Product Availability from Waterless Co., Inc.

Because of coronavirus, many of our customers - commercial and government - have contacted us regarding product availability. This is a reasonable concern because the global supply chain has been broken in many parts of the world, causing serious product delays.

Currently, all of our products are available. This includes urinals, our EcoTrap® systems, as well as the many liquids and related products we sell. These products are stored in our warehouses in California, and we do not anticipate any shipment delays or inventory shortages.

We will keep you posted should there be any changes. We are monitoring our supply chain and inventories far more closely now than ever before. If it appears a shortage may develop, we will do everything we can to rectify the situation as quickly as possible as well as keep all our customers informed.

While our primary concern is that everyone stays healthy, we also want you to know that you can count on Waterless Co., to have the products you need when you need them.

Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder, Waterless Co., Inc.

So Why are You Installing Water-Using Urinals?

When building restrooms are being renovated, we see many managers and their architects select water-using urinals more out of habit than anything else.  Very often, the urinals selected are not even given much consideration.  Because urinals are often treated as a commodity, the only consideration is cost – meaning the lowest priced urinals are the ones selected.

We are encouraging managers to think outside the box and consider installing waterless urinals. Here are some reasons why.

They don’t need water.  Urine is 95 percent water.  It flows down on its own in the urinal due to gravity.  No extra water is needed to force it down the drain.

They don’t cause odors.  The odor we often find in restrooms is caused by ammonia. What causes this odor?  It’s caused when water is mixed with urine. So, no mixing with water means no odors.

Flush avoidance is becoming commonplace. Many men do not like to flush urinals because they don’t want to touch the flush handle.  But that just leaves an unsanitary mess for everyone else.  Again, waterless urinals have no flush handles and leave no unsanitary mess.

Electronic flush devices.  These devices have helped address this situation, however, most of these are battery operated.  In a busy restroom, this means the battery will likely have to be changed as often as once per month.  Plus, many electronic flush urinals waste a lot of water. Phantom flushes are common, in which the urinals flush on their own when no one is present.

Hard water. Some areas of the country have “hard water.” The problem with hard water in urinals is that it can leave sediment deposits on the sides of the urinal.  The more this builds up, the harder it is to remove. Plus, this build-up can impact drainage lines, which can require servicing by a plumber.

Cost of ownership. The true costs of flush urinals often happen after they are installed.  The flush handles we just mentioned, whether manual or battery-operated, frequently need servicing. Sometimes the only option is to replace them, and these tend to be very costly devices.  Further, the thousands of gallons of water each urinal uses each year is costly, adding to operating budgets.

Good stewards. Finally, installing waterless urinals indicates your facility is sustainability focused.  Many facilities install no-water urinals for the sole purpose of earning LEED certification.  That’s how important they are when it comes to sustainability.  Plus, installing waterless urinals shows you are doing your part to be a responsible world citizen.  We must all work together now to use natural resources as efficiently as possible.

A Step in Coronavirus Clean-Up Often Overlooked

Most schools are now closing their doors due to coronavirus. This may be for a couple of weeks or the rest of the school year.

While schools are closed, custodial workers and private vendors are being hired to disinfect the schools thoroughly. This way, when the doors do reopen, the school environment will be as healthy as possible.

However, one of the things they may overlook that can have serious consequences when it comes to health are drains. 

Especially if the schools are going to be closed for weeks or the rest of the season. What happens is the P-trap under the drains may – and very likely will – dry up. This can have some severe health-related repercussions. 

So, let's examine these issues one-by-one, to make sure all the bases are covered. This way, we can safeguard that schools are healthy when they reopen.

What happens when drains dry up?

A P-trap is a very practical device installed under almost all drains. As water goes down the drain, a small amount collects in the P-trap. This helps prevent sewer gasses from being released into the room or area. But they can dry up when facilities such as schools are closed for long periods, or when restrooms or faucets get very little use.  

What creates the sewer gas?

The sewer gas is formed from human and animal waste that is decomposing. The gas contains ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, all of which can be toxic if inhaled in high concentrations. This is because they can replace oxygen in the impacted room or area. While most people just suffer eye irritation, nausea, or difficulty breathing, people have died as a result of sewer gas being released into an enclosed area.

Can you smell it and then just pour some water down the drain?

