Waterless Urinals Help Building Owners Use Water Responsibly

After four years of drought, the state of California has finally had some relief in the form of rain. However, that does not mean the state is out of the woods. It still must be very careful in how it uses water and make sure it uses water responsibly. Of course, that’s where waterless urinals come in, but more about them later.

Fortunately, some good has come from the drought. Many building owners and consumers are using water much more carefully now, and we all can learn from what California has done over the past four years to use water more responsibly and efficiently. Following are some of the lessons learned and steps the state has taken:

·        Water is no longer taken for granted; also, the true costs of gathering, storing, delivering, and removing water have increased significantly, so conserving water is not only an environmental issue but also a cost issue.

·        Many water districts have beefed up water capacity, expecting future droughts.

·        Water shortages are no longer a “local” issue. Instead of each county being on its own when it comes to water, if one area of the state experiences a shortage, water is pulled from nearby areas where water is more plentiful.

·        New technologies have been developed for all consumer water-using devices—from dishwashers to washing machines—to reduce water consumption.

·        A new mentality toward water has evolved. Businesses and industries view reducing water consumption as not only the “right” thing to do but also in their best business interest.

·        Variable-rate irrigation systems allow farmers to use water more selectively; additionally, farmers have implemented irrigation scheduling and developed soil sensors to determine water needs.

·        Water audits, unheard of 40 years ago, are now commonplace. Water audits help determine where water is being used, where it is being wasted, and where its use can be reduced.

·        Rebate programs have been introduced to encourage consumers and facilities to install more water-efficient systems.

One of the changes also implemented in California is that newly installed toilets and urinals use less than the federally mandated gallons per flush (gpf). Currently, the federal mandate is set at 1.6 gpf for toilets and approximately 1 gpf for urinals. In California, that amount must be reduced to approximately 1.25 gpf for toilets and no more than 0.5 gpf for urinals.

This requirement has caused many building owners to rethink water-using urinals entirely. There are various reasons for this, but the one that drifts to the top is costs. Even if a urinal uses only 0.5 gpf, it still must be plumbed for that water; it still must have a flush valve installed, typically a sensor-controlled valve; and it still uses water. These are all cost factors that remain static whether the urinal uses 0.5 gpf or 3 gpf.

Observers believe that this is one of the key reasons there has been an upswing in the number of waterless urinals installed in California and in other “dry” states. A waterless urinal does not need to be plumbed for water; does not need a flush valve; and no water is used whatsoever. All of which can provide significant cost savings.

For more information on how to reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently, please contact a Waterless Co representative.

No-Water Urinals, Pressure-Assisted Toilets, and Other New Restroom Technologies

When it comes to water consumption, no-water urinals and new toilet technologies have advanced considerably in just the past few years. For instance, pressure-assisted toilets are becoming more popular, and we are likely to see more of these in the years to come. You’ve likely already seen pressure-assisted toilets; they are similar to the types of toilets installed on airplanes. They rely on compressed air to remove waste and, in so doing, use very little water—about 1.1 gpf (gallons per flush). This compares to 1.6 gpf or more with a standard toilet.

However, these toilets tend to be more costly than traditional toilets, and installation issues may arise in some facilities. But their added costs should be balanced with the reduction in water consumption. Water rates throughout the United States are escalating, in some cases quite alarmingly. These toilets can help minimize the impact of those rate increases.

Along with pressure-assisted toilets, another option is a dual-flush toilet. These have been around for a while but have further improved in recent years. There are even sensor-controlled dual-flush toilets now.

These systems use considerably less water to remove liquid waste and just a bit more (than that used for liquid waste) to remove solid waste. Typically they reduce water consumption to about 1.25 gpf. While the flow rate is not as low as that of a pressure-assisted system, it still is lower than the federally mandated 1.6 gpf, and these toilets are typically less costly than a pressure-assisted toilet. Additionally, kits are available that can convert a standard toilet to a dual-flush system.

As for urinals, big changes are in store, due in part to the California drought. Starting in 2016, new urinals installed in California facilities can release only 0.5 gpf. This is lower than the typical 1 gpf for standard urinals and as much as 3 gpf for older urinal systems. We expect to see most manufacturers, due to the size of the California market, develop more urinals that use only 0.5 gpf.

