One might wonder why we need waterless urinals. After all, water rates in most of North America have traditionally been some of the lowest in the Western world.

However, all that is starting to change. Most areas of North America are now raising water rates, some significantly, for two simple reasons:

• Current charges no longer come close to covering what it costs to gather, treat, deliver, and remove water.

• Because water has been underpriced, many areas have delayed upgrading their infrastructure.  This, in many cases, is no longer an option.

It is because of these reasons and others that many facilities in North America such as hotels, office buildings, and schools are installing waterless or no-water urinals. 

These urinals, which look just like traditional urinals, operate entirely without water, so they have the potential of saving building owners/managers hundreds if not thousands of dollars in water charges annually.  However, they have other benefits as well compared to traditional urinals.  Among these are the following:

•    No mechanical parts to purchase or repair

•    Reduced vandalism; flush handles/mechanisms tend to be vandalized on many traditional urinals

•    No-water urinals tend to be less costly to purchase and install compared to traditional urinals

•    No special plumbing is required; they drain into a standard two-inch (50.800 mm) drain, just like water-using urinals

•    If "snaking" is necessary to remove a clog, some no-water urinals allow direct access to the drain line, helping to reduce plumbing costs.

Maintenance Requirements: The Cartridge

In many ways, no-water urinals are cared for just like traditional urinals. However, there are differences starting with the cartridge placed at the base of the unit.  The reason for this cartridge is to keep sewer odors from being released into the restroom.  Typically, they are filled with about three ounces of sealing liquid. This seals the cartridge to the urinal. With most systems, it should be refilled about twice per month. 

In time the cartridge should be changed.  It's similar to the air filter on a car.  After so many miles, it needs to be replaced.  With a waterless urinal cartridge, after so many uses it has to be changed.  The traps are designed with either a locking mechanism to secure them to the urinal or merely require a "press and fit" to install.

Most manufacturers provide a simple tool to remove the cartridge. However, when it comes to cartridges, this is where building owners/managers must do their homework.  Some cartridges last for several months before they need to be changed and, in at least one case, are very cost effective.  With other systems, the cartridge needs to be changed every couple of months and, interestingly, some of these cartridges are costly.   Due diligence is advised.

Maintenance Requirements: Cleaning

Similar to a traditional urinal, on a daily basis, the most effective way to clean no-water urinals is to use a cleaner/disinfectant and spray all surfaces of the urinal.  Because this cleaning solution contains a disinfectant, cleaning professionals must allow it to "dwell" on the surface for a few minutes before wiping.  Complete instructions will be listed on the product label.

If a separate cleaner and separate disinfectant are used, spray the urinal first with the cleaner, wipe and clean. Then spray the disinfectant on the urinal and allow for dwell time.  This is the same "two-step" process that should be performed whenever using these solutions separately.

Finally, no water is necessary for the cleaning process, nor is scrubbing.  This is because there are rarely water deposits, or any other deposits that build up on these urinals.

Maintenance Requirements: Odors

In some instances, some building users complained that water free urinals leave odors in restrooms.  This is usually an indication of not having adequate sealing liquid in the trap.  The most important is ensuring that cleaning professionals know how to effectively clean and care for no-water urinals. It is further recommended to clean/snake the drain lines before installing non-water urinals.

 Also, it was found that in very old buildings, the drainpipes below the urinal were not always compatible with the water-free units. Adjustments can be made, however, to address this issue.  

Odors are not an issue when it comes to waterless urinals. Many building owners/managers find these urinals are often cleaner, more hygienic, with less odor than traditional urinals. This is one more benefit we should've mentioned.

A frequent speaker and author on water conservation issues, Klaus Reichardt, is the founder and managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. The company’s principal product, the Waterless Co., LLC works entirely without water.