Beyond Conservation: Mastering Water Efficiency for Today’s Buildings

Awareness of the factors that most impact water usage allows owners and managers to proactively minimize water waste

Vista, CA – March 25, 2025 - Building owners and managers are encouraged to reduce water consumption and improve water efficiency to reduce operating costs and use water more responsibly.

However, many don't understand which factors in their facilities most impact water usage. Identifying these factors is essential for implementing effective water efficiency strategies.

The key factors affecting commercial facility water consumption are the following:

• Occupancy: The number of people using the facility

• Property use: Whether it's an office building, school, arts center, or similar commercial facility.

• Landscaping: Native or natural landscaping typically requires less irrigation than non-native options

• Food service equipment: Water-using appliances and mechanicals older than seven years likely use more water than newer models

• Restroom fixtures: Fixtures older than 10 years often use more water than newer models

• Aging Plumbing. Pipes within the walls of a multi-story building are known as 'risers.'  Risers generally have a lifespan of about 30 years. After this period, leaks are common, resulting in water waste.

Building owners and managers can proactively minimize water waste by being aware of these factors “and they should also go one step further," according to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co. Inc. marketers of no-water urinals. "Conduct a water audit.”

Like an energy audit, a water audit identifies where water is used, wasted, or no longer necessary, helping to implement effective water efficiency strategies.

Further, if changes are necessary to advance water efficiency, Reichardt suggests restrooms are the first place to start.

"Selecting highly efficient toilets, low-flow faucets, and reliable no-water urinals has become imperative to ensure state-of-the-art water efficiency in today's buildings."

###

Available for Interviews

Available for Interviews on Water Efficiency Issues: Klaus Reichardt, klaus@waterless.com

About Waterless

Waterless Co., Inc. Introduced waterless urinals to North America in 1991.  Based in Vista, CA, the company has become a leader in water efficiency. The company offers a full line of Waterless, No-Flush urinals, cleaning solutions, and other cost-saving accessories. Visit: www.waterless.com 

Waterless Co. Inc.

1050 Joshua Way
Vista, CA 92081 USA
800.244.6364

sales@waterless.com

Media Contact: Robert Kravitz

Phone: 312-880-8176

E-Mail: robert.kravitz@outlook.com

Waterless Urinals: A Cost-Effective Solution for Building Renovations

The Challenge of Plumbing Renovation

In multi-story buildings like condominiums, "risers" are the vertical plumbing stacks hidden within walls that deliver water and remove waste from all apartments. While these systems typically last 30-40 years, building managers often resort to annual repairs as problems emerge. Eventually, these temporary fixes fail, necessitating complete replacement.

This replacement process is extensive and disruptive. Workers must break through walls to access pipes in kitchens and bathrooms, including those in common areas like restrooms and gyms. Then they must put everything back together.

The project typically results in considerable turmoil and lots of unhappy faces among the tenants.

A Chicago Case Study

A 28-story Chicago building with 644 units demonstrates the scale of such projects. The condominium association initially borrowed $20 million to replace their aging risers. When costs exceeded this budget, their bank offered an additional $1 million loan with one condition: find ways to reduce construction expenses.

The Locker Room Challenge

Part of the riser project included redesigning the building's locker room. This required relocating four water-using urinals from one side of the wall to another. While drainage plumbing was available at the new location, there was no water supply. The contractor estimated this single issue would cost over $150,000 and delay the project by at least one week or more.

The Waterless Solution

Looking for alternatives, building management decided to install no-water urinals from Waterless Co. Inc., North America's leading waterless urinal provider. These fixtures only needed to connect to existing drainpipes, eliminating the need for water supply lines.

This decision not only saved the immediate $150,000 in plumbing costs but also prevented project delays. When accounting for the accelerated timeline, allowing workers to proceed with other renovations, the total savings approached $300,000, nearly one-third of the additional loan amount the Association had anticipated needing. 

