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Why does our construction site porta potty smell like ammonia after a hot day?

Hector V.asked 1 viewOdor, Cleaning & ChemicalsOdorDeodorizerHeatService frequencyConstruction site

We have a crew of about 40 guys on this high-rise site for a 10-week build. Our rental company drops a standard portable toilet with the standard blue liquid deodorizer and services it every Thursday. By Friday afternoon, when the Phoenix sun has been beating down all day, the unit stinks of ammonia. It's a sharp, chemical smell, not the usual waste odor.

The unit sits on level dirt near the curb with good truck access. It's a standard unit, non-flushing. The service driver pumps the holding tank, adds more of the blue deodorizer, and wipes it down. I thought the blue stuff was supposed to control smell for the whole week. Is the heat breaking down the chemicals? Or is the weekly service frequency just not enough for 40 guys in this heat?

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Deb K.Akron, OH

The ammonia smell is the deodorizer breaking down. A standard unit for 40 people in Phoenix heat needs service more than once a week.

The blue liquid contains chemicals that mask odors and break down waste. Extreme heat accelerates the chemical reactions inside the holding tank, using up the deodorizer faster. When the fragrance and other components are spent, you are left with the sharp ammonia smell from the underlying waste. It is a sign the unit is overloaded for the current service frequency.

OSHA 1926.51 requires one toilet and one urinal for 20 to 199 workers. You are at the minimum with 40 people. For a high-use, high-heat situation, weekly service is not enough. The holding tank is likely reaching capacity and the chemical is exhausted before the next Thursday visit.

Talk to your rental company. You may need a second unit to split the usage, or you can request a mid-week service. A second unit would also better meet the OSHA standard for your crew size. The cost will be higher, but the alternative is a smelly, unpleasant worksite.

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