Portable Sanitation Issues Following the Burning Man Flood

As a small crowd gathered in 1986 to watch two men burn a sculpture, it’s doubtful any of them could have guessed that 37 years later the annual event would attract over 70,000 people. Yet, few were prepared for the rain that began Friday, September 4th, 2023. It turned the desert ground into a muddy disaster, stranding around 73,000 people as roads were impassable by any vehicles except those with adequate four-wheel tires. And even some of those couldn’t make it.

The Burning Man event had thousands of portable toilets, usually cleaned several times throughout the day. But once the rain began, no vehicles could get in or out to service the units for days. Not a pretty sight.

Burning Man Portable Sanitation Issues

With over 70,000 people and thousands of portable restroom units, the closure of roads was a disaster. The event organizer moved the service trucks to a local city before the rains arrived, which makes sense, as otherwise, they’d get stuck in the mud. And sure, a central principle of the Burning Man festival is “self-reliance.” But many people only turn to alternative methods after the condition of the portable restrooms is beyond what they can tolerate.

Every unit reached its maximum capacity. The holding tanks were nearly full, and some had graffiti added to warn off users. All the toilets were covered, from top to bottom, with thick clumps of mud intermixed with toilet paper running from inside the unit to the outside. Some had plastic bottles stacked inside, most likely used by eventgoers to store urine. The doors were flung open, smells wafting out. By Sunday, most Burning Man attendees avoided them altogether, choosing buckets, the ground, or anything else.

Preparing for Site Challenges

Ultimately, event organizers are responsible for contingency planning. Yet, your portable restrooms are at the event, and your crew will deal with the aftermath. With the increase in extreme weather events, it’s a good idea to ask a few more questions and consider how to provide service to customers during a disaster, especially when handling festivals or other events held in less-than-ideal sites — think non-paved or less accessible areas.

Consider the following questions:

• Does the organizer have a contingency plan for weather events?
• Do you receive a fee if units are inaccessible?
• Does the organizer have four-wheel vehicles to assist with servicing?
• How will the event planner communicate with you?

Managing Clean-up After an Incident

When servicing areas affected by a disaster, having a few more supplies on hand is essential. You should keep a checklist just for these moments. Your staff may wish to have extra protective gear, and you may need to haul out your high-pressure sprayer and specialty cleaners and clear out your service areas. In the Burning Man incident, several units required repairs and had graffiti damage.

Come Through During Challenging Times

Although little can be done when a site is inaccessible by vehicles, PROs can look for opportunities during emergencies. Portable sanitation is a critical service, and companies that find a way to help their community or event organizers will have a competitive edge.

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