Launch of new iPhone application brings relief

Stop press: 27 November — Great news: ToiletFinder is now #14 in the iPhone apps lifestyle category. Thanks for all your downloads and don't forget to tell your friends about the App too!

17 November 2009

'ToiletFinder UK' could make dying to go to the loo a thing of the past

To mark World Toilet Day, on Thursday 19 November, WaterAid today announced the launch of its new ToiletFinder UK App for iPhone users.

WaterAid's free app for iPhone uses location-based features to find the nearest public toilet to the user, while reminding them how lucky they are to have use of a clean and safe toilet.

"It may be difficult to find a public toilet from time to time here in the UK, but for over 2.5 billion people in the world, it's impossible – there simply isn't one," said WaterAid's Amy Faulkner.

"With millions of iPhone users out there the potential reach of this app is huge and could be ground-breaking in terms of raising WaterAid's profile and helping people."

The ToiletFinder UK App lets users find out more about WaterAid and the work it does to bring life-saving water and toilets to the world's poorest people.

Globally, 2.5 billion people - that's 40% of the world's population - have nowhere safe to go to the toilet. This crisis means that 4,000 children die every single day from diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.

United Utilities' IT Director Mike Naden joins Chelsea Norris from the Key 103 breakfast show to launch the ToiletFinder UK app in Manchester. (Left to right: Chelsea Norris, Vicki Smith, Sam Giles, Mike Naden)

Credit: United Utilities

"For us, trying to find a loo is an inconvenience, but for someone living in the developing world, not having a toilet can be a matter of life or death. We hope that by using the ToiletFinder UK App the British public will think about how lucky they are to have a loo," added Faulkner.

ToiletFinder UK is a User Generated Content (UGC) app, meaning that the toilet database is created by the public who can indicate new or missing toilets using their iPhone and their GPS coordinates. It works by displaying the nearest public toilet/bathroom to users on a map or in a list.

The ToiletFinder UK App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or via www.itunes.com/appstore/ (you will need to download iTunes first).

After using the app, users will have the option of visiting the WaterAid website to find out more about the global sanitation crisis, and make a donation to support the charity's work to ensure access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation for all.

• Media contact: For visuals, spokespeople and further information please contact Brenda McIlwraith at brendamcilwraith@wateraid.org or on 020 7793 2245
  
  
• For more information about ToiletFinder please go to http://www.wateraid.org/toiletfinder