San Francisco's new sidewalk toilet craps out after three days

Shades of Hercules’ fifth labor: “according to a supervisor, some lady went in there, and afterward, the toilet was stuck in its self-cleaning cycle.”

From the city’s press release announcing these crappers’ imminent arrival:

“Beginning at Embarcadero Plaza, the original forest green Art Nouveau-style toilets are being replaced with a new model that has more efficient and effective cleaning systems, as well as better lighting that includes a skylight to bring in daylight from above and a rain-water collection network that supports routine washing. Their mechanical systems have been upgraded. The toilets self-clean after every use and the hand-washing system is stronger and more energy-efficient. As before, the public toilets will be accessible to people with disabilities and connected directly to City sewer, water and electrical lines.

The new toilets are unique to San Francisco, with a design that blends sculpture and technology to create a cleaner, safer and more hygienic experience,” said Bill Katz, design principal with SmithGroup. “With their modeled stainless-steel surface, they will literally reflect our diverse city neighborhoods and their deep-rooted history while creating sculptural street furniture.

As the toilets and kiosks are intended to be used for the next 20 years, they need to be not only timeless in their design but detailed, fabricated and maintained to withstand decades of public use.

Twenty years, or one fat woman with a bowel problem, whichever comes first.

Note for those keeping score: This in not the single toilet, posted about earlier here at FWIW, that SF is building for a cost of $1.7 million — that one won’t open until 2025 . Other cities are almost as profligate with their taxpayers’ money:

The city of Atlanta spent $1.5 million to install five public toilet facilities, and to maintain them for two years.

San Diego spent roughly $5.8 million to demolish an existing comfort station and build a new one in the same location, complete with an accessible pathway. And in Staten Island, N.Y., a comfort station planned for Seaside Wildlife Nature Park that has been in the works since 2018 will have cost somewhere between $5 million and $10 million when it’s completed, which should be next month.