From Portland to Reno, Conceived to Withstand Abuse
The Reno Restroom project began with the idea to provide restrooms to anyone utilizing the Truckee River path, including people without stable shelter who often gather in areas along the water.
“There’s a lot of people, all involved,” said John Enloe, the project manager from Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), of the process of getting just one of these Portland conceived bathrooms operational.
Enloe explained Renown Regional Medical Center provided a lot of in-kind contributions as well as financial aid. Other funding organizations include the collaborative organization called One Truckee River, the Washoe County Health District, and the City of Reno. Enloe said there is a long term goal to install 18 more of these types of restrooms on the path between Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, even though it could be a while before a second one is installed.
The Portland Loo was initiated in that city over ten years ago. According to its own website, the Portland Loo “has proven to be a durable and inexpensive solution to keep your city clean and crime-free.”
It’s not without its detractors though. According to the Portland Loo Wikipedia age, one police officer called it "(former Portland city commissioner) Randy Leonard’s crack house right there" and "a favorite nighttime destination for drug dealers and prostitutes, who conduct their business behind its closed door." This is a similar refrain to what some people say happens in Reno’s motels.
Enloe said another organization, the Truckee River Fund, which has money from water service rate payers, provided One Truckee River, a grant of almost $125,000 to begin the project here. Each restroom will cost a couple hundred thousand dollars and be connected to the existing water and sewer systems here in the Truckee Meadows. “A bathroom on steroids, if you will.” said Enloe.
The restroom is open to the public during mostly daytime hours and available year round via a key code that unlocks the door. Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside, and it reopens after ten minutes of use.
“Designed to discourage less than savory acts”
Designed to be nearly indestructible and graffiti proof, these “Portland Loos” are constructed from special coated-stainless steel which also makes them easy to clean with a hose. The open wall panels allow anyone to see how many occupants are inside, helping to reduce crime and loitering. However, the slats are below knee level and above shoulder height and angled in a way that provides privacy.
The toilets operate with low voltage, in fact low enough to be powered by solar panels. “It’s not a place people can hang out in,” explained Enloe. “It’s designed to discourage less than savory acts.” The plumbing is all wrapped with a heating element to prevent freezing in the cold winter months. At night, a small light illuminates the outside but switches to an interior light when occupied.
Enloe said those without stable shelter have become some of the main users of the restroom, even though on a recent cold day, no one showed up to use it over a twenty minute period. “We are getting a tremendous response,” he said. “The response from the community that’s using them has been very positive.”
The restroom includes hand sanitizer, a sharps disposal, and a baby changing station. The open air design helps keep the facility’s odors down and ensures easy cleaning.
Trying to Keep the River Cleaner
“I think everybody is optimistic,” said Enloe about the community’s response to the restroom. “I’ve been on that bike path and been wondering, when’s the next restroom.” Enloe hopes the addition of these public restrooms will ultimately keep the river cleaner and safer for the community, leading ultimately to more use from the public. Anything that goes in the river, TMWA has to take out, Enloe said. Everything from soda to human waste, TMWA has to treat and remove in order to keep the quality of the water drinkable, something nearly half a million people benefit from.
“Right now there are two more in the work,” noted Enloe. “We’re just finalizing the locations.” Potential locations include one closer to downtown and one near the end of Reno and the beginning of Sparks. These two restrooms, which will further serve the homeless community could be up and running within the next year if all goes according to plans. Enloe though anticipates the ongoing pandemic could cause delays. However, he says the funding has been secured and the final stage of design and selecting location is underway.
Located on the outside is an easy to use handwashing station ensuring proper sanitization. This also decreases the amount of time people spend inside.
A Needed Amenity
“We really just want to prove it out and see that they’re used and that they’re practical,” said Enloe. He hopes the community will treat them well while utilizing them because that means less human waste will go into the river. “I think it’s a needed amenity,” Enloe said, “I think it’s better for everybody and better for the community.”
Other communities recently taking on Portland Loos as well include Athens, Georgia, Sacramento and Astoria, Oregon.
The blue light inside the typical Portland Loo is supposed to make it difficult for intravenous drug users to find a vein for injection, but alleged vandalism, drug use and drug deals inside bathrooms were one reason Chico abandoned a project for 24-hour downtown bathrooms. Reno’s first free Portland Loo is open just 12 hours.
Our Town Reno Reporting by Richard Bednarski
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