Hosting an event means anticipating your guest’s needs while they are there, and that naturally means using the restroom. A porta potty can be used approximately 200 times, which saves your toilet from flushing at least 200 times. Especially if your event is being held at a space where there is no bathroom access or handwashing stations, you need to accommodate them with portable sanitation. Take a look at your guest list and decide what type, and how many rentals you will need. Let’s take a look at your options.
Portable Sanitation
Renting a portable sanitation station for guests at a party, wedding, concert workplace, or another type of event can easily get overlooked but is of utmost importance. A portable toilet is a non-flushing unit with toilet paper and a locking door for guest security. And a portable hand washing or sanitizing station can be set up near the portable potties.
You do not need to worry about running water or electricity for these units, as they are self-contained. If your event is on a large property, signs pointing towards the porta potties can’t hurt.
A Traditional Porta Potty
Most people have used a traditional porta potty at some point in their life. They are the standard style that are at many outdoor events and venues where the toilets do not flush.
Want to make sure your guests get the best standard porta potty that you can provide? Rest assured that the deluxe porta potties that get dropped off at private events are never rented for use at construction sites, and kept in pristine condition.
Handicap Accessible Porta Potty
A handicap-accessible porta potty is perfect for those guests who are in a wheelchair, using a cane or crutches, or if you just want to give your guests a larger space to use the restroom. There are special railings installed along the walls that give guests more stability, and a wider access door with a ground-level entrance to accommodate a wheelchair.
Luxury Restroom Trailers
The next best thing to a regular bathroom is a portable restroom trailer. These are top of the line with flushing toilets, mirrors, sinks with soap and paper towels, and even radio and lights! Make your guests feel like they are using a luxury porta potty.
Don’t Forget the Handwash Stations
Ranking just after portable toilets, handwash stations are the most important rental of an outdoor event. Especially in these times, people want to wash their hands after using the restroom, and periodically throughout the day.
There are a few options when it comes to handwash stations. None of them require water hookup or electricity.
A single sink station, with a foot pump, can service one guest at a time. An extra-large station with a foot pump can service two guests at a time. Then there is a hand sanitizing station that dispenses hand sanitizer liquid to one guest at a time.
Gauging Your Event
So, how do you gauge what type of portable potties and sanitation will be best for your event? The following section will explain further how to compare the number of people to the number of porta potties you will need, but the style is also an important decision.
- Is your event formal or casual?
- Do you have a strict or flexible budget
- Should you go basic or luxury
One tip is if it will be hot the day of your event, guests will be drinking more liquids to stay hydrated and will be using the bathroom more frequently. Plan accordingly. Also true if you will be serving alcohol at the event.
Getting a Headcount
Calculate how many people will be at your event, and factor in how long your event will last to configure how many porta potties you will need. Each porta potty provides approximately 200 uses. It is really hard to guess how many times each guest will use the bathroom during the event, so the safest move would be to rent more potties than you need, rather than less.
Have Your Portable Sanitation Serviced
Is your event longer than one day? For those weekend or even week-long events, you may want to think about scheduling service in between. Having the porta potties emptied and cleaned will mean that your event will start with a fresh restroom each day, which is nice.
Potty Placement
A lot of times when planning an event we have a schematic of where certain things will be such as food, activities, and entertainment, etc. Do you have a specific place that you are thinking of having the porta potties and hand washing stations?
Make sure that the ground is level, the spot is functional, and the area is distanced away from food, or sections where guests will be hanging out. A central location is a good idea, and against a wall in case of wind, or under a tree in case of the blazing hot sun is also a power move.
9 Point Inspection
Because a portable potty gets rented out over and over again there is a rigorous cleaning, sanitization, and inspection process that is performed in between rentals. You can be confident that the unit that you rented has had this 9 point cleaning:
- Trash removed
- Vacuum waste from the tank
- Fresh water/chemicals in the tank
- Complete any repairs
- Sanitize walls, seat, door, and floor
- Replace urinal disk
- Replenish toilet paper and hand sanitizer
- Towel dry entire unit
- Make sure it is placed in a safe/accessible place on your property
If your rentals are paid for in advance, you do not need to be there when they are dropped off, yet most customers prefer to be present to help direct the delivery staff. If the order is COD, you must be present to pay before the rentals are unloaded. Usually, the rentals are dropped off the day before the event, and picked up the day after, between the hours of 8-5.
Answering Nature’s Call
That may have been more information on portable sanitation than you ever wanted to know, but at least you can now feel confident that you are prepared for your upcoming event. Should you have any other questions, concerns, or are simply ready to rent, reach out to the friendly staff at Plummers Disposal Service to talk about it.