The city of Seattle has abandoned a $5 million experiment with self-cleaning public toilets after the facilities were identified as "crime magnets" above all else.

A total of five toilet units are currently installed around the city, and each one was ordered to be shut down by July 1. Each unit had a pair of automated silver doors that opened and closed by themselves. The interior was automatically cleaned between uses.

Despite these technological features, however, the toilets were reportedly being used as hideouts for drug users, as well as prostitutes.

According to the Seattle Times, local residents will be pointed to other, regular, restrooms, as announced by Seattle Public Utilities spokesman Andy Ryan.

City officials were set to spend another $5 million for the installation of more of these toilets within the city before the experiment was officially shut down.

Richard Conlin, the city's council president, said that while the tryout would have been a significant step forward for the city, the problems in the end were determined to have outweighed any potential benefits.

United Press International reported that Conlin was regretful that the experiment did not meet the initial expectations.

Other problems that occurred included trash clogs in the machine, eventually needing city workers to clean the stalls. This allegedly increased the amount of human waste in the streets - the primary reason for the installation of the automated toilets.