Permanent public toilet on Narva promenade out of order again
The permanent public toilet on the promenade in Narva, Estonia, near the Gan Stairs is damaged again, and a temporary portable toilet has been installed nearby. City authorities are weighing how to keep the facility running.
A permanent public toilet on the promenade in Narva, the Estonian border city, has stopped working again. A portable toilet has been temporarily placed near the Gan Stairs. The Narva authorities announced this on social media in response to residents' questions about the state of the facility.
According to the city, the toilet is damaged once more, and the Urban Management Department of the Narva city government is discussing how to organise its further operation.
Why problems keep occurring
Staff of the contracted maintenance company have repeatedly had to remove people who locked themselves inside and fell asleep there. The department says this prevents other visitors from using the facility.
The toilet used to be free of charge. During that period it was damaged several times and was used for purposes other than intended, so the department does not plan to bring back free access for now.
The payment terminal works over mobile internet. Confirmation from the bank may be delayed, and according to the maintenance company the wait sometimes lasts up to a minute. Officials note that local mobile coverage, including the proximity of the state border, may affect the terminal, and the door may open more slowly because of the delay.
Possible solutions
The temporary solution is a portable toilet installed in the recreation area. For the permanent toilet, the city is considering two options: restoring coin payment or installing an extra antenna to improve the terminal's signal.
