Portable toilets are a great solution when working outdoor or planning an event because they are so convenient. But, whether you plan on hiring a portable toilet for an extended period or just a few days, you may be wondering how they work and what happens to the waste. The good news is, we have the answer to both!
Read on to find out more about how portable toilets work.
How does a portable toilet work?
Portable toilets are self-contained so waste does not get flushed into the sewer as it does at home, but is instead carried into a holding tank beneath the toilet. The pump flush acts as a vacuum so when you push the lever the waste is carried into the hold tank and chemicals are used instead of water to kill germs, prevent smells and break down the waste.
You can, however, also choose portable toilets that are connected to the mains - these are often used for long-term use. They do not require the same amount of chemical treatments as long as they are connected to a full sewage system with water, although they should still be cleaned regularly.
What happens to the toilet waste?
Since portable toilets can hold toilet waste unless they are mains connected, it will need to be emptied. Everything that is flushed away will go into a large waste container which is broken down by chemicals before it is emptied into a tank.
Many portable toilets come with a flow indicator on the side of the block so you can see exactly when it needs to be emptied, don’t worry you don’t have to do this yourself! The hire company will empty your waste via an output hole by sucking it out with a large vacuum to keep everything as hygienic as possible. Once the waste has been transferred into the tank, it will be taken to a specialised cleaning facility so it can be disposed of safely.
If you’re looking for a portable toilet block for hire, Manchester Cabins has a range of products available. Modern and easy to install, we can deliver toilet blocks across Manchester whether that’s for business use or private use. To ensure our high standards are maintained, every week our cleaning vehicles perform an 8 stage refresh of our portable serviced toilet hire units. Contact us today for more information.
FAQs
Once the portables are full, they are transported by specialized trucks with units to waste disposal facilities. At disposal facilities, the waste from portables is either emptied into larger holding tanks or directly into sewage treatment systems, depending on local regulations.
How are portable toilets emptied? ›
To empty the waste in the portable toilet, sanitation technicians use a vacuum-like hose into the hole of the toilet. The other end is attached to a hose pump and the waste goes into the truck there. The truck will take the waste to a water treatment plant to be treated from there.
Where do you empty portable toilet waste? ›
If you're emptying a small portable toilet (like for camping) then you just need to make sure you're disposing of waste at a designated dump point. Alternatively, you can empty the camping toilet into a fixed toilet that's attached to a sewerage system. Never empty a portable toilet into a septic system.
Where do portable toilets store waste? ›
The waste is stored in the holding tanks, rather than being discharged into the sewer system like our domestic toilets. Once the holding tanks reach full capacity, they have to be emptied.
Where does the pee go in a porta potty? ›
Portable toilets are self-contained so waste does not get flushed into the sewer as it does at home, but is instead carried into a holding tank beneath the toilet.
How often should I empty my portable toilet? ›
We usually recommend emptying portaloos once a week if they're being used by 10 people or less. The more people using a portaloo, the more often it needs to be emptied. But, generally speaking, if you have a portaloo on a worksite or at an event, emptying it once a week is a good starting point.
What do they do with the waste from a porta potty? ›
Once the portables are full, they are transported by specialized trucks with units to waste disposal facilities. At disposal facilities, the waste from portables is either emptied into larger holding tanks or directly into sewage treatment systems, depending on local regulations.
Where does all the toilet waste go? ›
When the wastewater flushed from your toilet or drained from your household sinks, washing machine, or dishwasher leaves your home, it flows through your community's sanitary sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility.
Can you empty a porta potty yourself? ›
If you own a porta potty, you can empty it yourself or hire sanitation service providers to do it. To empty a portable restroom, a suction hose is inserted into the mouth of the toilet, with the opposite end attached to a specialized sanitation truck.
What are the disadvantages of a porta-potty? ›
Porta Potties' Drawbacks
A porta potty's interior can easily become filled with soiled toilet paper and stained. This exposes people to viruses, germs, and bacteria. Another drawback of porta potties is that keeping foul porta potty odors at bay is difficult. It's especially true on hot days.
Hiring a portable toilet is the more common option for those organising events, festival and construction sites. As you will only need the portable toilet for a set, and often short period of time hiring is the simpler and cost-effective solution.
How sanitary is a porta-potty? ›
Porta-Potties are Cleaner Than Regular Restrooms
It's a myth that porta-potties are less sanitary than regular public restrooms. The opposite is true, because they're easier to clean and are often cleaned more frequently in busy environments to ensure their readiness for new guests.
What do porta potty companies do with the waste? ›
Once the portables are full, they are transported by specialized trucks with units to waste disposal facilities. At disposal facilities, the waste from portables is either emptied into larger holding tanks or directly into sewage treatment systems, depending on local regulations.
How do they pump out a porta potty? ›
How are porta potties emptied? Sanitation technicians use a vacuum-like hose to pump out the waste.
How much does it cost to empty a portable toilet? ›
At Toilets and Co., our one-time waste disposal fees to pump out your porta potty begin at $50. Depending how far you are from our base, and how fast you need your portable toilet pumped out, that can increase slightly. [Read more about our porta potty rental costs].
