5.2 Public “away from home” toilets

Can public toilets be made

attractive?

Can vandalism be avoided?

Learning objective: how to plan and implement sustainable toiletsin public places. Design criteria.

www.go.funpic.humor

A public toilet is part of a system

OutsideInside

Facility

User views on public toilets

access

locationsignage

appear-ance

security

fixturesfittings

clean-liness

attend-ants

payment

disability

urinals baby

rest products

separate

unisex

Courtesy of Clara Greed

(from Hanson et al. 2007)

User surveys and evaluations

J-O Drangert, Linköping university

User interview results

Courtesy of Clara Greed from Hanson et al. 2007

Location of toilet blocks and urinals

Courtesy of Clara Greed (from Hanson et al. 2007)

A toilethierarchycovering: city centre,district and local levels

Signage ~ how to find the place

Photos courtesy of Clara Greed

Map showing public toilets

Access to the toilet and urinal

New urinal stands behind a toilet block. The urinal is being used for defecation during night hours when the main toilet block is closed

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

A toilet with accessories for many user groups

Courtesy of Clara Greed from Hanson et al.

2007

External appearance of the toilet or urinal

A block of urine-diverting toiletsPhoto courtesy of Suburraman, Scope, India

Excellent access to unisex street toilets in Waikato, New Zealand. Courtesy of Clara Greed from Hanson et al. 2007

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

Sulabh pay toilet with bath

Public pay toilet in Moscow with attendant. Urine diversion

Public free urinal after rainA sign board about fees

Payment or not?

Dutch toilet with slogan

Cleaning

of toilets

Courtesy of F. Garduňo, Sarar, Mexico

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

Management inside the toilet block

Security and privacy

Ultra-blue light to prevent syringe injection

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

Courtesy of Clara Greed

(from Hanson et al. 2007)

Less privacy may reduce vandalism & improve safety

Portland Loo

Cleanliness

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

A brightly lit, easy to clean toilet in which all cracks are sealed to prevent stagnant urine and water

Water ”tap” for washing hands using 0.1 litre per hand wash

Courtesy of Clara Greed from Hanson et al. 2007

Fixtures in the cubicle and urinal – and vandalism

If the toilet is not cleaned regularily, users will fill up the floor all the way to the entrance

Fixtures have to be sturdy to withstand abuse

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

Unisex and baby-friendly facilities

Women and men have quite different dimensions and ‘reach’ in terms of length of arms and legs (Goldsmith, 2000)

Baby friendly unit

Courtesy of Clara Greed

from Hanson et al. 2007

Female urinal from Tepozeco in

Mexico

Urinals

J-O Drangert, Linköping UniversityCourtesy of Ron Sawyer, Sarar, Mexico

Female squatting

urinal

Male urinal

Differently abled persons

Photo Courtesy of M. Subburaman, Scope,. India

Where does urine and faecal matter end up?

J-O Drangert, Linköping University, Sweden

Public toilets in remote locations

Volume reduction per year in a natural composting process:

Courtesy of Compostera AB, Sweden

Summary of design and reuse options

Output Option 1 Option 2

Water from hand washing

Soil bed Sewer

Urine from urinal Undiluted Flushed

Faecal matter from diverting toilet

Mixed with ash or sawdust

Flushed

Excreta from toilet Undiluted Flushed

Ablution water Soil bed Sewer

J-O Drangert, Linköping University