20 APRIL 2011 – New Zealand’s largest provider of portable toilets, Hirepool Limited has rejected recent speculation suggesting toxic chemicals from “thousands of portable toilets were finding their way into Christchurch’s already stressed wastewater treatment system.”

Hirepool, which owns and operates the Port-A-Loo business nationwide, has more than 1,600 of its Port-A-Loos in the Christchurch region – 650 since the first big shake hit Christchurch in September last year and a further 1,000 distributed around the CBD and surrounding environs following the devastating quake on 22 February.

“It is nonsense to suggest our Port-A-Loos are in any way a cause for concern to local residents or city authorities,” claims Hirepool Chief Executive, Mark Powell.

That view is shared by Christchurch City Council and Civil Defence leaders who say fears the toxic run-off from the toilets is affecting the city’s quake-damaged sewerage network are unfounded.

“We certainly have no issues with the performance of Hirepool and their portable toilets,” says head of Christchurch City Council Water & Waste, Tim Joyce. “There have been some unfounded allegations about the chemicals we are using to treat the imported chemical toilets. But that doesn’t involve the Port-A-Loos in any way.”

In fact he says since the call went out for portable toilets and other temporary buildings and equipment since the first big quake last September, Hirepool has gone out of its way to meet all requests as and when required.

According to Peter Elliott, National Specialist Product Manager at Hirepool, the company’s provision of portable toilets to the Canterbury region since last September “has been one of our single largest off-site projects, and has put huge pressure on our human as well as physical resources.”

When the first order for emergency assistance went out, Hirepool had 200 Port-A-Loos available within 24 hours. It also had a staff of four with three trucks to deliver, pump out the toilets and take the waste to the Hirepool discharge centre.

“Since then we’ve bought in another 700 Port-A-Loos from throughout the country – including 300 from our sister company Onsite Australia – increased our personnel dealing with the emergency from 4 to 12, added a further five trucks to transport the toilets and waste and have another five utility trucks with water blasters, designated solely to go around and clean the toilets on a regular basis.”

He says under the arrangement with the CCC and Civil Defence authorities, Hirepool undertakes a 7-day maintenance programme on the Port-A-Loos – with the toilets being pumped out and washed down every alternate day. And the deodorisers used by Hirepool in its Port-A-Loos are bronopol and formaldehyde free.

Meanwhile Mr Powell points out that like many other companies assisting with the recovery process, a number of Hirepool Christchurch branch staff have been traumatised by the earthquakes and continued aftershocks.

“But it hasn’t stopped our staff from working tirelessly, to ensure we leave no stone unturned in providing the all the help we can to the region.”

“And while we can understand the public’s frustration around the supply of the Port-A-Loos, Hirepool is not in a position to supply them direct to the public with Christchurch City Council and Civil Defence requesting from the outset that they manage the distribution of all toilets. We completely respect and understand their decision to manage such demand of a limited resource in this manner.”

“Our role is to make sure the assets are available whenever required, and we have a further 100 Port-A-Loos waiting in the Christchurch yard if required but all enquiries must be directed through Christchurch City Council.”

ENDS

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