Promoting clean and well-maintained public toilets is an important aspect of NEA’s public health efforts. NEA provides owners of public toilets with operating and maintenance guidelines and requirements.

Design guidelines for public toilets can be found in the Code of Practice on Environmental Health.

NEA, in collaboration with the Restroom Association of Singapore, has published a guidebook titled ‘A Guide To Better Public Toilet Design and Maintenance’ that covers topics such as design, layout, ventilation, maintenance and user education.

Public can also download educational posters on public toilets from NEA’s website.

The Happy Toilet Programme, launched on 1 July 2003, aims to encourage and give recognition to toilet owners or operators for maintaining public toilets to standards expected by the public. The programme, developed and implemented by Restroom Association (Singapore) (RAS) with support from the National Environment Agency, focuses on three main areas - Design, Cleanliness and Maintenance of public toilets. Those who attain minimum standards are given a 3-star rating, with higher ratings given for those who have gone beyond minimum acceptable standards to delight their customers. The highest rating is a 5-star rating.

Toilet owners or operators who feel their toilets have attained the standards set are encouraged to apply to RAS for the Happy Toilet rating. Application is open throughout the year. The Happy Toilet ratings are renewable every year to ensure continued commitment by the owners and operators to upkeep and improve standards.

RAS and NEA have been working with toilet owners in various sectors like Shopping centres, Industrial and Commercial Buildings, Parks, Hawker Centres, Food Courts, Coffee Shops, Tourist Attractions and Petrol Stations to encourage greater participation in the programme. The public can also play a part in encouraging more owners and operators to come on board the programme through their support and patronage of Happy Toilets. Toilets that have been given the Happy Toilet ratings are updated on the Restroom Association (Singapore) website and members of the public who have feedback relating to these rated toilets can contact RAS. The public is also welcome to suggest toilets which should be considered for Happy Toilet ratings so that RAS can follow up with the owners and operators of these facilities.

For more information and location of Singapore’s Happy Toilets, please visit: http://www.toilet.org.sg/loomapdirectory.html