Toilet Watch

Friends of the Sewer Welcome Toilets to Skid Row

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, November 22, 2006, at 02:56PM

Out of Service Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Don Garza, chair of DLANC's "Friends of the Sewer" ad-hoc committee, is the bringer of good news on the Automated Public Toilet front. Don has photos of foundation work being doing for two additional APT's in the Skid Row area. The new APT's will both be on San Pedro, between 5th and 6th. That'll make three tightly clustered in that area.

Pictured is the APT at Pershing Square a week ago. I haven't checked back to see if it's open yet.

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Comments

1
David Kennedy writes:

As of last night (i.e. Tuesday the 21st), no, it is not open.

# on Nov.22.2006 AT 03:06 PM
2
kenarch writes:

Nor was it open on Sunday morning 11/26.

Let's see a whole bunch of these cool looking gizmos downtown. Maybe they, along with the rain yesterday, will help alleviate the "LA perfume" so in evidence on our streets...

BTW - does anyone know where the sewage goes? Are these things plumbed into the city system - or are they some sort of composting or holding unit? Does this mean there will be a "honey wagon" (the term I remember being used for septic pumper trucks) running around? Hate to get behind those things on the freeway!

# on Nov.28.2006 AT 08:46 PM
3
Eric Richardson writes:

The APTs are hooked into the sewer. Their connections are one of the things that makes them take so long to get going -- they've got sewer, electric, and telephone (to call out when it needs supplies or has a fault).

# on Nov.28.2006 AT 08:51 PM
4
Whitman Lam writes:

Generally, L.A. sewage is treated at a sewage facility and then pumped out several miles offshore into the ocean. This is the reason bacteria levels are so dangerously high along our beaches.

Some of the sewage is turned into a thick compost pudding and trucked north to Kern County (Where Bakersfield is.) and spread across vast farmland and grass pastures. Recently local Kern residents have waged war against this practice. Somehow, the thought of being L.A.'s cesspool is not as noble and majestic as it once was.

# on Nov.28.2006 AT 11:27 PM
5
Mellor R writes:

I don't believe that bacteria levels on LA beaches are very high because of sewage treatment plants. I believe they're high because of direct run-off from streets and other outdoor surfaces throughout the region, particularly following periods of rain.

I also heard that Skid Row is kind of an environmental hazard site, because all the urine and feces that are left on its sidewalks and streets get washed into the storm drains, and soon make their way to the ocean.

A question about the Automated public toilets I'd like answered is how will they be any better than the porto potties installed around Skid Row several years ago? Those stalls became notorious for their filthiness and crime problems, for attracting people like hookers and their customers, or for being easy hideouts for drug users who wanted a convenient spot to snort or shoot up.

# on Nov.28.2006 AT 11:48 PM
6
Eric Richardson writes:

Mellor: The APTs are better because they're designed to fight the very problems you mention. They completely clean themselves between each use -- basically the entire APT gets flushed out. If they detect smoke inside they sound an alarm and open the door. I believe they also have a time limit after which they open up the door. So, sure, some things you may still be able to get away with but the APT's going to do what it can to keep you from doing your illicit deeds in there.

# on Nov.29.2006 AT 06:29 AM
7
Dennis Smith writes:

Awoke this morning to the sound of jackhammers and from my perch above the corner of 5th&Hill I can now see city workers once again tearing up the street adjacent to the APT at Pershing Square. Let's hope they are about to set up and connect the final plumbing but I'm curious why they couldn't have done this back in October when they dug up the same exact trench under 5th Street.

# on Jan.27.2007 AT 09:46 AM

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