City of Portland trying new solar-powered public toilet

[Parche]

City of Portland trying new solar-powered public toilet


Public toilets PORTLAND, Ore. -- The City of Portland's new public bathroom program has an expensive prototype.


The $140,000 “Loo” makes its debut early next month.


City Commissioner Randy Leonard -- co-inventor Portland’s version of the public bathroom -- hopes the stainless steel potty shelter will make the city flush with cash.


With two weeks until the unveiling, the sparks of a toilet evolution are flying at Madden's fabrication plant in Northwest Portland.


Nathan Marker is working on bringing Portland city hall's vision of the ultimate solar-powered public toilet to life.


“We have heaters around the water lines because there's a lot of ventilation and we don't want them freezing in the winter,” said Marker, pointing at 30 pages of detailed schematics.


Workers are applying the finishing touches to Commissioner Leonard's prototype.


“We're patenting the design and we intend to actually market them,” he said.


Leonard says even though model number one of the Portland Loo cost $140,000, it could end up making the city money through mass production, selling at $25,000 apiece


“We're keeping our fingers crossed that a production model will be very reasonable. I've had a lot of inquiries in the United States and Canada about purchasing them.”


Entrepreneurialism aside, the city says it's recognizing a humanitarian need for public rest rooms.


To reduce opportunities for vandalism and crime, the Loo will be a difficult hiding spot.


“You can see people's feet,” explained Marker.


The design is unlike any other.


And that has Commissioner Leonard thinking big about public toilets.


“(We can) make money that will reduce water rates as well.”


If the Loo is profitable, it would add to the Portland Water Bureau's bottom line, thus, reducing the customer's water bills.


There's still $360,000 left in the pilot program.


So look for additional public toilets coming soon.

[Arugula Latte]

1. How perfect for our sunny city, eh, Parche?

:rofl: :hi:

[montanto]

2. well,

I hope people can hold it till after the fourth of July.

I love Portland. Lived there for ten years. But a solar powered toilet? With all that beer and coffee?

[CreekDog]

3. why don't they harness hippie aura's as a power source?

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

4. What, no pics?

:(