The following are questions from the editor of Campus Facility Magazine
Answers are provided by Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc.
Editor: What are some initial and long-term benefits for colleges that install waterless urinals?
Klaus Reichardt: One of the first cost savings comes with installation. Waterless urinals do not have flush handles or sensory systems or require the plumbing, piping, or incoming water lines necessary to bring water to the urinal—these are what cost the most when installing conventional urinals.
Waterless urinal systems rarely require repairs. For this reason, some busy bars and restaurants have switched to waterless systems. The manager of one popular Austin, TX restaurant said that after a busy Saturday night, at least one of the restaurant’s conventional urinals or their flush handles were usually tampered with, broken, or clogged with debris. With waterless urinals, this rarely happens.
Then there are the actual water savings. A single conventional urinal can use as much as 35,000 gallons of potable water per year. This is not only a water saving but a cost saving. It can cost as much as $2 per gallon to deliver and drain water from a facility. These charges are passed on to customers in increased utility fees or higher taxes.
What are the costs associated with waterless urinals once they are installed?
Due diligence is required when selecting a waterless urinal system. Although the assorted brands look and work similarly, there are differences that, if overlooked, can undermine the expected savings. For example, the trap/cylinders placed at the bottom of the urinal in some models may require more frequent changing and can be awfully expensive, as much as US$50 each.
Managers must know that the trap/cylinder in other brands can last considerably longer and cost as little as $10.00 each. This is why due diligence is so necessary.
How does the technology work?
The way waterless urinal systems work is quite simple. Instead of using water to flush away urine, gravity drains the urine into the trap/cylinder we just mentioned.
The cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid sealant, which must be re-filled as necessary, a quick and easy procedure. As the urine passes through the trap/cylinder and sealant, which prevents odors from being released into the restroom, the urine flows into a conventional drainpipe, much the same way a traditional urinal works.
How about cleaning a waterless urinal?
In most cases, a waterless urinal is cleaned using an all-purpose cleaning solution, cloth, or sponge. A disinfectant can also be used if necessary. However, because the interior of the unit is dry, bacteria, germs, and other contaminants rarely develop. This is more hygienic and also helps protect indoor air quality because fewer germs become airborne.
Can you comment on any other trends in water that our readers should know?
When Waterless Co., Inc was founded three decades ago, areas of North America had droughts, but those droughts would last a year or two and would be soon forgotten.
Those days are over. Many parts of North America are experiencing ongoing dry conditions – referred to as aridification – which appear to be the new normal when it comes to their climate. This means dry, warmer weather is now a permanent condition. Instead of a drought ending in a couple of years, we will see just the opposite: occasional wet years with droughts soon returning.
This means finding more ways to reduce water consumption and improve water efficiency is now an ongoing journey. And it can be done. California has reduced water consumption by more than 60 percent in the past three decades. This proves we can do this, and no-water urinals can help make it happen.