However, many building owners are taking this a step further and installing no-water urinals. No-water urinals, as the name implies, use no water at all and typically cost far less to select and install than traditional urinals. This is because they have no flush valves and fewer plumbing requirements. Also, restroom users tend to like no-water urinals because there is no need to “touch” the system at all, eliminating concerns about pathogens and cross-contamination.

New buildings in the planning stages should consider these and other new restroom technologies that help reduce water consumption. Along with reducing water consumption, installing these systems is a significant way to reduce facility operating costs as well, as water rates are expected to continue increasing.

Existing facilities have water-reducing opportunities available to them as well. No-water urinals typically can be installed directly over the footprint of a conventional water-using urinal. And selecting and installing a no-water urinal can be surprisingly inexpensive. Plus, their benefits can be considerable, in both reducing water consumption and addressing the rising costs associated with water.

For more information on how to reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently,  please contact a Waterless Co representative. 

Taking Strides in Reducing Water Consumption

How to cut back on water use in your facility.

Historically, the United States has had an abundance of water. The country has about 4.5 percent of the world’s population, but nearly 8 percent of its renewable freshwater.

While there have been serious droughts in the United States, including the great Dust Bowl, which dried up huge areas of the Midwest and northern plains in the early- to mid-1930s, it was not until the late 1970s and again in the 1980s that the water wake-up call sounded.

Droughts in the 70s and 80s

In 1977 and then again in the late 1980s, California was hit by two very serious droughts. The first one only lasted about one year. But, if it had lasted longer, the state would have essentially gone dry.

The drought in the late 1980s was a bit less severe, but still resulted in some of the first water restrictions ever passed in the country. These restrictions required toilet manufacturers to reduce the amount of water their fixtures used to 1.6 gallons per flush down from 2 to more than 3 gallons per flush. Urinals were restricted to about one gallon, which was also a significant reduction.

To read more from a recent article by Klaus Reichardt, click here.

Why go Waterless?

Many educational facilities are considering waterless urinals because they are regarded as an effective way to conserve water—making them a Green, environmentally preferable choice. Additionally, because water must be pumped by electricity, it is believed that a large sum of money can be saved each year in utility costs, if no water urinal systems are installed. Further because of these benefits, the installation of waterless urinals can help school administrators achieve credits toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Before 1990, the average urinal in North American and Western Europe used as much as two to four gallons of water per flush. Today, because of legislation in these countries and increased conservation measures, conventional urinals use about 1.6 gallons of water when flushed. However, this is still a significant amount of water—as much as 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of water per year per urinal. This amount of water is enough to fill a large swimming pool and more than the average person uses in a year for all his or her personal water needs.

Moreover, this water usage can prove to be quite detrimental in the country’s most drought-prone areas of the world. For instance, the average office building in the United States uses 14,695 gallons of water per day. Waterless urinals have the potential to significantly reduce this water usage so that water may be used for other reasons.

Not only can no-water urinals be environmentally responsible and help reduce water usage, the cost to install and maintain them is also catching the eyes of many facility managers. “The initial installation is easy and relatively inexpensive because you need only a drain line instead of both a water and a drain line,” says David Rose, a U.S. architect. “You also don’t have to contend with additional plumbing, flush valves, sensors, and the like, which can be costly maintenance headaches.”

Some school districts have also found less vandalism and restroom property damage because there are no valves, handles, or visible plumbing for students to tamper with.

How They Work
Waterless urinals are not new—actually they are more than 100 years old. They were first installed during the early 1890s in public marketplaces in Switzerland. These early models used sesame oil to keep urine below the urinal drain to minimize odors. However, they were essentially forgotten until the 1970s, when they were rediscovered during the “ecological movement” taking root during that period.

Essentially, a no-water urinal works the same way as a conventional urinal, except without the water.  A conventional flush urinal has a “trap” in the drain filled with a small amount of water that—as long as it does not evaporate—prevents odors and sewer gases from escaping.

Waterless urinals also have a trap or cylinder that sits atop the drain area of the urinal.  The cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid or sealant. Urine passes through the trap and sealant, forming a barrier, which prevents odors from escaping. It also helps to eliminate evaporation of the urine, which can harm indoor air quality.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Waterless urinals are essentially cleaned the same way as conventional urinals. In fact, many cleaning professionals believe they are easier to clean than conventional urinals because they have no water disbursement rims, which prevents the buildup of mineral deposits on the urinal.  And because they stay dry, there is less chance for bacteria which can cause odors to develop.

