Prefabricated Bathrooms: Clean Revolution in Mobile Toilet Space

What are mobile toilets?

Mobile toilets, also known as prefabricated bathrooms, are portable toilet facilities that can be flexibly deployed in various locations, whether fixed or temporary. They emerged out of specific toilet needs in specific scenarios: at construction sites, shipbuilding slipways, and other workplaces, they can reduce workers' travel time to fixed toilets, improving productivity. During large gatherings and sporting events, they can meet the temporary restroom needs of large crowds. Furthermore, to address the shortage and poor layout of public toilets in cities, governments have deployed mobile toilets in areas where fixed toilets are difficult to build, addressing public service shortcomings.

From Simple to Perfect

Early mobile toilets were mostly made of materials like wood, resulting in simple construction and functionality. They easily absorbed odors, resulting in a poor user experience. With the continuous advancement of technology, mobile toilets are now made of materials like fiberglass and polyethylene, significantly evolving in terms of mobility and wastewater treatment methods. Their functionality continues to improve, and their service efficiency is increasing.

Various Types of Mobile Toilets

Single-Station Mobile Toilets:

These are self-contained, single-unit structures, typically housing only one squatting stall. Materials typically include fiberglass, polyethylene, and other materials, with lightweight panels covered by steel supports. Their lightweight structure makes them easy to transport or hoist, and some can be assembled on-site, occupying a small footprint and facilitating flexible deployment. Multiple units can also be connected to form arrays to accommodate multiple users.

Composite-structure mobile toilets:

Each unit typically has two or more internal toilet stalls, with up to 10 or more. They are typically constructed from lightweight panels covered by steel supports, though some are also modified from container hulls or bus bodies. A characteristic of these portable toilets is the large number of squatting stalls within each unit, accommodating a large number of people simultaneously and achieving high efficiency.

Environmental Advantages of Prefabricated Bathrooms (Toilets)

Efficient Water Utilization

Water-saving fixtures are used to reduce the water consumption per flush to 0.5-2 liters, which is only 1/10-1/5 of that of traditional toilets. Some waterless flushing options use no water at all, making them suitable for use in water-scarce environments. High-end products feature a closed-loop water circulation system, allowing treated reclaimed water to be reused for flushing and cleaning. This water recycling rate exceeds 80%, reducing reliance on municipal water supplies.

Source Control of Pollutants

Fecal wastewater is rendered harmless through biodegradation and chemical treatment. Bioreactors convert organic matter into harmless substances, and the residue can be used as organic fertilizer. A leak-proof design seals wastewater collection to prevent leakage and contamination. Dry-pack toilets use biodegradable plastic bags to seal excrement, reducing plastic pollution and construction waste. Notably, these toilets used on construction sites are often considered low-value consumables and can be scrapped and recycled after construction is complete, further improving resource recycling efficiency.

Clean Energy Applications

Integrated renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic panels and small wind turbines power lighting, ventilation, and other equipment, achieving "zero-carbon energy" self-sufficiency. Energy-saving appliances and optimized ventilation systems reduce daily energy consumption. Insulation materials reduce heating and cooling energy consumption in extreme climates.

Outstanding Ecological Adaptability

Requiring no large-scale foundation excavation, the lightweight design minimizes damage to surface vegetation and soil, making it suitable for ecologically sensitive areas. After use, the entire site can be relocated, allowing for rapid restoration. Mechanized handling is highly efficient, and while some fixed installations are suitable for terrain-restricted areas, they can be hoisted and reused in the event of municipal relocation, minimizing demolition losses. They can be quickly deployed in temporary locations or remote areas, addressing gaps in environmental protection infrastructure and preventing pollution and disease transmission caused by concentrated crowds.

Wastewater Treatment Methods

Typically, intermittent aerobic and anaerobic fecal wastewater treatment systems are deployed. Biofilm technology is used to accelerate the fermentation and decomposition of fecal wastewater, adding biological strains. The treated water is then recycled through a filtration system for toilet flushing. This type of wastewater treatment utilizes advanced wastewater treatment technology, conserving water resources and reducing pumping times, demonstrating environmental protection.

Functional Upgrades: Automation and Humanized Design

Today's mobile toilets have added numerous automated features, such as automatic door opening upon coin insertion, automatic flushing of toilet fixtures and floors after use, emergency call systems, and facilities for the disabled. There are even solar-powered mobile toilets, as well as those with built-in power generation and air conditioning, creating a wide variety of options.

Significant Advantages Over Traditional Toilets

Mobile toilets offer significant advantages over traditional fixed toilets. They are flexible in their operating environment, feature a lightweight structure, and offer a variety of color combinations. They are suitable for a variety of locations, including train stations, docks, tourist attractions, villa complexes, new residential complexes, large construction sites, squares, densely populated public spaces, and busy commercial streets. It has the advantages of being movable, combinable, and easy to transport, and its internal configuration is often higher than that of ordinary fixed toilets.