When hosting an outdoor public event, your main concern is probably how to entice people to go. But, once they’re there, where can they “go”? The following guide offers tips for where to place portable toilets for the convenience of the guests.

Do:

Provide easy access.

Outdoor toilets should be placed within easy viewing distance of the guests. If your event is large, consider having several of them spread throughout the area or giving visitors a map of the event with the porta-potties clearly identified. You might also attach a colorful flag to them to catch the eye.

Set them up near roadways.

After doing what you can to make them noticeable, also seek to make them easy to get to. This means placing them near a walkable pathway, road, or parking lot. While your guests will appreciate this, it can also be a benefit to the service people who deliver them and pick them up—as well as the staff in charge of emptying or restocking them.

Find a flat surface.

You don’t want your portable toilets to sit on hilly or uneven ground. If they can be easily unsettled, it increases the risk of a messy accident. If they can’t be set on a concrete or paved surface, try finding grassy land that’s relatively smooth.

Don’t:

Place them near concession stands.

While it may seem sensible to keep your portable toilets within a short distance of food stands, this can backfire on you. Remember that outdoor toilets can give off unpleasant odors that can ruin your guests’ appetites. 

Let them block emergency equipment.

Emergency personnel may have to get to fire hydrants, extinguishers, and first aid supplies in a hurry. A long line to use the public toilets can interfere with the efforts of emergency responders, so plan ahead for these situations.

Forget to provide handicap access.

Additionally, make sure there is space for at least one—and perhaps multiple—handicap accessible portable toilets at your venue. You want to be able to serve as many guests as possible, including those with disabilities. Parents with young children also tend to use them. And, of course, it’s the law.

Horizon Services is located in Fairbanks, AK, and provides portable toilet rentals to meet the needs of individual customers and businesses. Whether you’re planning a birthday or graduation party or you need them for a job site or outdoor festival, they can provide you with clean and well-maintained units. To learn more about their offerings, visit their website. Call them at (907) 452-1480 with questions or to make a reservation.