Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 224, Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services.

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Introduction

In recent years, public epidemic emergencies (PEEs), especially viral infectious diseases, have occurred frequently around the world, existing as a significant threat to the global healthcare systems and economy. Generally, PEEs are characterized by their sudden occurrence, diverse causes and distribution, and rapid transmission. It is often difficult for medical facilities and services to meet the timely treatment needs of infected or suspected cases in time, especially in developing countries with large populations and limited medical facilities and services. Deaths and adverse health outcomes caused by frequent public epidemic emergencies are also barriers to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.^[ 11 ^]

Many infectious diseases, such as H5N1 flu, SARS and COVID-19, have a strong tendency to spread from person to person through various pathways, e.g. aerosol droplet transmission, direct contact, and the faecal-oral route. Limiting contact between people and pathogens is a key component of epidemic control.^[ 12 ^]

A PEE can either be a consequence or a cause of a crisis, affecting water services involving a partial or total breakdown of sanitation services.

In certain cases of epidemic, the existing sanitation service can be overwhelmed in terms of collection capacity (field hospitals, temporary treatment facilities, temporary settlements, etc.), and alternative solutions are needed.

The collection and safe disposal of faeces and sanitary wastewater are of paramount importance considering the risk to public health. In case of major disruption or rupture, alternative service is necessary.

Since the outbreak of PEEs is difficult to control, the rapid response of supporting facilities, including the provision of mobile toilets, can help prevent the further spread of pathogens.

To reduce the potential of faecal oral transmission, more attention should be given to the provision of mobile toilets in quarantine areas and “mobile cabin hospitals”. Hence, guidelines and instructions should be established governing the management of mobile sanitation facilities and emergency portable toilet provisions under PEEs.

Developing and implementing this guideline can:

reduce the risk of the potential faecal-oral transmission of pathogens;
improve the safety of toilet users and operators;
promote the design and installation efficiency of emergency mobile toilets;
improve the rapid mechanism for the deployment of mobile toilets in case of PEEs.

1 Scope

The document provides guidelines for the management of electrically powered mobile toilets that are connected to water and electricity under public epidemic emergencies (PEEs) from different perspectives, including users, operators, and suppliers. It also gives recommendations to provide safe sanitation services for users, cleaners, and waste tank drivers. It is applicable to epidemic situations of major respiratory tract and intestinal infectious diseases, but not to group unexplained diseases, major food and occupational poisoning and other events that seriously affect public health.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Mobile toilet components

4.1 General

4.2 Mobile toilets general components

4.3 Performance criteria

5 Management of mobile toilets

5.1 General

5.2 Environmental management

5.3 Risk management

6 Site selection, installation and disassembly

6.1 Site selection

6.2 Installation

7 Planning and maintenance

7.1 Operation procedures and instructions

7.2 Maintenance instructions

7.3 Testing methods

8 Health and safety issues

8.1 Cleaning or maintenance personnel

8.2 Transportation personnel

8.3 Users

9 Rapid response mechanism

Bibliography