Heat Tests Everything
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The Western Colorado desert has a way of reminding us what's important.
We can ignore a lot of problems in March. We can pretend systems are working in May. But by August, when the pavement is radiating heat and the forecast has read triple digits for a week, everything gets tested.
Heat tests our fields and the people who grow our food. It tests our power grid as air conditioners and swamp coolers work overtime. It tests our cars, our bodies, and our patience.
It also tests our community.
Heat has a way of making every problem bigger. Food spoils faster. Outdoor work becomes harder. Staying hydrated becomes essential instead of optional. Even taking out the trash reminds us how quickly summer can turn a small inconvenience into a much bigger problem.
At Toilet Equity, we spend a lot of time thinking about another challenge that grows in the heat: what happens when someone needs a bathroom and doesn't have one.
When temperatures climb, so does the importance of reliable sanitation. People still need to stay hydrated. They still need somewhere safe, clean, and dignified to go.
Without access to a toilet, many are forced to choose between risking their health by avoiding food and water, holding it for as long as possible, or relieving themselves outdoors, where human waste lingers longer in the heat and becomes harder for everyone to ignore.
Heat doesn't create sanitation problems.
It makes existing ones harder to ignore.
That's why August is one of our busiest seasons. Our maintenance crews work around the hottest parts of the day whenever possible. Compost requires closer monitoring as temperatures and moisture levels change. Supplies move faster. Every part of our operation works a little harder to keep providing the same reliable service our community depends on.
The best infrastructure is almost invisible. Most of us rarely think about sewer lines, garbage collection, or public restrooms until something stops working. Toilet Equity exists because sanitation shouldn't become visible only after it fails.
Every August, we invite our community to help us Beat the Heat.
Your support helps provide cleaning supplies, transportation, repairs, toilet paper, sawdust, and the staff time needed to keep our toilets clean, safe, and available throughout the hottest weeks of the year. More importantly, it helps ensure that everyone in our community has access to the dignity, public health, and environmental protection that reliable sanitation provides.
We can't make August cooler.
But together, we can make our community stronger.
Thank you for helping us Beat the Heat.
With gratitude,
The Toilet Equity Team
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This article originally appeared in our August 2026 email newsletter. You can subscribe to receive future updates here.
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