2026 fall marathon: how many units for the water stations?

Question

We're planning our 2026 fall marathon and need to sort out the portable toilets for the five water stations along the route. The race expects 1500 runners, and the event will last about four hours. No food or alcohol is served at the water stations, just hydration. Each stop is on a public street, so the ground is level asphalt or grass. A vacuum truck will have direct access for the service visit after the race. I'm thinking about using basic standard portable toilets at each location.

My main question is, how many units should we place at each of the five water stops to handle the peak flow of runners without creating long waits? Also, should we include an ADA-compliant unit at every stop, or just at the start and finish areas?

Jules T. · Answer

Place two standard portable toilets at each of the five water stations for your 1500-runner marathon. The event industry guideline suggests one unit per 50 to 75 people for a four-hour event, but runners will arrive in waves, not all at once. Two units per station will handle the peak flow without long waits, since hydration-only stops have shorter use times than food or rest areas.

You must include an ADA-compliant unit at every water station cluster. The 2010 ADA Standards require that where multiple single-user portable toilets are clustered, at least 5 percent must be accessible. Since each station has a cluster, each needs one ADA unit. This ensures compliance and accommodates runners or volunteers with mobility needs. Standard units are fine for the others, given the short duration and simple use.

2026 fall marathon: how many units for the water stations?

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