Further, once installed, the Association found the waterless urinals to be affordable, dependable, and reliable.

5 Benefits of Water Efficiency

Water Efficiency Insights: A LinkedIn Poll Reveals Misconceptions

A recent LinkedIn poll by Waterless Co., Inc. explored public understanding of water efficiency. The question posed was: "Which of the following is NOT key to water conservation, now known as water efficiency?"

The results revealed some interesting perceptions:

• Eliminating water leaks: 7%

• Utilizing underground water: 36%

• Installing waterless urinals: 21%

• Protecting water quality: 36%

The correct answer, "Utilizing underground water," is a crucial point that needs to be understood. While tapping into aquifers may appear to be a solution during droughts, it's not a sustainable water efficiency practice. The depletion of aquifers, driven by aridification, is a growing global concern, highlighting irresponsible water use.

Conversely, the most frequently incorrect response, "Protecting water quality," actually underscores a significant misunderstanding. In reality, safeguarding water quality is a fundamental aspect of water efficiency.

Why Protecting Water Quality Matters

Water efficiency is about responsible water resource management through water-saving and water eliminating technologies. It's about minimizing our water footprint across all sectors.

Protecting water quality directly impacts our daily lives. Polluted water requires extensive, costly treatment, reducing its usability. In regions lacking treatment capabilities, contamination leads to severe water scarcity.

By maintaining water quality, we ensure that our existing water sources remain viable for diverse purposes, from drinking and agriculture to industrial use. This also lessens the need for unsustainable practices like excessive aquifer extraction.

In essence, true water efficiency encompasses reducing water consumption, eliminating water use where possible, and preserving the quality of our existing water resources.

-Klaus

The True Value of Reliability

Reliability is a fundamental asset in both personal relationships and business operations. For a brand to gain customer loyalty, its products must consistently demonstrate quality, dependability, and, above all, reliability. Failing to maintain these standards can have serious consequences.

Consider these three real-world examples:

The End of the Mercedes of Carpet Extractors

Since the 1990s, a particular U.S. company gained fame for their exceptional carpet extractors. These machines were used daily worldwide in residential, educational, and commercial settings to clean carpets. The company sold thousands of units annually.

Their extractors earned the nickname "the Mercedes of carpet extractors” due to their outstanding reliability. Despite the premium price, customers willingly paid more because they valued the well-engineered, trustworthy, and dependable performance these machines delivered.

However, in the 2000s, facing market pressures, the company relocated production from the U.S. to an overseas manufacturer. From the beginning, the imported machines showed significant quality issues. At the worst point, 80 percent of extractors manufactured abroad and imported to the U.S. had to be returned to the foreign manufacturer. They had too many flaws.

Although quality, dependability, and reliability improved within a year, the damage was already done. The prestigious "Mercedes of carpet extractors" reputation was lost, and the company suffered an irreversible decline in market share.

Circuit Board Failure: A Reliability Lesson

A telecommunications company developed an innovative product designed to enhance digital communications with greater speed and efficiency. The system underwent multiple rounds of testing at the company's manufacturing facility, performing flawlessly each time.

Confident in their product's readiness, the company invested substantially in marketing campaigns.

The initial market response was excellent. Many customers purchased multiple systems for deployment across their global offices and service centers. However, a critical flaw emerged within months of launch.

While the equipment had been thoroughly tested, these tests failed to simulate extended operation periods. Many customers ran the equipment continuously (24/7). This constant usage led to widespread solder joint failures. A solder joint is the connection between electronic components. It’s failure proved to be the system's critical vulnerability.

Customers quickly recognized the equipment's reliability issues. Although the manufacturer moved swiftly to address the problem by replacing the defective joints with circuit boards, the damage to their reputation was irreversible. All the resources invested in product development and marketing yielded no return. Ultimately, the company discontinued the product entirely.

Restroom Reliability

As we can see from these examples, reliability means consistency and dependability. It describes something that performs as expected every time, maintaining quality without failure.

