What is the difference between flushing and non-flushing portable toilets?
Flushing portable toilets have a toilet bowl that resembles the toilet bowl of a traditional toilet. They generally have a flap or a hole that is offset to one side which hides the contents of the holding tank.
Most people associate non-flushing portable toilets (aka. basic portaloos, drop tank portaloos or static tank portaloos) with the picture in their minds when someone mentions a portable toilet. It’s a seat with a large hole under it straight into the holding tank.
Main differences between flushing and non-flushing portable toilets:
- Toilet bowl
Flushing portaloos have a semi-traditional toilet bowl blocking the contents of the holding tank.
- Foot or hand pump
Portable toilets with a flushing system fitted have either a foot pump or a hand pump to activate the flush system.
- Holding tank contents
The contents of the holding tank is not visible in toilets fitted with flushing systems where as it is with non-flushing toilets.
- Hand basin
Some toilets, generally fresh water flush portable toilets are fitted with hand basins. You wont find hand basins in all flushing toilets however but is worth mentioning here that some do have them.
While visually non-flushing portaloos aren’t as pleasant as flushing portaloos they serve the same purpose and largely work in the same way in terms of chemicals breaking down waste.
There is also a third type of portable toilet which is a fresh water flush toilet. These have a hand basin in them where fresh water is stored. The fresh water is used for both washing your hands and flushing the toilet. These toilets are great as long as you don’t run out of fresh water – at which point you’re not much better off than grabbing a bucket and going behind the nearest tree.
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