An inch of standing water on the floor of our jobsite porta potty after three days of rain. Normal, or is it sitting wrong?

Question

We've had three days of steady rain on our utility trench job, and the floor of our standard unit had an inch of standing water in the back corner when I opened the door at 6am. I can't see the roof dripping, so I think it's coming in under the door or through the vents. A couple of the guys now step up on the seat riser to avoid the puddle, which seems like a good way to crack something.

The unit sits on packed gravel with a slight lean toward the back, and it was serviced Monday. Is a wet floor after heavy rain normal, or does it mean the unit is sitting wrong or the door seal is shot? I'd rather not request an extra trip if it's just weather, but I also don't want it getting worse.

Ray M. · Answer

An inch of standing water on the floor is not normal and usually means a leak or poor placement. Check the door seal first; a worn or misaligned seal lets water run in under the door during heavy rain. The slight lean toward the back might be directing water toward that corner instead of away. Your crew stepping on the seat riser risks cracking the plastic base or the seat itself, which would mean a repair bill.

Call your rental company for a service visit. They'll check the seal, reposition the unit on more level ground if needed, and pump out any water that got into the holding tank. Don't wait, water inside can dilute the deodorizer and lead to odors or overflow. This isn't an extra trip you should avoid; it's a maintenance issue they'll want to fix to prevent damage to their unit. On a utility trench job, keeping the unit functional and safe is part of the service you're paying for.

An inch of standing water on the floor of our jobsite porta potty after three days of rain. Normal, or is it sitting wrong?

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