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Why does our construction site porta potty reek every Monday morning?

Hector V.asked 2 viewsOdor, Cleaning & ChemicalsOdorDeodorizerService frequencyHolding tankHeat

We have six standard units on a commercial site with 60 guys, Monday to Friday. The rental company services them every Thursday. By Friday afternoon, they're fine, no real smell, blue liquid still in the bowl. But every Monday morning, the stench hits you 20 feet away. The crew swears they're not the problem, and I believe them; we've had the same team for months. The units sit on level gravel, and the vacuum truck has no trouble reaching them. What gives? Is it the weekend heat cooking the tank? Does the deodorizer break down? Or is the service schedule just wrong for our setup?

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Deb K.Akron, OH

The service schedule is wrong for your setup. Your six standard units are enough for 60 workers under OSHA 1926.51, but Thursday service leaves them sitting full all weekend. The deodorizer in the holding tank works by masking odor and breaking down waste, but it gets overwhelmed after two days of heavy use. By Friday afternoon, the tank is near capacity, and summer heat accelerates bacterial activity over the weekend. That produces hydrogen sulfide and other gases, which build up and vent out. The blue liquid you see is just dye and fragrance; it doesn't mean the tank has capacity. You need twice-weekly service, ideally Wednesday and Friday, to prevent Monday stench. Talk to your rental company about adjusting the service frequency; it will cost more, but it's cheaper than crew complaints.

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