Stuff You Should Know SYSK Selects: How Porta-Potties Work
Sep 12, 2020
Discover the intriguing world of porta-potties, from their 1940s origins to modern luxury models. Learn about the quirky logistics needed for events like the Taste of Chicago and the key figures who shaped the industry. Explore the surprising science behind the blue dye in holding tanks and the importance of cleanliness. Enjoy light-hearted anecdotes about the unique challenges faced by service workers and how these essential facilities are portrayed in popular culture.
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Taste of Chicago Porta-Potties
- Service Sanitation, Inc. used 380 regular porta-potties for the 2014 Taste of Chicago.
- They also provided 28 wheelchair-accessible ones and 80 hand-washing stations.
Porta-Potty Mechanics
- Porta-potties are simpler than they appear, essentially self-contained units.
- Servicing involves vacuuming waste into a truck and transporting it to a treatment plant.
WWII Shipyard Toilets
- World War II shipyards needed more toilets because workers had to row back to the docks to use them.
- This led to the development of early porta-potties on ships, like the Andy Gump.