What's the most unusual place you've ever had to service a porta potty?

Question

Nine years driving a vacuum truck, and I've seen it all. Last month, I had to service a standard unit perched on a half-finished bridge deck, 200 feet up. The crane operator lowered me and my gear in a basket, no truck access, just a 100-foot hose drop to the pump truck below. The unit was for a crew of 20 working 10-hour shifts, no alcohol, just coffee. Muddy steel grating, wind whipping through the frame. Got it done, but my knees were talking to me all the way down. What's the most unusual spot you've had to wrangle a unit? Ever serviced one somewhere truly bizarre?

Priya N. · Answer

The most unusual place I've serviced a portable toilet was on a floating dock during a city kayak festival. The [standard unit](https://portapotty.forum/glossary/standard-unit/) was strapped to a barge, and my vacuum truck had to park on the pier with a 50-foot hose run over the water. We used extra tie-downs for stability, and the service visit required coordinating with boat traffic. The unit served about 75 attendees over a six-hour event, which aligns with the [units per person guideline](https://portapotty.forum/glossary/units-per-person/) for a short gathering without alcohol. Service frequency stayed weekly, but we added an extra check due to the marine environment and higher foot traffic. Unusual placements like this often increase costs due to specialized equipment, longer hoses, and additional labor time, not the unit type itself. Every city's permit office reviews these setups for safety and environmental rules, especially near water.

What's the most unusual place you've ever had to service a porta potty?

1 answer