Through education and advocacy, PHLUSH helps local governments and citizen groups to provide equitable public restroom availability and to prepare for sanitation disasters with appropriate ecological toilet systems.
Why Public Hygiene?
HUMAN DIGNITY
Our ability to respond to a universal biological need is a basic human right. Our houseless neighbors, those of us who have medical conditions, and those who are older, younger, pregnant, menstruating, or non-binary are especially in need of safe and adequate facilities to meet their sanitary needs.
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Public toilets enable us to be physically active and enjoy new experiences when we’re away from home. Our mental well-being is enhanced when we’re out with families and friends and know there's a place "to go." Adequate facilities promote more time spent enjoying our public spaces.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Our sewers run the risk of damage due to earthquakes, flooding, cyber-hacking, and other threats. Most emergency preparedness resources/kits don't plan for an alternative way of using the toilet when needed. Having this plan in place isn't just smart - it could save a life.
More on San Francisco's AmeniPods. https://www.bdcnetwork.com/smithgroup-designed-public-restroom-debuts-san-francisco We've advocated co-locating toilets with onstreet retail from the getgo. https://archive.phlush.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/PHLUSH-Public-Restrooms-for-Old-Town-Chinatown.pdf @BDCNetwork
An interesting upgrade of the Automated Public Toilet being installed in SF in place of older APTs. Hopefully the kinks will be worked out. One advantage is that the manufacturer JCDecaux makes them available free of charge in return for outer walls being used for advertising. https://twitter.com/PortlandPHLUSH/status/1598366690403762176
...the door slid shut, the restroom locked & made whirring sounds for about 45 seconds. I approached an attendant & asked her how it cleaned itself, exactly. Does it just spray water everywhere? “Yep, it just sprays water everywhere,” she repeated flatly. https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/san-francisco-new-public-bathroom-17621776.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight
December 28, 2021 As the cost of housing skyrockets across the United States, we’ve been wondering about the potential of water reuse and low-water toilet technologies to augment the affordable housing supply. Now, housing advocates, local officials, and residents in rural Jefferson County, Washington, have asked PHLUSH to find…
Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day, and PHLUSH realizes that menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and health can be improved with adequate access to restrooms. We are beginning to dive into the intersection of restroom advocacy and MHM -- learn more by hearing our board President, Genevieve Schutzius, speak on the intersection…
No matter one's position in life, the title of that old children's book applies: "Everyone Poops." From a manual laborer all the way to royalty, nature's call is one we all must answer - sometimes more urgently than others! That's why even The Queen City must admit that she's ready…
Can ecological sanitation help increase the supply of affordable housing?
Happy Menstrual Hygiene Day!
Is the Queen City ready to PHLUSH?
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