Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the health risks of contact with human waste?
2. What currently available restroom facilities are appropriate for disaster recovery situations?
3. In what situations would traditional porta-johns not be available?
4. When would you deploy a Restop Emergency Toilet over a traditional porta-john?
5. Do situations exist where complete restrooms are not required, but waste handling remains a problem?
6. Can I purchase Restop Systems locally?

Answers

1. What are the health risks of contact with human waste?
   
   Because they may contain disease-bearing bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella and such viruses as Hepatitis A, B and F, urine and feces are potentially infectious and contact with them, directly or through airborne transmission, provides exposure to a variety of diseases. In addition, open and untreated urine and feces create a fertile environment for the further growth of infectious bacterial and viral agents, some of which can produce life-threatening disease and contagion, even resulting in wide-scale public health risk. Among the more serious diseases transmitted through the bacteria and viruses in human waste:
   
   • pneumonia
   • gonorrhea
   • septicemia
   • meningitis
   • stomach cancers
   • gastroenteritis
   • dysentery
   • hepatitis
   • typhoid & related fevers
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2. What currently available restroom facilities are appropriate for disaster recovery situations?
   
   Plumbed Facilities
   Traditional restrooms with direct plumbing to septic systems. Generally available in locations that have been designated as shelters for emergency use.
   
   Porta-johns
   Hard-sided, portable facilities that utilize a chemically treated waste collection system to hold waste for transport and disposal. Used to supplement plumbed facilities or in areas where plumbed facilities aren’t service after installation. Must be transported to disaster site by truck or airlift. Require service after installation.
   
   Restop® Emergency Toilets
   Compact and personally portable restroom systems that treat and contain waste. Disposable. Require no special installation. Require no service.
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3. In what situations would traditional porta-johns not be available?
   
   The disaster incident has displaced large numbers of citizens, over whelming shelters and exhausting available porta-johns. Thousands are left without access to any restroom facility.
   
   The disaster incident has cut off road access, and with no helicopters available, porta-johns cannot be airlifted to the scene. Thousands are left without access to any restroom facility.
   
   The disaster incident has cut off road access making it necessary to airlift porta-johns into the area. However, since the waste cannot be transported out, the public is exposed to a health hazard.
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4. When would you deploy a Restop Emergency Toilet over a traditional porta-john?
   
   Traditional porta-johns can be deployed as long as disaster conditions permit their delivery and servicing. Because the Restop Emergency Toilet is personally portable and disposable it requires neither special installation nor servicing. It can be carried in and set up immediately—any time and anywhere a person can go.
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5. Do situations exist where complete restrooms are not required, but waste handling remains a problem?
   
   Yes. It may be appropriate to return citizens to their community even though water main breaks or flooded septic systems make their home facilities inoperable. People will return to their homes and businesses in this situation despite the health hazard of limited restroom facilities. In these cases, the Restop Emergency Toilet provides each user a safe means to contain and treat waste. Waste is converted into a deodorized gel while biodegradation begins immediately through the presence of active enzymes.
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6. Can I purchase Restop Systems locally?
   
   American Innotek is a sole source supplier of personally transportable and disposable field lavatory systems, called Restop. Restop is supplied to the U.S. Government and its state agencies. However, these products are easy to order through GSA, or through our Emergency Distributors (call for information at 800/366-3941)
   
   Contact GSA Advantage!, a menu driven system. The internet address for GSA Advantage! is: http://www.gsaadvantage.gov.
   
   Then type in “American Innotek” or “Portable Restrooms.”
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