Posts by Phlush
Fall brings new opportunities for PHLUSH to go "glocal"
We’re all in this together, aren’t we? We all poop and pee. How about joining PHLUSH as a donor or volunteer?
Read MoreEmergency Sanitation Recommendations for Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence is upon us. She is predicted to bring excessive rainfall (over 2 feet) and dangerous storm surge (up to 9-12 feet) to North and South Carolina. While some are rejoicing that wind speeds have been downgraded, NWS continues to predict life-threatening storm surge and unprecedented rainfall. As an organization focused on safe sanitation…
Read MoreHurricanes, homelessness, and human needs – 2017 Annual Report
In 2017, we made progress toward our goals against a background of hurricanes, homelessness, and a new awareness of human needs that underlines the significance of our work. We invite you to download our 2017 PHLUSH Annual Report. The deadly consequences of hygiene facilities that came too late Public toilet and hygiene facilities protect human…
Read MoreDesign Trends: Inclusion, Privacy, Efficiency, & Convenience
We’ve been taking a closer look at contemporary restrooms and see some excellent trends in their design, namely inclusion, privacy, efficiency, and convenience. INCLUSION Inclusive, gender-neutral restrooms serve everyone from those caring for opposite-sex children or elders to gender non-conforming people. Unlike single unisex ADA toilet rooms, new space-efficient facilities bring everyone into the same…
Read MoreTransit’s missing link: The public toilet
This case study illustrates how the lack of a public restroom on a key route can render transit unusable for many riders and what community members can do to fight back. When it opened in late 2016, riders changing buses at an expensive new transit center in Washington State were dismayed to find they had…
Read MoreNew documentary breaks taboos to explore America’s wastewater infrastructure
Documentary filmmaker Karina Mangu-Ward is going to make a splash with FLUSH, which premieres worldwide on November 15th, 2017. Mangu-Ward’s images are captivating, the editing is excellent, and the film features some of North America’s most important sanitation heroes. It will change the way you think about poop. We here at the other PHLUSH (Public Hygiene Lets Us…
Read MorePHLUSH urges Orange County to reopen restrooms in public letter
Dear Orange County Board of Supervisors: Our organization Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human (PHLUSH) was appalled at the forced removal of portable toilets located along the banks of the Santa Ana River as reported in a recent article from The Guardian. These toilets were used by hundreds of people, and women and children are…
Read MoreWorld Water Week 2017: Live Blog
Welcome to the PHLUSH live blog of World Water Week 2017. PHLUSH Program Manager Carol McCreary is live blogging (using Twitter) the event in Stockholm, Sweden from August 27th to September 1st. The event program is here. The exhibitors are here. If you want her to discuss a specific topic, please leave a comment on…
Read MoreWhen someone needs a toilet but doesn’t have a home: building support for public toilets
This post is by PHLUSH board member Kyle Earlywine. He also runs his own toilet business and blog. He is a passionate advocate for dignified sanitation for those living without homes. Why do homeless people need toilets? For most people, access to a toilet is a given. Even if your community lacks restroom access, there…
Read MoreHow do you engage government officials on toilets?
Access to water and sanitation are human rights! But saying this is not enough to get a commitment from governments. We need to engage and persuade public officials who are likely to have limited funding and competing priorities. We need to understand their priorities and motivations if we are to influence governments at the local,…
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