Yes, you can smell it, and yes, you can just pour some water down the drain. But here's the problem. By the time you smell it, it may be too late. To protect their health, workers may have to go into the impacted area wearing respirators to make sure they do not inhale the gasses. When it comes to sewer odors, it is best to take pro-active steps, preventing it from happening in the first place, instead of reactive measures, dealing with the problem after it presents itself.

Who is at risk?

We all are if the situation is dangerous enough. 

Children, just because they breathe faster than adults, may be at even higher risk.

Are there "levels" of sewer gas concentration?

Excellent question, and yes, there are. Here is what we know.

• Concentrations of 0.0005 parts per million (ppm) can be detected and smells like burning chemicals or rotten eggs

• At 0.01, it can cause nausea and eye discomfort.

• From 0.02 ppm to as high as 20 ppm, it can produce headaches, increase heart rates, impact cognitive abilities, and a loss of muscle coordination.

What steps can we take to prevent this from happening?

Running water in the drain every day will help. If in a room that is mopped daily mopping, should allow enough water to run down the drain to keep the P-trap from drying up. However, it is when no water goes down the pipes for days, weeks, or longer that these problems surface. In such cases, a very inexpensive but effective product that can keep the P-trap filled for months is called EverPrime®.  

It is available from different sources as well as on the  www.EverPrime.com website. For literally pennies, the problems that can result from inhaling sewer gasses are eliminated.

For more information on this topic, how to reduce water consumption, waterless urinals, and to use water more efficiently, contact a Waterless Co Specialist

Product Availability from Waterless Co., Inc.

Due to the current coronavirus situation and the reasonable concern over broken global supply chains in many parts of the world, many customers have contacted us regarding product availability. As all our supply products, EcoTrap®, BlueSeal®, EverPrime® and NviroClean, are USA made, we carry plenty of stock in all products and do not foresee inventory shortages.

Waterless hands free urinals and EverPrime for floor drains can contribute to facility’s improved well being.

We will keep you appraised of any changes.

Klaus Reichardt

CEO, and Founder, Waterless Co., Inc.

When Water Savings Equals Cost Savings

When making purchasing decisions, businesses are always focused on the benefits.  While costs are always a factor, ultimately, it is the benefits that may derive from the purchase that take center stage.

When it comes to saving water and using water more efficiently, typically, the critical benefit business owners see if they install waterless urinals is that hundreds, if not hundreds of thousands of gallons might be saved each year. Yes, this is important. Further, most companies around the country are taking steps today to become much more sustainability-focused, so saving water fits right in.

But they still might ask, what's in it for us? Well, the answer is money.

Let's explain.

A study was conducted by Annette L. Stumpf of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. She found that by replacing a standard, 1.0 gallon per flush (GPF) urinal with just one waterless urinal, an organization could save up to $875 per year. This is based on saving 27,375 gallons of water per year; 75 uses of the urinal each day; and calculating using the water rates then in place in Seattle, Washington.

However, the savings jump if an older – pre-1992 – urinal is installed. While 1992 seems like a long time ago, urinals can last for decades, so there are still many of these older urinals around. According to Stumpf, if one of these older urinals is installed, which uses 3.5 GPF or more, 95,812 gallons of water could be saved per year. This means the savings could be as much as $3,500 annually, and remember, this is the result of just installing one waterless urinal.

However, there are some caveats to consider, most importantly, which type of waterless urinal has been selected and installed? Some no-flow urinals have very costly cylinders. These cylinders, found in virtually all waterless urinals are placed at the bottom of the urinal. Their job is to prevent sewer odors from entering the restroom.

With some companies, these cylinders can cost as much as $40 each, and, making matters worse, they tend to need replacing every two or three months. Other no-water urinals, such as those manufactured by Waterless Co., Inc, use cylinders that cost about $8 each and, here's the clincher, may last up six months or longer.

While Stumpf did not consider this in her analysis, building owners and managers must. Before installing any no-water urinal system, due diligence is needed. Check out the different manufacturers and ask questions before making a selection.  Remember, as we mentioned earlier, urinals can last for years so this is a decision you want to make carefully.

Also, ask how long the cylinders should last and ask how much they cost. While businesses may feel a sense of gratification by reducing their water consumption, the thousands of dollars in savings they may enjoy by selecting the right waterless urinals will likely be even more rewarding.

For more information on how to reduce water consumption, waterless urinals, and to use water more efficiently, contact a Waterless Co Specialist

A study found that by replacing one standard urinal with a waterless urinal, a facility could save $875 per year.