Students push for bidets across U of T
What began as a home grown campaign at University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) has now expanded into a tri-campus push for bidet access, citing hygiene concerns and environmental benefits.
Over 1,000 students have signed the petition for installation of bidets on campus. (Photo Credits: @bidets_at_uoft // Instagram)
Bidets at UofT — a student-led initiative to install bidets on campus washroom launched by University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) alumna Aliya Ali, has expanded across all three campuses at the University of Toronto. The effort is being backed by student unions at Scarborough, Mississauga, and St. George campuses, with ongoing discussions between university administrations shaping how and where the installations can move forward.
The initiative began at UTSC and has since grown into a tri-campus collaboration involving student unions and Muslim Student Associations (MSAs). According to Ali, Student Centres became the initial focus because they fall largely under student union oversight, making them more accessible as spaces for installations.
Currently, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and UTSC each have four bidets installed in their Student Centre’s. These installations were made possible through joint efforts between student unions and the MSAs across campuses.
Over the past year, Bidets at UofT has partnered with all three student unions to collect student feedback and present it during meetings with campus administration. Ali says these meetings have generally been positive yet tedious, as the process beyond Student Centres has longer logistical considerations.
A meeting with the University of Toronto St. George (UTSG) administration was held in September this year and was “very receptive,” Ali says. According to Ali, funding approvals and plumbing assessments, installation labour, and water-line hookups are all considerations that shape installation timelines.
Ali also noted that some administrators initially raised concerns about the potential misuse of bidets. She said that since installations were completed, no complaints have been reported.
Cost has been another factor influencing how installations are prioritized. Ali estimates that a single bidet installation at UTM averages approximately $700 CAD, largely due to labour and plumbing requirements. By comparison, she pointed to installations at Harvard University costing roughly $150 USD per unit. Ali attributes this difference to higher labour costs in Canada and variations in washroom infrastructure.
UTSC has simpler plumbing, and installation in the Student Centre and residential washrooms costs roughly $150 CAD, making it the most cost-efficient campus by far. However, washroom types affect price, and the majority cost an average of $750.
Outside the student centres, progress has stalled because the project faces more hurdles. Expansions outside Student Centre spaces require formal administrative approval, a process that often experiences delays. This is because approvals must be granted by various administrative bodies, including campus facilities management teams and the university’s central capital projects office, which oversees feasibility reports and funding authorization.
While installation progress varies by building, student interest has remained consistent. Bidets at UofT has collected hundreds of testimonials from students across all three campuses, shared publicly through its Linktree and Instagram page.
In these testimonials, one UTSC student wrote, “I don’t have to carry a water bottle anymore. I feel a lot less stressed and more hygienic.”
Environmental benefits have been brought up by those in favour of the initiative. A study published in the journal Energies discusses toilet paper use’s detrimental effect on the environment, including energy consumption, water use, and emissions from wastewater treatment. The study found that bidet systems can have a lower overall environmental footprint than toilet paper, even taking into account electricity use during use.
The initiative has grown beyond UofT, supported by a wide network of student ambassadors who have helped launch 15 student-led chapters at universities such as the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, and Harvard University. According to Ali, more than 2,500 students are involved in the initiative, with UTSC, the original university, sparking the movement.
In 2026, Bidets at UofT reached a new milestone with the installation of seven bidets at the UTSG. The bidets are located in accessible washrooms at the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) Student Commons, marking the first official rollout at UTSG.
According to Ali, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) president has expressed interest in expanding installations to additional buildings.
A survey conducted by Bidets at UofT identified the Sam Ibrahim Building as a priority location based on student responses. However, she noted that the upcoming Student Centre expansion remains the most straightforward opportunity for growth, as it falls under student union oversight.
Ali describes the UTSC installations as “revolutionary,” saying they have impacted how students navigate campus spaces and daily routines. With bidets now installed on all three campuses, the initiative continues to focus on working through university administration processes to expand access in response to student demand.