Thousands of our customers in North America have installed our Waterless urinals. What they have found is that our urinals exemplify reliability. With their simple design, they efficiently remove liquid waste from men's restrooms—quickly, hygienically, and odor-free—every single time. And in the process, they save millions of gallons of water each year in facilities all over the world.

These urinals also eliminate common problems like plumbing issues and flush failures. When it comes to urinals, Waterless urinals mean reliability.

-Klaus

The True Value of Water Efficiency

Cal Water, the nation's third-largest water utility serving half a million California customers, announced on July 29, 2024, that its water efficiency programs have reduced customer water bills by 20.5 percent over the past 15 years.

This compares to what they would have paid without these initiatives. It's based on research by the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), a respected Chicago-based nonprofit that advocates for water conservation and efficiency across the industry.

It may seem counterintuitive that a water utility would promote helping customers lower their bills. However, throughout California and increasingly nationwide, water efficiency delivers multiple benefits to customers, communities, and utility companies.

The AWE study explains this paradox: "When less water is used, costly investments required to produce additional water supplies [and deliver water supplies] can be deferred and potentially avoided."

Defining Water Conservation and Water Efficiency

It's crucial to distinguish between water conservation and water efficiency, as they represent distinct approaches to water management.

Water Conservation: Refers to a temporary reduction in water usage, typically implemented during specific events like droughts or water restrictions. It's a short-term response to immediate needs.

Water Efficiency: This is a long-term strategy focused on permanently reducing or eliminating water consumption. It involves:

·       Making lasting changes to water-use habits in homes, workplaces, and schools.

·       Replacing water-intensive systems with innovative, water-saving technologies, such as low-flow fixtures, waterless urinals, smart irrigation systems, and water recycling systems. These technologies reduce water consumption and contribute to cost savings and environmental sustainability.

This distinction highlights that investments in water-efficient technologies provide ongoing benefits, rather than just temporary relief.

How Cal Water Saved Their Customers So Much Money

Many experts credit Cal Water's 2009 implementation of a "tiered rate structure" (block pricing) as a pivotal strategy for achieving these cost savings. This system charges customers varying rates based on their water consumption: the more water used, the higher the rate.

Here’s How It Works:

·       Commercial buildings are initially assigned a base water allowance at the lowest rate, determined by size and occupancy.

·       Exceeding this base allowance triggers a shift to higher tiers (or blocks), resulting in increased water charges.

·       This tiered system discourages excessive water use, particularly for non-essential purposes.

Cal Water's CEO, Martin A. Kropelnicki, highlighted that this tiered rate structure and water efficiency efforts have also reduced utility operational costs. This cost reduction allows Cal Water to request smaller rate adjustments, resulting in savings for almost all its customers.

There are also environmental benefits. For instance, when less water is used, the number of chemicals used to treat water decreases. The strategy also reduces energy consumption, which, in turn, lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Benefits to Facility Owners and Managers

Water efficiency measures have also provided facility owners and managers with significant financial advantages. Between 2010 and 2022, Cal Water reports these customers have avoided water bill increases of 2-20% (depending on the district) thanks to tiered rate structures and water efficiency programs.

These findings highlight how proactive water efficiency measures directly reduce operating costs. Without these measures, facilities would face higher operating expenses, which would be particularly challenging today, as many commercial properties in California and nationwide struggle to control costs, reduce costs, attract new tenants, and recover from pandemic-related setbacks.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc., a pioneer in advancing water efficiency. Reichardt is a frequent author and presenter who discusses water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Originally published in Facility Management Advisor, August 2024.

Why Should We Install Waterless Urinals on College Campuses?

Recently, a publication focusing on operating college and universities asked us about the unique selling points of waterless urinals. What sets them apart and what makes them a valuable addition to college campuses?  

They sent us written questions, and we provided written answers.  

