Public restrooms in the U.S. are undergoing rapid transformations. Some innovations will be immediately visible, but others - especially the most significant ones - will remain hidden.

One of the most noticeable changes is the use of indicator lights. Have you ever seen a digital display that shows how many parking spaces are available in a parking lot? You can expect to see something similar in large facilities with many restrooms and fixtures, such as in airports, sports venues, and theaters.

The purpose is to inform users of the expected waiting time for using the restroom. With this information, they might decide to use another restroom in the complex.

Along with this, expect red and green lights on the cubicle doors in these restrooms. A red light indicates a cubicle is occupied. Conversely, if a stall is free, a green light is on.

Less visible will be the IoT - the Internet of things - which is taking over public restrooms. These do not provide information to users but rather send data to the maintenance and housekeeping departments of larger facilities. Further, their goal is to help reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently.

Essentially, IoT is a communication system. For example, if a toilet or urinal is overflowing or malfunctioning, IoT notifies maintenance personnel in real-time - when it happens. No more waiting for a user to report a problem in the restroom or for the maintenance personnel to discover one hours later.

Additionally, IoT systems already installed or coming soon can do the following: 

·       Detect if consumables - toilet paper, soap, paper towel - are running low or predict when they might run low. Usage is recorded. The technology knows when supplies are likely to run low and communicates this with maintenance staff.

 ·       IoT water monitors are being installed for a variety of reasons. One reason is to monitor water usage for each fixture and tell managers where more water-efficient fixtures should be installed.

 ·       Water monitors are also being used for prevention, predictive maintenance, and troubleshooting. The system knows – in advance – where plumbing repairs may be needed. With this advanced knowledge, maintenance professionals can make repairs before a serious problem arises.

 ·       Sensor and range controls are also key features of an advanced restroom IoT system. Have you ever used a toilet or urinal that auto-flushes before you’re done?  Or use one that does not flush after you’re done? Join the club. This happens all the time. IoT controls can detect this problem and notify maintenance staff that an adjustment is needed.  

 ·       As to range issues, here is a perfect example. Have you ever placed your hands under the faucet, and no water is released? What most users then do is move their hands in various places under the tap to see if that triggers the release. IoT can detect this problem, alert maintenance staff, and often, the system can fix it.

 ·       Flow meters will also be part of an advanced restroom IoT system. By measuring and recording the water flow through the pipes, it can detect if something unusual or abnormal is happening, such as a leak or a toilet flapper is stuck. Once again, these situations are detected in real-time, helping to catch and repair problems before too much water is wasted.

IoT in Restrooms has Features, Benefits, and One Big Drawback

As we can see, IoT has many amazing features but has one significant drawback: it can be very costly. Most of the cost comes from installing the technology, not the technology itself.

For instance, meters must be installed on all pipes and fixtures to monitor water use and then must be wired to a central computer system. This is only cost effective for very large facilities.

So, what about smaller facilities?  Smaller locations must rely on a different kind of technology: human intelligence.

One of the first steps to take is to check the age of the fixtures in the restroom. Older toilets and water-using urinals tend to have worn-out internal parts. This causes them to consume more water per flush than when new.  Instead of fixing or replacing these parts, it is often recommended to install new fixtures.

While today’s new urinals use less water than older units, foresight suggests taking the next step and installing waterless urinals, which use no water at all. This way, you are saving water now and in the future.  What is more, these urinals are maintenance free.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.