Talking about toilets may seem like poor manners, but seeks to address an important health issue that affects people around the globe.
Nov. 19 brings awareness to the lack of access to safe toilets. Supported by UN Water, World Health Organization and other international non-profits, a 2017 study shows 4.5 billion people live without safe, sanitary toilets. This can lead to contamination of soil and waterways, a safety and health hazard UN Water wants to eliminate by 2030.
But itB次元官网网址檚 not just developing countries plagued by the need to pee.
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Stephen Harrison, the blogger behind Needs More Spikes, examines defensive architecture in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭here are lots of different things that are supposed to go unseen by most people. I wanted to document how the city has been built to limit use of public space by certain groups of people, in particular, homeless and poor people,B次元官网网址� Harrison said. He points to examples of customer-only washroom signs in businesses throughout the city, and city councilB次元官网网址檚 decision last spring to close Reeson and Quadra parks to overnight camping because they did not have washroom facilities (instead of adding facilities, Harrison notes).
On Nov. 8, he posted a blog that finds . Harrison calculated the number by comparing the cityB次元官网网址檚 population with the average amount, time and frequency people urinate in an average day. The stat, he said, was a way to highlight the daily need faced by everyone and inspire a larger discussion.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like washroom options are plentiful,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e scattered around, theyB次元官网网址檙e not always available, some of them are locked. Lots of them lack amenities like soap and mirrors.B次元官网网址�
Of the 22 public city-funded washrooms in Victoria, only three B次元官网网址� at Langley Street, Centennial Square and Pandora Street B次元官网网址� are available around the clock. One of them is a male-only urinal that canB次元官网网址檛 be accessed with a wheelchair or walker.
HarrisonB次元官网网址檚 post was inspired by a washroom in the Atrium building on Blanshard that, while in a private business, used to be easily accessible with gender-neutral facilities. Then a B次元官网网址渃ustomers onlyB次元官网网址� sign appeared, and patrons had to ask for a key from security or staff to use them. Such signs and how theyB次元官网网址檙e enforced can create a barrier, he said, especially to homeless people or those who appear poor.
B次元官网网址淎ccessibility or amenities or general availability of washrooms are not plentiful, depending on who you are and the city or private businesses are treating you,B次元官网网址� Harrison said.
One of the reasons businesses may enforce a customer-only rule, Harrison said, is because of the fear of drug use in their washrooms.
B次元官网网址淚 totally get that a barista or other staff might not want to respond as defacto-first responders, but for any business operating here, the community theyB次元官网网址檙e serving includes people who use drugs,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f businesses are troubled by people using drugs in their washrooms, then perhaps they should be fighting the stigma around drug-use and fighting for things like decriminalization. Whereas locking bathroom doors is contributing to stigmaB次元官网网址hich pushes people away and could do real harm.B次元官网网址�
After he wrote his washrooms post, Harrison said a friend pointed out that homeless people often drink fewer fluids when they know they donB次元官网网址檛 have regular access to toilets. That can create another kind of health issue.
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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
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