Frequently Asked Questions in Alameda, CA

The count depends on your worker load and event type. For construction sites, OSHA 1926.51(c) requires 1 toilet facility for 20 workers or fewer. From 20 to 200 workers, you need 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. At 200 or more workers, the ratio becomes 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers. For events in Alameda, a rough baseline is 1 unit per 100 guests for a day event. Multi-day festivals need more frequent service. Use our guide on how many porta potties you need to calculate exactly. If you're unsure, call us. We'll size the order right the first time and save you money on unnecessary units.

A standard portable toilet has a 60 to 70 gallon holding tank and sits about 44 by 48 inches on the ground, standing roughly 92 inches tall. It's a no-frills pit with a seat, a urinal (in male units) and a holding tank below. A deluxe flushable porta potty adds running water, a flushing mechanism, a hand sanitizer dispenser and interior lighting; see our deluxe flushable porta potty page for details. Deluxe units appeal to events and upscale job sites where customer comfort matters. Standard units work fine for construction crews and temporary sites where function beats amenities. Pricing differs: standard rentals are lower, deluxe higher. Both get the same weekly service schedule. Alameda contractors often mix them, deluxe for office trailers, standard for the yard.

If you have employees or guests with mobility challenges, yes. ADA Standards section 213.2 requires that where single-user portable toilet units are clustered, at least 5 percent, and never fewer than one unit, must be accessible. An accessible porta potty has a 36 inch minimum clear route width per ADA Standards section 403.5.1, a 32 inch clear door opening per ADA Standards section 404.2.3, and a 60 inch diameter turning circle per ADA Standards section 304.3.1; details are on our ADA accessible porta potty page. Even if you have fewer than 20 people, federal law covers your event. Rentals in Alameda include delivery and setup. Price is higher than standard units, but it's a legal requirement if anyone in your group needs it.

If your crew applies paints, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) requires washing facilities. Hand sanitizer alone doesn't count. You need running water, soap and towels or a hand drying device per 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2). A portable handwashing station delivers exactly that, a compact unit that runs off a water supply and drains into a gray tank; rent one from our handwashing station rental service. Construction sites in Alameda use them on job trailers and tool areas. Farms and landscaping operations need them too. Without one, you're out of compliance. Rental is affordable and delivery is fast.

A residential septic tank is typically pumped every 3 to 5 years, driven by tank size and household size. If you ignore warning signs, slow drains, gurgling sounds, wet spots in the yard, or sewage backups, you'll face a costly system failure and yard damage. We handle septic pumping service and can spot problems before they wreck your system; our septic pumping service page has more details. We pump, inspect and haul the waste. Call us if you're past your pump date or suspect trouble. A grease trap pumped when fats, oils, grease and solids reach 25 percent of the liquid depth keeps commercial kitchens and food trucks legal. Same-day service is available in Alameda and nearby areas like Piedmont, 10.6 miles north and Emeryville, 12.4 miles north.