Surprisingly, we need look no further than checking out u-traps to see just how global the world has become. By global, we mean that people working or living in one part of the world can impact the health of other people working and living in other parts of the world.
It also means that events that take place on the other side of the globe are not long confined to one area, but instead, potentially affect us all. For example, severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS, started in southern China and other parts of Asia in late 2002 early 2003. And even 12,548 Kilometers away (nearly 8,000 miles), it also spread to Toronto. A woman traveling from Hong Kong to Toronto on February 23, 2003, had the disease.
Overnight, Toronto's hotel industry, restaurants, and even many medical facilities came to a stop. Very quickly, people in Toronto were afraid to visit these locations for fear they too would come down with SARS. It may come as a surprise that medical facilities were impacted, but it was in some Asian hospitals that the first cases were uncovered.
SARS, for those who have forgotten or may not know, has very severe flu-like symptoms. In most of the cases, and there were a reported 8,089 cases worldwide, it lasts 2 to 7 days, leaving victims tired, and frequently dealing with a dry cough that can take weeks to go away. However, 774 people did die of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When SARS first was discovered, public health officials were unsure exactly how it was spreading. They concluded that person-to-person contact was one of the keyways. Just like the flu and other airborne viruses and illnesses, if an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets are propelled which can be inhaled by others or land on surfaces, where they can later be touched then deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of others nearby, spreading the disease.
Because these droplets could spread onto surfaces, hotels in Hong Kong used vast amounts of bleach to clean everything from the touch buttons in elevators to entire commercial kitchens, public and private restrooms, and "high touch" areas found in most all large facilities. It was said at the time that you could smell the bleach throughout the city.
However, on closer investigation, researchers uncovered more precisely how SARS started and one of the keyways it spread. In Asian hospitals, specifically, the virus was being released in sewer gas, which was becoming airborne due to dried "U-traps" in the plumbing connecting floor drains and other drains. This is why some of the first cases reported (a total of 105) were among healthcare workers in China; in fact, one of the first cases reported in Hong Kong was that of a doctor who had treated people in one of these hospitals.
Understanding U-traps
At this point, we have a pretty good understanding of what SARS is and how it spreads. What we need to clarify are the U-traps. These traps, also known as "J-traps" or "P-Traps," are plumbing devices installed below drains, which are designed to prevent sewer odors – and airborne pathogens – from being released into the air.
Sewer gases develop as solid waste is broken down in wastewater. They may not only have odors and house pathogens, but they also may include methane gas. A form of greenhouse gas, methane is also found in natural gas. While it is not considered fatal if inhaled by humans, it can cause dizziness, headaches, and lethargy.
The U-traps are connected not only to floor drains but to sinks, toilets, urinals, and other fixtures that may be in a restroom, kitchen, janitorial closet, laundry room, shower area, etc. The problem is that if a restroom, for instance, is not used for a prolonged period, these drains can go dry. When this happens, they open the door for sewer gases and potentially harmful pathogens to be released into the air.
It is a problem all types of facilities can have but is most notable in schools. This is because schools are often closed for two or three months during the summer or when there are school breaks, typically lasting one to two weeks.
The Next Concern: Legionella
SARS taught public health officials quite a few lessons about how germs and bacteria can spread and how they can impact human health. Now in Canada, we have another concern.
With changing demographics, an aging population, and the fact that much of Canada's water infrastructure needs updating, Legionella, better known as Legionnaires' Disease, is a growing concern. Legionella is a bacterium found in freshwater sources, where it is present in low amounts. However, it can multiply when water is stagnant, for instance, in pipes or air conditioning systems.
It was through a hotel's aging air conditioning system that Legionella was spread in Philadelphia in 1976, causing two hundred people to become sick. In 2012, 13 deaths and 170 documented cases of Legionnaires’ Disease were reported in Quebec City. These victims contracted the disease by inhaling droplets of Legionella bacteria in mists or vapors of water.
The 2020 Canadian National Plumbing Code will include language and guides, so facilities can re-design P-trap systems so that they do not dry out or dry out so quickly. However, this may only apply to new construction or facilities under renovation.
What, then, can building managers do now to address this situation? How can they make sure U-traps do not dry out or at least do not dry out so quickly? There are different ways, some involving considerable expense and others that are relatively inexpensive. Among them are the following:
Setting up a primer schedule: Typically, a primer schedule involves custodial workers. On a set schedule, they pour about two cups of water into floor and other drains. Fresh water is all that is needed, and it should last two or more weeks depending on the use of the area and indoor climate conditions.
Installing a trap primer: A trap primer is connected to a water supply that detects when trap water has evaporated. When this happens, the trap primer releases small amounts of water into the drain to refill the trap. Some work with sensors, others with timers.
Liquid trap seal primer: Another option is to pour a liquid primer down the drain. Sometimes referred to as an “everprime” or "ever primer," these primers are long-lasting, as much as three to six months or longer. Some are odorless and biodegradable. This is an excellent option especially in schools or facilities which may be closed for long periods of time.
These options will help building managers manage risk. They will help prevent odors from being released in the facility, along with any potentially harmful pathogens as well.
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.
