large amounts of water and electricity, require frequent manual maintenance, and have operational costs that exceed the budget. Additionally, odors are hard to control, and equipment failures are not detected in a timely manner. User experience is poor, as the "dirty, messy, and poor" image of traditional mobile toilets detracts from the overall quality of scenic spots. Simply addressing the "toileting" function fails to meet tourists' demands for a clean, odor-free experience with value-added services.
