Oregon’s Floating Toilets
Floating restrooms are available at a number of Oregon locations thanks to the collaboration of the Oregon State Marine Board and local communities. Linda Robinson of Friends of Gateway Green, sent us some photos.
The toilets are pumped out using the same vacuum technology that boaters use to pipe the contents of their waste holding tanks into local sewer systems. The facilities are partially funded by the fuel taxes paid by boaters. Owners of human powered boats such as canoes and kayaks also benefit.
Toilet availability remains a priority of boaters, fueled by their commitment to environmental health as well as to personal convenience. A list of floating restrooms, pumpout stations, and other human waste management facilities maintained by the State Marine Board is available here. By using these facilities Oregon boaters keep 750,000 gallons of sewage from entering Oregon’s rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waterways.
Floating toilets should NOT be confused with “flying toilets”. According to Wikipedia “A flying toilet is a facetious name for the use of plastic bags for defecation, which are then thrown into ditches, on the roadside, or simply as far away as possible.”