Toilets and sanitation

Content

You need to provide toilet and handwashing facilities for all attendees, workers, contractors, volunteers and participants at your event. Council does not provide portable toilet facilities so it is the event organiser's responsibility to hire them.

Factors to consider

The number and type of facilities you need depends on several factors:

Larger crowds need more toilets and handwashing stations.
Longer events need more frequent access to toilets.
Toilets should be allocated to accommodate the gender ratio of attendees.
Alcohol can increase the frequency of toilet visits because of its diuretic effect,.
Facilities should cater to attendees with varying needs, including those with mobility issues and families with small children.

Toilet requirements (without alcohol)

Attendees	Toilets (Men)	Urinals	Hand basins (Men)	Toilets (Women)	Hand basins (Women)
Fewer than 500	1	2	2	6	2
500–999	2	4	4	9	4
1,000–1,999	4	8	6	12	6
2,000–4,999	6	15	10	18	10
Over 5,000	8	25	30	17	17

Toilet requirements (with alcohol)

Attendees	Toilets (Men)	Urinals	Hand basins (Men)	Toilets (Women)	Hand basins (Women)
Fewer than 500	3	8	2	13	2
500–999	5	10	4	16	4
1,000–1,999	9	15	7	18	7
2,000–4,999	10	20	14	22	14
Over 5,000	12	30	20	40	20

Adjusting the numbers for event duration

Event duration	Toilets required %
8 hours or more	100%
6–8 hours	80%
4–6 hours	75%
Less than 4 hours	70%

Accessible toilets

Toilets must cater for people with disability. Accessible, portable toilets must be:

positioned on a flat, firm surface with sufficient circulation space
located near accessible paths and parking
clearly signed, with visibility at night
available for the duration of the event.

Baby changing facilities and hygiene stations must also be available in toilets, especially in family-friendly areas.

Other considerations

Toilets must be cleaned and serviced regularly throughout the event. Assign dedicated staff to monitor toilet cleanliness.
Toilets should be well-lit.
Use clear signage to direct people to the toilets and include this on the site plan.
Dispose of greywater (from washing or waste management systems) according to EPA guidelines.
Make sure waste is promptly removed from toilets and be prepared to remove larger quantities during high-traffic periods.
Consider designing a queue management system for toilets in high-traffic areas.
Allocate separate toilet facilities for staff and volunteers behind the scenes.
Make gender-neutral and inclusive toilets available in addition to gendered toilets.
Update signage during the event if the toilet locations change or if toilets become temporarily unavailable.
Increase the number of available toilets in hot weather, especially near food or drink areas.