New Pilot Program Brings 'Smart' Public Restrooms To Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — There's a new toilet in town — well, several actually.

Long Beach has launched a new four-month pilot program that places several "smart" public restrooms throughout the city.

"Public restrooms are necessary infrastructure that serve everyone in our community," Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement earlier this month. "By piloting a solution that has proven successful in communities throughout LA County, we aim to increase the number of welcoming public spaces in Long Beach parks."

The new restrooms can be found at DeForest Park, Harvey Milk Promenade Park, Belmont Pier and the Shoreline Marina, according to city officials. The locations were chosen based on where there has been a noticeable demand for more public restrooms, city officials said.

The restrooms are ADA-accessible, have running water, a baby changing station and free menstrual products, city officials said.

They can be accessed through phone and have 21 sensors that provide real-time data on the restroom's cleanliness, usage statistics and whether it's being misused.

This, according to city officials, will create a sense of accountability while still maintaining the privacy of the user.

The program will operate through mid-August in partnership with Throne Labs, which currently has more than a dozen similar restrooms across Los Angeles County, city officials said.

"Access to clean bathrooms is essential for vibrant communities, and our mission is to create facilities that everyone wants to use," Jessica Heinzelman, COO and Co-founder of Throne Labs, said in a statement. "We're thrilled to be partnering with the City of Long Beach to demonstrate how access to delightful smart public restrooms can transform public spaces to be more welcoming to residents and visitors."

Funding for these four restrooms comes from the Technology and Innovation Fund, which is used to create technology and data-informed solutions that improve the lives of residents in the city, and the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, city officials said.

Following the end of this test run, the city officials will review whether the restrooms should become a permanent fixture and explore funding options. City officials would also assess better ways to provide access to public restrooms for people who don't have access to a phone.