How strong does the wind get in the San Gorgonio Pass?
The San Gorgonio Pass is one of the windiest places in Southern California. National Weather Service advisories here call for west winds of 25–35 mph with gusts of 50–60 mph and blowing dust. The 667 turbines between Cabazon and North Palm Springs are there because that wind blows so often.
Beaumont, Banning and Cabazon all sit in that funnel. Air squeezes between San Gorgonio Mountain and San Jacinto Peak and speeds up on its way to the desert. You can read more on the San Gorgonio Pass and its wind farm.
The worst spots are new tracts with no trees yet, ridgelines, open dirt lots and anywhere along the I-10 corridor east of Banning.
Can wind really tip over a porta potty?
Yes. A standard porta potty weighs about 160 pounds empty and stands about 7 feet 6 inches tall, so each wide wall works like a sail. A 50 mph gust on a fresh, empty unit can push it over. A tipped unit can spill its tank, crack its door and end up in a neighbor's yard.
Units are lightest the day they arrive and right after each service, when the tank is empty. That is exactly when a gust does the most harm. A full tank adds weight, but it also means a much worse mess if the unit goes over.
How do you tie down a porta potty in high wind?
Our drivers tie down a porta potty in 3 steps on any exposed Pass site: set it level on firm ground, drive ground stakes through the base, and turn the door away from the west wind. Units in a row can be strapped together, and units beside a sturdy fence or wall can be secured to it.
- Level it firstA unit that rocks on uneven dirt loosens its own stakes. The driver clears rocks and sets it flat.
- Stake the baseGround stakes go through the base into firm soil. On concrete or pavers, tell us ahead so we plan a different tie-down.
- Turn the doorThe door faces east or away from the gusts. A door that catches wind can slam, break its hinge or swing open on someone.
- Group and strapTwo or more units side by side brace each other. Strapped together, they make a much wider base.
- Re-check at serviceOur crew checks every stake during weekly service and resets anything that has worked loose.
Where should a portable toilet go on a windy lot?
Put a portable toilet on the downwind side of something solid: a block wall, a garage, a container or a parked trailer. Keep it at least a few feet from tents, canopies and food tables. Leave about 48 inches of clear path for the dolly, and stay off slopes, soft fill and drainage swales.
On a job site, ask the super where the unit can stay for months without being moved. Each move pulls the stakes. Our wind, heat and freeze placement guide has sketches of good and bad spots.
Building or hosting on an open Pass lot?
Tell the dispatcher it is exposed. The driver arrives ready to stake, strap and face the door out of the wind.
Which porta potty units handle Pass wind best?
Heavier, wider units handle Pass wind best. A restroom trailer sits low on its axle and rarely moves. A wheelchair-accessible unit has a 7.5 by 7.5 foot base, so it is far steadier than a standard unit. Handwash stations are light, about 20 gallons of water when full, so they get staked too.
| Unit | Wind risk | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Standard porta potty | Tall, light, narrow base | Stake on every exposed site; group and strap when there are several |
| Wheelchair-accessible unit | Wide base, still tall | Stake on ridgelines and open lots; needs firm level ground anyway |
| Handwash station | Light, and very light once the water is used | Stake, and set it beside the restroom row, not out alone |
| Restroom trailer | Low and heavy | Chock the wheels and level it; keep doors latched open or shut, never loose |
What should I do if a porta potty blows over?
If a porta potty blows over, keep people away and do not try to stand it up yourself. A tipped unit can weigh 400 pounds or more with a partly full tank, and the spill needs sanitizing. Call the yard at (951) 580-3899, Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM, and we send a truck.
The driver rights the unit, pumps it, cleans and sanitizes the ground spot, and stakes it again. If the unit cracked, we swap it. Send a photo by text when you call so the driver brings what is needed.