Emden starts a revolution: modern toilets against vandalism!

Emden starts a revolution: modern toilets against vandalism!

In Emden, the situation surrounding public toilets - especially at the main train station - is a topic of conversation. The facilities are often badly damaged and defaced, which is not only detrimental to the city's good reputation. A new concept is now intended to remedy the situation and modernize the sanitary facilities in the city center. NWZ Online reports that the main aim of these measures is to have clean, barrier-free and modern toilets.

One of the first measures concerns the misused toilet at the train station. The plan is for users to have to pay for use in the future, which will cover part of the maintenance costs. The city has included cost estimates of 250,000 euros annually for this renovation in its 2025/26 budget planning. The problems are not new: high cleaning costs for container solutions and repeated vandalism make it difficult for the city to maintain a clean appearance.

New toilet concept: More safety and cleanliness

In addition to the placement of new toilets, the new concept also includes additional facilities in the city garden and at Delft. The city is currently looking for a provider to install the new toilets and operate them for ten years, including cleaning and maintenance. What is particularly important here is an emergency call system for disabled toilets that should be provided.

As outlined in the planning, various design options are conceivable, including self-cleaning toilets. In order to stop vandalism, a payment concept is recommended, be it through coin insertion or cashless payment methods. With these measures, the cleaning effort could be significantly reduced.

Vandalism and its consequences

An important concern is protection against vandalism. In this context, experts report solutions such as the use of doors made of steel or aluminum, which are particularly resistant. There are also plans to install recessed coin machines, making them accessible only to authorized personnel. The company Toilettech recommends designing sinks and flushing systems in such a way that they do not provide a breeding ground for manipulation. This could make using the toilets safer and more hygienic.

In addition, another project on the topic of sanitary facilities shows that it is important to create well thought-out and inclusive access. A focus is on providing women-friendly and accessible sanitation facilities to support disadvantaged groups and enable them to deal with menstruation safely, reports the BMZ.

Overall, it remains to be seen how quickly and successfully the implementation in Emden will take place. One thing is certain, however: a good hand in planning is necessary to give the city a positive image and to meet the needs of all citizens.