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Standard vs flushing vs deluxe porta potty: what is actually different? ✓ Solved

Luis A.asked 1 viewUnit Types & FeaturesStandard unitFlushing unitDeluxe unitEvent planningComparison

Accepted answer

A standard portable toilet is a non-flushing unit with a 50 to 70 gallon holding tank containing a deodorizer. A flushing unit is a self-contained toilet with a small freshwater tank for flushing and a separate holding tank for waste, so it flushes into its own onboard waste tank. A deluxe portable toilet typically includes a flushing mechanism plus a small sink with running water, a mirror, and m Read the full answer

I'm organizing a corporate picnic for about 150 people on a grassy field for six hours. There will be catered food and a beer garden. The rental truck can drive right up to the spot. I have three quotes: one for a standard unit, one for a flushing unit, and one for a deluxe unit. The quotes just list the names and prices but don't explain what makes them different. I know a standard unit is a basic non-flushing toilet with a holding tank. What does a flushing unit actually flush into? Is a deluxe unit just a flushing unit with extra features like a sink? Which one holds up better with beer involved?

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✓ Accepted by Luis A.

Ray M.Dallas, TX

A standard portable toilet is a non-flushing unit with a 50 to 70 gallon holding tank containing a deodorizer. A flushing unit is a self-contained toilet with a small freshwater tank for flushing and a separate holding tank for waste, so it flushes into its own onboard waste tank. A deluxe portable toilet typically includes a flushing mechanism plus a small sink with running water, a mirror, and more interior space, making it a step up from a basic flushing unit.

For your corporate picnic of 150 people with food and alcohol for six hours, the planning guideline suggests starting with one unit per 50 to 75 people for a four-hour event, then adding more for alcohol and longer duration. A standard unit is the most basic and cost-effective, but with beer involved, a flushing or deluxe unit with a more familiar toilet experience can reduce user complaints and mess. The deluxe unit's sink encourages handwashing, which is a plus with catered food. All three types are serviced the same way by a vacuum truck, but flushing and deluxe units may require more frequent service due to their freshwater tanks running out or the higher usage they attract. The price difference is driven by the unit's features, the rental duration, and the required service frequency.

  • Luis A. Thanks Ray. That service frequency point for flushing units is key. I'll ask my rental company if they have a [formaldehyde-free deodorizer](https://portapotty.forum/glossary/formaldehyde-free-deodorizer/) for their units.
1
Porta Potty Forum Team moderatorUnited States

Ray covered the features, but your driver will treat a flushing unit differently during a service visit. A standard unit gets its holding tank pumped and a fresh charge of deodorizer. A flushing unit also needs its separate fresh water tank refilled to keep the flush working, and that extra step can affect service time and frequency, especially with heavy use. The deluxe unit's sink runs off that same freshwater tank, so it will deplete faster. For 150 people with beer and food, plan on more than the baseline guideline of one unit per 50-75 people; add extra units or an ADA-compliant unit to meet the ADA cluster rule if you have a group of toilets.

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Jules T.Sacramento, CA

Ray and the team covered the main features, but the ADA 5 percent cluster rule applies to your corporate picnic. The 2010 ADA Standards require at least one ADA-compliant unit in any cluster of portable toilets at a single location. For 150 guests, you will have a cluster. The accessible unit has a wider door, internal turning space, and grab bars. Your rental company can advise on placement to keep the accessible path clear on the grassy field. Also, while a deluxe unit's sink is a plus, it uses the same limited fresh water tank as the flush, so with heavy use the water may run out before the scheduled service visit, requiring an extra trip.

  • Brooke L. The [ADA-compliant portable toilet](https://portapotty.forum/glossary/ada-unit/) also requires a wider door and internal turning space, which is why placement on level ground matters even more for accessibility.

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