Assessing Public Toilet Service Quality in Beijing: A Six-Dimensional Needs-Based Evaluation Framework

Public toilets are an integral part of sustainable urban sanitation infrastructure, public health protection, and inclusive public space. SDG 6.2 calls for adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, with particular attention to women, girls, and people in vulnerable situations. This study evaluates the operational status of public toilets in central Beijing in the context of the toilet revolution. A six-dimensional quantitative scoring system was developed for metropolitan public toilets based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. The average score of public toilets in the central urban area is 0.858, 0.545, 0.648, 0.443, 0.422, and 0.400 in the six dimensions of need, which is consistent with a gradient in user satisfaction across need levels. Consistency analysis indicates no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the distribution of scores for each dimension in urban areas, whereas significant differences were observed between tourist and residential areas in the dimensions of physiological excretion and convenience and comfort. The findings suggest that future upgrades should place greater emphasis on higher-order user needs, particularly dignity, equality, and user comfort. This study provides a reference for promoting the high-quality development of sanitation services. It also provides sanitation providers and policymakers with new ideas for toilet renovation, such as improving public toilet service and sanitation management through “micro-updates” and “on-site sanitation systems”.