FEATURE BEYOND THEMAIN ATTRACTION


The new Universal Studios theme park in Bedfordshire is set to create a massive strain on the area’s sewers. And this is a classic case of washroom provision being overlooked when any new leisure development is planned. Stuart Hands from Tork manufacturer Essity, looks at the importance of theme park washrooms and considers how they could be managed and run more efficiently.


It is a huge coup for Bedfordshire.


The county is set to play host to a new Universal Studios theme park which is expected to attract more than 8.5 million visitors a year.


Due to open in 2031, the complex is tipped to feature a 500-room hotel, a large dining and retail area and the tallest rides in Europe.


But developers are already struggling with plans for the toilets. According to reports, the Bedford Water Recycling Centre is currently at capacity and will be unable to handle the estimated 10.6 million litres of daily foul discharge that is projected to be created by the development.


This means that Anglian Water will need to carry out major, fast-tracked upgrades to prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed.


It is fortunate that this issue is being addressed five years ahead of the opening date. It is also highly unusual, since the toilets of many leisure venues tend to be overlooked, inadequately equipped and badly thought-out.


The washrooms of theme parks also frequently receive a bad press because they struggle to cope with the huge crowds of thrill-seekers who visit them every day. Review sites such as Tripadvisor are filled with reports of outraged customers complaining about dirty or unhygienic washrooms where they have been forced to queue to use substandard facilities. Issues such as soap and toilet paper running out are a particular cause for complaint since this basically makes the washroom unfit for purpose.


Other common gripes include broken or non-locking doors, bad smells and non-functional dryers. But the queues are a particular issue because customers who pay a premium for theme park entry are likely to feel resentful when having to spend hours in line for the toilets.


Such queues also spell bad news for the theme park itself. Besides leading to negative press, washroom congestion can also keep customers away from the restaurants, cafés and gift shops where they would potentially be spending money.


Hand hygiene is crucial in any tourist attraction where visitors are likely to be staying the whole day and where they will be picnicking on sandwiches or buying burgers, chips or hot dogs – all items that are eaten with the hands. But after a lengthy wait to use the loo, some visitors might be tempted to carry out a cursory hand wash so that they can maximise their leisure time. And this could lead to issues such as cross-contamination, stomach bugs and ultimately a miserable summer.


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Washroom visitors in a hurry might also leave behind messy sinks, taps left running and discarded hand towels strewn on the floor in their haste to return to the park’s attractions. This will result in excess waste, higher costs and an unsightly appearance.


Theme parks therefore need to work hard to speed up washroom visits by making the process quick and seamless while also ensuring that the toilets are kept well stocked with consumables at all times.


High-capacity dispensers for toilet tissue, hand towels and soap will help to reduce run-outs. For example, the Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser has a capacity of more than 2,100 towels between refills and serves each guest in just three seconds, reducing the user’s waiting time.


The dispenser has been designed to give out sheets of paper singly to avoid over-consumption, which means the supply will last for longer. And lower consumption levels will reduce costs while also offering sustainability benefits.


Tork Foam Soaps are another good option in a theme park because the dispenser caters for up to 1,650 visitors, compared with around 1,000 in most liquid soap systems. The fact that the dispenser requires a particularly low push-force makes accessing the soap both quick and easy, helping to reduce queues.


And the Tork SmartOne also works well because the dispenser is designed to give out just one sheet of toilet tissue at a time. This can reduce consumption by 40% compared with jumbo roll systems which minimises the risk of run-outs during busy periods.


Theme parks tend to be spread out over an extensive area which means the nearest washroom will always require a lengthy walk on the part of the visitor. But this provides an even greater challenge for members of the cleaning team who will be obliged to walk long distances between toilet blocks to physically check on cleaning needs and dispenser refill levels. This makes it difficult for them to keep on top of the challenge which means some tasks might slip through the net.


Digital technology can help to ensure that theme park washrooms are kept clean and that the dispensers remain topped up at all times. For example, Tork Vision Cleaning uses sensors and people-counters to monitor washroom usage and check on dispenser refill levels. This enables cleaners to check remotely via a smartphone or tablet on which washroom is likely to require servicing and when a dispenser needs to be topped up.


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