The Right Rest Stop
Selecting Restroom Structures to Suit Your Site
By Dave Ramont
Set It Up
When it comes to installing restroom structures, oftentimes it can be done in less than a day. The precast concrete buildings require no footings or foundation, and can be installed on a level six-inch layer of crushed stone. Burger said they'll visit any site, free of charge, to make an assessment. "Even in the remotest sites, such as Death Valley National Park, if we can get equipment in, we'll get the building installed."
Smith agreed that installations can be tricky, sharing how they delivered a restroom to a very remote state park in North Carolina known for rock climbing. "Luckily, it was a single person restroom, but it was quite the job getting the excavator in there to dig the hole for the vault that goes under the restroom."
He added that installing a restroom in an urban park where there is little wiggle room can be just as challenging. "By performing a site survey prior to installation, we can anticipate any issues and prepare with the proper crane, rigging and personnel to mitigate those problems."
Looking forward, Burger believes there are many new trends in the industry, including buildings that are more sustainable, gender-neutral or have family-assist capabilities. "Buildings that can monitor usage and have controls to lock themselves at night and open in the morning are also in demand. But, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Parks departments are still looking for great designs that are easy to keep clean and maintain, because park users want buildings that are clean, and they feel safe using."
Waste Recycling
Another option for parks is composting toilets, waterless toilets that use the natural processes of evaporation and decomposition to recycle human waste. Waste entering the system is over 90 percent water, which is evaporated and carried out through a vent system, with the remaining solid material to be converted to useful fertilizer by natural decomposition. In some systems, carbon, such as peat moss or sawdust, is added after each use to reduce odor and improve the delicate balance between oxygen, heat, moisture and organic material needed to ensure the proper environment for bacteria to transform the waste into fertilizer.
These facilities have all the advantages of vault toilets, plus no sewage has to be hauled away. But frequent servicing and maintenance are required, and failure to do so can lead to terrible odors, failure to compost properly and septic conditions in the compost chamber. This often leads to closure or removal of the buildings.