The city of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance launched on Sept. 28 a Downtown Public Restroom Pilot Project, which will help determine locations for permanent public restrooms downtown. The 24-hour bathroom will provide a free-to-use, temporary, flushable and wheelchair-accessible toilet as well as a hand sanitizer dispenser. Five downtown test sites include a first location at the intersection of I-35 and East Sixth Street on the west side of the highway. According to an official with the city’s public works department, the next site will be in the 600 block of Neches Street. Outdoor toilets could help reduce bacteria in the four city watersheds, according to city staff. Elevated bacteria levels pose a potential health risk to swimmers. The city said the public bathrooms could provide a benefit to various demographics—including downtown visitors, runners, bikers, homeless individuals and late-night crowds. The city aims to make a determination on whether to fund permanent bathrooms ahead of the adoption of the fiscal year 2018-19 budget.