It’s one of the biological facts of life: everyone has to “go” every now and then.

The folks in Greenwater wouldn’t quibble with anyone’s needs when nature calls, but people passing through their picturesque village have taken things too far.

An organized group of Greenwater citizens and business owners have banded together, seeking a sanitary solution to a growing problem. With a lack of public restrooms along busy state Route 410, motorists have overused the facilities in the burg’s few businesses and, even worse, taken to using the great outdoors as their personal potty.

Citing health, safety and privacy concerns, Greenwater’s activists have attempted to rally governmental sources to their cause. They have found an ally in Sen. Phil Fortunato, whose 31st Legislative District includes the Enumclaw-to-Chinook corridor, but progress is slow in coming.

In the interim, community members have prepared a map directing travelers to acceptable facilities. It’s a simple “where to go, where not to go” page.

There are a number of reasons behind the problem and they go back years. First and foremost is the undeniable draw of Mount Rainier and the simple fact that SR 410 provides access to destinations like the Crystal Mountain resort, a pair of popular campgrounds that sit directly on SR 410 (The Dalles and Silver Springs), the Sunrise Visitor Center (with a campground on the access road) and a lengthy list of hiking trails.

It’s not called the Chinook Scenic Byway for nothing.

An added – and more current – contributor to the issue is the ongoing pandemic. In a COVID world, many have opted to remain closer to home and Mount Rainier National Park is feeling the impact. With a “staycation” in mind, visitors are flooding the national park like never before.

And all that ignores the simple fact that SR 410 provides direct access between the two sides of the state, meaning there are travelers simply wanting to get over the Cascade Range.

Finding suitable facilities lacking, too many people look for the best possible alternative. Or, lacking a good option, simply look for a place in the trees. Greenwater’s business people say they can’t keep up with the demand and private property owners complain of unwanted visitors doing unwanted things on their land.

Karlyn Clark and her husband John own Wapiti Outdoors, a popular spot in the heart of Greenwater. They welcome the increase in traffic along SR 410 because it’s great for business, but have found the cost and complications of providing public restrooms is unsustainable.

“Our little one-person restroom gets so much use we’ve gone from needing septic service once a year to three or four times,” Karlyn Clark said. “We started paying for two ‘porta potties’ in the parking lot to keep up with demand but, if they’re serviced on Thursday, they’re full and have to be locked up by Sunday.”

She estimates the cost of providing restrooms has doubled in two years.

Additionally, the Clarks and other business owners say they have sometimes had to shut down their portable toilets entirely due to vandalism.

Seth Cornell, who owns Greenwater Outfitters, points out, “A few bathrooms exist at campgrounds and trailheads off the highway but they’re unmarked. Even with signage, they wouldn’t come close to meeting the demand.”

That means travelers needing to relieve themselves will look most anywhere. That’s where biological urgency comes into conflict with property rights.

Valerie Coleman, who lives near the highway some five miles above Greenwater, relates an all-too-common occurrence. She has seen “a van full of guys pull in right in front of my house and all jump out to pee in the trees,” she said. “Another day a woman came directly up to the side of my house to go, right in my yard.”

The Greenwater community has a history of asking public officials to establish a site where the state’s Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, Crystal Mountain Resort or the National Park System could contribute to providing and maintaining public restrooms along the 410 corridor.

They say their efforts have been derailed due to concerns over things like safety, security, adequate parking and ongoing maintenance.

But they’re seemingly a persistent bunch.

Fortunato has backed their efforts, recently during an online meeting with DOT representatives to discuss the issue. Out of that meeting and through a series of emails, the senator has facilitated an agreement for placement of portable toilets at a now-closed viewpoint. Meanwhile, the work for a permanent solution continues.