The urinal’s trap insert requires some attention and on some models there is a liquid sealant that must replenished, prolonging the trap’s life span and effectiveness.  These are very simple procedures and are often conducted by cleaning workers. 

There are now a few different manufacturers of no-water urinals in the market today and each uses a slightly different system, requiring different maintenance.  School and building managers should do their homework, analyze each system, and decide which works best for their facilities.

For instance, on some systems, the trap insert must be replaced more frequently than with other systems and the costs for these traps can vary significantly.  But it is clear that waterless urinals do have benefits.  Choose wisely to repeat the rewards these systems can offer.

California Turns Water into a Learning Opportunity

By Klaus Reichardt

One of the benefits of getting older is that most people eventually realize that many of the challenges we face in life are actually learning experiences, if not out-and-out opportunities, in disguise. And this realization holds true not only for individuals, but also for groups of people, communities, and even states and countries. In fact, California is today facing a critical challenge in which crisis has led to action. The entire nation has the opportunity to learn by example and benefit from the methods California has used to address the problem set before them.

The issue at hand is water, or the lack thereof. California is now in the fourth year of one of the most serious droughts in recorded history. Other areas of the United States have already or are expected to experience water shortages in the not-so-distant future. But what is most remarkable, at least until this year, is how well the state has gone about its business during this drought with only marginal water restrictions in place. And this is true even though the state has nearly twice as many people, about 38 million citizens, compared to the last time it had a serious water shortage.

To read the full article on the Environmental Protection Website click here.

Are you a World Water Day genius?

Take the test!  Courtesy of IRC...

On #WorldWaterDay people around the world people celebrate their water and the professionals that keep their water running. Where does your daily water come from? How do water services keep working in villages, cities, districts around the world? Take the test and share the quiz with friends & colleagues. Happy World Water Day!

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Using Water Responsibly

As most people know, California is now in its fourth year of drought and 2016, which could be the fifth year, is sending us mixed signals.  January was very wet, but February was bone dry.  However, what many people do not realize is that the state is handling this drought much better than those in the past, specifically the 1976 drought that had the state on its knees.

What the state learned can and has benefited the entire country.  Very simply, we have begun learning how to use water much more responsibly and efficiently by taking steps such as these:*

·        Water is no longer being taken for granted as if it were in never-ending supply.

·        Increasingly, users are being charged the true costs of gathering, storing, delivering, and removing water.

·        Federal regulations now mandate the amount of water toilets and urinals can use per flush—1.6 gallons for toilets and approximately 1 gallon for urinals.

·        Many water districts have expanded water capacity, preparing for future droughts.

·        Water shortages are no longer a “local” issue.  If one area of California experiences a shortage, water may be pulled from nearby areas where it is more plentiful.

·        All consumer water-using devices—from dishwashers to washing machines—feature new technologies to reduce water consumption.

·        A new water mentality has evolved.  Businesses and industries now view reducing water consumption as not only the “right” thing to do, but it’s also in their best business interest.

·        Variable-rate irrigation systems allow farmers to use water more selectively; additionally, farmers have implemented irrigation scheduling and soil sensors to determine water needs.

·        Water audits, which were unheard of 40 years ago, are commonplace.  Water audits help determine where water is being used, where it is being wasted, and where use can be reduced.

·        Rebate programs have been introduced to help consumers and facilities install more water-efficient systems.

Beyond Regulations

Although many of these changes were the result of state and federal regulations, do not underestimate the power of private industry.  Manufacturers of water-using products have taken the initiative and developed products that use far less water than is mandated such as toilets that use about 1.25 gallons of water per flush or less, instead of 1.6 gallons.  Urinals are now being developed that use about half a gallon of water per flush, and waterless urinals, which are actually an older technology, are receiving renewed consideration because they eliminate water use entirely.

When it comes to water, we’re all in the same boat. We can talk about shortages and droughts in California or in other states or in other countries.  But the reality is water is an issue impacting the world.  Many say water will be the oil of the 21st century.  We cannot control Mother Nature so our only option is to use water more responsibly and more efficiently, and that is up to each and every one of us.

A frequent speaker and author on water conservation issues, Klaus Reichardt is 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 conservation in mind.  The company’s key product, the Waterless No-Flush urinal, works completely without water.

*Unlike water conservation, which is short-term action, water efficiency refers to long-term water reduction strategies.