Some of those are below:  

What are some short and long-term benefits for colleges and universities to install no-water urinals?

Based on the feedback from hundreds of our customers over the past 34 years, waterless urinals offer both initial and long-term savings.

 Initial Benefits

•         Reduced Installation Costs: Flush handles, sensors, or incoming waterlines are unnecessary.

•         Simplified Maintenance: Easier cleaning with an all-purpose cleaner and cleaning cloth.

•         Improved Hygiene: Their dry interior prevents bacteria and contaminant growth.

•         Vandalism Resistance: No flush handles to damage.  

Long-term Benefits

•         Significant Water Conservation: Savings of up to 35,000 gallons of potable water per urinal annually

•         Ongoing Cost Savings: Reduces water bills.

•         Minimal Repairs: These urinals rarely require repair, eliminating maintenance expenses.

•         No Mineral Buildup: The absence of water prevents rust and mineral deposits.

•         Healthier Environment: Waterless urinals stay dry, so there is less contamination, helping to keep the entire restroom healthier.  

How does the technology work?

The technology behind waterless urinals is straightforward. They use gravity to drain urine into a trap cylinder at the base of the urinal. It’s filled with a liquid sealant to prevent odors from being released into the air. The urine then flows into a standard drainpipe below the urinal, similar to conventional urinals.  

How long have waterless urinals been available in North America?

Waterless urinals were introduced in 1991. Variations of these urinals have been installed in parts of Europe for decades, but their steady growth in North America has been particularly notable. The technology gained traction in the U.S. due to record droughts and among facilities seeking LEED certification. Facilities can earn several points toward certification when these urinals are installed.  

How else can college campuses reduce water consumption?

When it comes to water efficiency, it's crucial to view it as a journey rather than a destination. This perspective inspires continuous improvement and a commitment to finding new and better ways to reduce water consumption.  

With this mindset, here are some more effective strategies: 

1. Install Water Efficient Fixtures: This includes dual-flush toilets, faucets, showerheads, in addition to waterless urinals. In kitchens, opt for water-efficient dishwashers. 

2. Upgrade Irrigation Systems: Implement smart irrigation systems that adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions. Also, drought-tolerant native plants should be installed in landscaping to reduce the need for watering. 

3. Leak Detection and Repair: This is very important. Regular inspections should be conducted to identify and fix leaks in the plumbing system. Also, smart water meters should be installed to monitor usage 24/7and detect leaks quickly.

4. Recycling and Reusing Water: Implement greywater systems to recycle water from sinks and showers for irrigation. This is a perfect use for greywater.  

5. Awareness and Education Campaigns: Educate students, faculty, and staff about the importance of water efficiency. This can be very powerful. It helps encourage all types of water-saving behaviors.  

6. Policy and Incentives: Implement policies promoting water efficiency, such as restricting potable water use for non-essential purposes. Another policy that can work wonders is to provide incentives for departments and dorms to implement their own water-saving goals - and be rewarded for doing so.

When it comes to water efficiency, it’s not one strategy that works best but a combination of methods. And remember what we mentioned earlier. View water efficiency and reducing water consumption as a journey.

Once the process starts, new strategies are sure to follow. This helps campuses become even more water efficient and helps to reduce what is invariably a significant operational cost – the cost of water.   

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc., a pioneer in advancing water efficiency. Reichardt is a frequent author and presenter who discusses water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Keeping Green Restrooms Green

At a large Atlanta architectural firm, the company cars are all electric. The office paper is 100 percent recycled, and both sides of copy paper are always used before discarding. Styrofoam cups are never used—only ceramic coffee mugs—and all cleaning supplies are Green-certified.  

A walk through the firm's men's restrooms reveals more of the company's "Green Operations Plan," as they call it. Not only are water-saving toilets installed, but all the urinals are waterless. Since the firm went "Green" four years ago, it is estimated that they have saved more than 300,000 gallons of water using these new restroom technologies.  

