Philadelphia recently installed two Portland Loos: modular, self-contained public toilets, commissioned for the first time by Portland, Oregon. The single-stall metal structures are easy to keep clean and have rounded walls to prevent graffiti, and walls with slats at the top and bottom to prevent mischief in the stables. However, despite these supposed benefits, cities regularly spend absurd amounts of taxpayer money on purchasing and installing the bathrooms.
Philly plans to install six Loos over the next five years as part of the city’s public restroom pilot, which Philadelphia Health and Human Services launched in January 2021. The city has budgeted $1.8 million for six units, or $300,000 per unit, including installation costs.
This is according to a spokesperson for Portland Loo who spoke RodeThe total cost is approximately $200,000: up to $155,000 for the device, including shipping, and between $30,000 and $80,000 for installation. Maintenance is approximately $14,000 per year.
![A collage of photos from The Portland Loo](https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/2023/11/topicswaste-1.jpg)
- $140,000
Portland, Ore for the original 2008 - $330,000
Dayton, Ohio for two units - $97,000
San Antonio, Texas for one unit - $290,000
Charleston, South Carolina for one unit - $320,000
Cambridge, MA for one unit
“We had one toilet near a children’s football field – a traditional brick…Unfortunately the reality is that people spread feces all over the walls. It happened so often…just way too often. Since it’s a brick and mortar, you have to be able to never clean that up.”
—Ventura, California, Parks and Recreation Director Nancy O’Connor in a statement to The citizen of Philadelphia