Chinese city to tackle toilet shortage

An east Chinese city recently launched a campaign urging local organizations and businesses to open their toilet facilities to the public, a move hoped to ease toilet shortages upsetting people desperate to answer nature's call.

The Urban Management Bureau (UMB) of Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, initiated a "Public Toilet Alliance" consisting of government departments, organizations, hotels and restaurants that are willing to grant people free access to their lavatories.

Local businesses can apply to join the alliance on a voluntary basis. Participating businesses will post signs indicating that the public may use their toilets, Hao Baoyong, an official of the UMB, said Monday.

The city currently has a total of 600 public toilets provided by the government, but the amount is inadequate for the city's population of about 6.9 million.

Setting up the alliance is one approach to resolving the toilet predicament. So far, more than 50 organizations have taken part in the campaign, including some popular restaurants, hotels and travel agencies. That will add more than 70 public lavatories, according to Hao.

Meanwhile, the UMB is updating its map of public conveniences and will release the newest version in December. It made the city's first ever toilet map earlier this year to help people pinpoint the toilet nearest them.

Hao said the maps will be distributed free of charge, and users can also download an electronic version via a QR code scan and locate toilets using their mobile phones.