According to a study by Texas A&M University, billions of gallons of water—as much as 20 percent of all the water used annually in the U.S.—are used just to flush toilets and urinals. Just so we are on the same page, just one conventional urinal can use as much as 35,000 gallons of water per year.  

The consequences of this water usage include: ·      

• The consumption of vast natural resources

•  The construction of newer, larger, and more costly sewer treatment centers

• ·The need for more energy and electricity to transmit these huge volumes of potable water to and from facilities.  

In California alone, at least 20 percent of the state's electrical power is used just for transporting water.

For these reasons, let’s take a closer look at why the Atlanta company installed waterless urinals and how they can prove beneficial for your facility.

Why Waterless Urinals

Waterless, aka no-flush urinal systems have been around for more than one hundred years. First found in Europe, they garnered little attention in the U.S. until the ecology movement of the 1970s.  

Interest has increased over the past 25 years as more facilities aim to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner and, more recently, because of LEED® certification. Installing waterless urinals can help earn water conservation points. 

Waterless urinals, which are manufactured by four or five different companies in the U.S. and Europe, look like conventional urinals but lack flush valves and the plumbing typically found on traditional urinals.

Instead of using water to flush away urine, gravity drains the urine into a trap or cylinder that sits atop the drain area of the urinal. This cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid sealant that prevents odors from escaping into the air. As the urinal is used, urine overflows into a drainpipe in much the same way as a traditional urinal.

In addition to water and electrical savings, waterless urinals offer other advantages, such as:  

- Lower installation and plumbing costs because water lines to each urinal are unnecessary.

- No need for flush valves or sensors.

- Faster and easier installation compared to conventional urinals.

- No pooling of water at the base of the urinal, which can harbor germs and bacteria

- Reduced bacteria growth as the urinal stays drier than a conventional urinal.

 However, building owners and managers should thoroughly investigate the different waterless systems available before making a selection.

For example, the cylinders on some systems require more frequent changes than others. The costs for these cylinders can range from just a few dollars to more than $50 per cylinder. This offsets the financial savings a facility hoped to achieve by going waterless.

To avoid this, study the different types of no-water urinals available, and then go one step further. Contact a local distributor or the manufacturer of waterless urinals, discuss your needs, and let them advice you on what directions to take.

-Klaus

Hard Water: A Challenge for U.S. Cleaning Professionals

According to the United States Geological Survey, most U.S. water supplies contain elevated levels of calcium and magnesium, classifying them as "hard water."

This creates several challenges for cleaning professionals tasked with cleaning restroom fixtures. For instance, mineral deposits from hard water can cause:

- Calcium buildup on porcelain and the interior surfaces of toilets and flush urinals

- Soap scum formation on glass surfaces

- Staining and residue build-up on countertops

- Surface dulling after repeated cleaning

- Reduce the effectiveness of professional cleaning solutions

And the situation is worsening as more states tap into aquifers. These underground water sources have stored water for centuries and contain even higher concentrations of calcium and minerals.

According to Klaus Reichardt, Founder and CEO of Waterless Co., Inc. "The hard water not only mars the appearance of these fixtures but can reduce the efficiency of the toilet or flush urinal by clogging the rinse holes and affecting the flushing mechanism.

To address this, he recommends the following cleaning strategies:

1. Temperature Control

Use cool or room temperature water when attempting to remove hard water stains; hot water can make it more challenging to remove stains.

2. Cleaning Solutions, Tools, and Products

- Eco-friendly acid-based cleaners are an option. These cleaners have a reduced impact on the user and the environment. However, they still require careful handling and application.

- Try powdered cleaners, allowing them to "dwell" on stained surfaces, then wipe clean with microfiber cloths or scrub with non-scratch pads. Note: even non-scratch pads may cause scratching over time.

- Remove the water from the toilet or flush urinal and apply a spray-on oil treatment to the stains. Allow to dwell for 30 minutes, then scrub or wipe clean.

