THREE public toilets have picked up public health awards given
out by the South West Community Development Council.
The three showcases for cleanliness and efficient maintenance
are the restrooms in the Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre,
VivoCity shopping mall and Best Coffee Shop in Jurong West Street
91.
They are the best toilets in the hawker centre, shopping mall
and coffee shop categories respectively, and were picked from a
field of nine.
They were assessed over two weeks by judges from South West CDC,
town councils in the district, the National Environment Agency and
the Restroom Association Singapore (RAS).
Judging criteria included the condition of the toilets, comfort
level and maintenance systems.
Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre has 140 food stalls, and
its toilets picked up a four-star rating, a rarity among hawker
centre toilets, noted RAS official Sanjay Balan.
Most such toilets get only three stars as their high usage
levels make them the hardest to upkeep, he said. Those at Yuhua,
for example, are estimated to be used by 200 people a day.
Mr Balan added that it was also difficult to change the mindset
of some owners of these facilities 'who don't think it is necessary
to keep them too clean'. Many public toilets here have wet floors
and flushes that do not work properly.
The Yuhua toilets, maintained by a cleaner who cleans them twice
daily, also impressed the judges with their design, which let in
fresh air and sunlight.
--ST (2/1/2009)