After three months of operation, Shanghai City officials aren't sure whether they should continue to fund free public toilets set up in several districts or put an end to the expensive program.

The facilities at many of the free public toilets in suburban Fengxian District and downtown Xuhui District have been vandalized and the water and electricity consumption doubles that at pay toilets.

"I'm uncertain whether to go on with the service," said Xu Congqun, director of the public sanitation department in Fengxian District.

Xu says he worries that the local government can't afford the high maintenance and management costs of the toilets.

These free toilets are funded by government subsidies in an attempt to provide convenience for residents living in the neighborhood. The government spent 10,000 yuan (US$1,205) to set up each lavatory and will spend another 10,000 yuan a year to maintain each of the toilets, which are all equipped with expensive fixtures such as infrared-sensitive taps and self-closing valves.

However most of the fixtures broke down or were stolen.

"Before we started the free service, there were much less vandalism," said a toilet assistant.

Assistants complain that many people litter the toilets with old newspapers and garbage and cover the walls with offensive graffiti.

Some drug addicts even use the toilets to shoot up, occasionally leaving needles behind, several of the assistants said.

Officials in Xuhui District worry about the amount of water and electricity being used.

"Some residents brush their teeth and wash their face at these free toilets in the morning," said official with the local public sanitation administration.

Local authorities said they will take a look at the overall situation before deciding if they will continue to finance the free bathrooms. If not, they will turn them back into pay toilets.

(Shanghai Daily September 7, 2004)