Reichardt states alternative methods exist to reduce or eliminate hard water staining.

One solution is to install toilet bowl filters on the toilet/urinal water feed lines. These filter out minerals released into the bowl, thereby minimizing the problem.

Another option is to install no-flush urinals. These use no water at all, eliminating the issue entirely – making life just a bit easier for cleaning workers.

###

About Waterless

Waterless Co., Inc., Introduced waterless urinals to North America in 1991.  Based in Vista, Ca, the company has become a leader in water efficiency. The company offers a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning solutions, and other cost-saving accessories. Visit: www.waterless.com 

Waterless Co. Inc.

1050 Joshua Way
Vista, CA 92081 USA
800.244.6364

sales@waterless.com

Why Hotels Are Adopting Waterless Urinals

Hotels worldwide are increasingly installing waterless urinals in their public restrooms, a trend driven by significant water and cost savings, practicality, and health benefits.

Klaus Reichardt, a leading expert in the field as the CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc, shares the reasons behind this:

• Installation costs are reduced. Because waterless urinals only require a drain connection, the need for water supply plumbing to the urinal is eliminated. This represents significant cost savings, particularly for larger hotels.

• Maintenance becomes a breeze. Unlike traditional urinals that often face issues with tampered flush handles and require ongoing electronic sensors, batteries, and other components maintenance, waterless urinals have none of these issues, making maintenance simpler if not eliminated entirely.

• The impact on water reduction is remarkable. A single waterless urinal typically saves around 35,000 gallons of water annually - equivalent to the amount of water used by a family of four in one year.

• More cost savings. Using less or no water reduces the utility costs related to delivering and removing water from a hotel. In a large hotel, these savings can be substantial, making waterless urinals a financially savvy choice.

• Meeting requirements or earning rebates. In drought-plagued areas of the world, including here in the U.S., installing waterless urinals may be required or encouraged by offering hotels tax benefits.

However, there is another reason hotels are installing waterless urinals: health and hygiene benefits.

These include the following:

• When a flush urinal is flushed, it releases a host of harmful germs and bacteria that become airborne and can be inhaled by users. This is referred to as urinal plume. There is no flushing with a waterless urinal, so there is no plume.

• While these germs and bacteria may initially become airborne, they end up landing on nearby surfaces - even the users’ clothing - which can be touched. Touching these surfaces can start the spread of cross-contamination. Waterless urinals eliminate the need to touch a urinal handle or any surface near the urinal. This helps prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms.

• Standing water in a water-using urinal can harbor additional germs and bacteria. Once again, when the urinal is flushed, these bacteria can become airborne and attach to nearby surfaces.

Two Cautions

Although waterless urinals do offer several benefits and savings, hotel owners and managers are encouraged to do their homework when selecting a waterless urinal system. This includes a thorough understanding of how to maintain the urinal once installed. Among the things to understand are the following:

·       There are several no-water brands to select from, especially in Europe. However, each is a little different, specifically when it comes to the sealant cylinder (aka trap) placed at the bottom of the urinal. Some cylinders last only two or three months and, ironically, are the most expensive. However, at least one type of waterless urinal uses a cylinder that can last for several months and, once again ironically, is the least expensive. This makes "due diligence" necessary.

·       While cleaning and maintaining a waterless urinal is similar to a conventional one, there can be differences. Follow the simple instructions provided by the manufacturer for proper cleaning maintenance.

·       Sealant must be added to the cylinder on a regular basis. The sealant prevents odors from being released into the restroom. Further, after several months of use, the cartridge may need to be replaced with a new one. This is a very easy task.

All of this means that the key reasons hotels select waterless urinals are the well-documented water and cost savings and the health benefits waterless urinals provide.

Further, with proper maintenance, waterless urinals can last for many years, requiring few, if any, service needs – making the job of a hotel manager just a bit easier.

-Klaus