Why We Need to Pay Attention to Drains During the COVID-19 Pandemic

One of the things we learned from the SARS epidemic that began in 2002, is that many people in Hong Kong contracted the SARS virus by inhaling contaminated air.

This air was released from drainage pipes of a large apartment complex in the city.

What happened was the water in the P-shaped traps below drains dried up.  When that happened, sewer gasses containing the germs that cause SARS were released into the building and were inhaled.

We are learning now that COVID-19 is also being spread through the fecal-oral route.  This was pointed out by research conducted by Hong Shan, MD, Ph.D., of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, at Sun Yat-Sen University, in Zhuhai, China.  This is one of China’s preeminent research hospitals.

This means that waste containing COVID-19 germs is ending up in sewer systems around the globe.  However, there is even more concern about this happening with COVID-19.

The reason:  Many commercial facilities are now closed. When they will open again is uncertain, which means the P-traps may, and likely will evaporate, releasing vapors that can spread the virus. 

So, what can building owners and managers do to help prevent this evaporation?

According to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless CO., Inc, manufacturers of no-water urinals, among the steps they can take are the following:

·      Ensure all commercial kitchens and restrooms remain well-ventilated during the pandemic.

·      If possible, have building engineers wearing PPE gear* pour a small amount of water in every building drain every week.

·      Do not use bleach or any chemicals.  “Our goal is not to clean the drains, just keep the P-trap full, so no sewer gasses are released.”

·      Pour liquid primers or “ever prime,” as they are called among professional plumbers, into all drains. “This only has to be performed once. The ever prime lasts for months and under all kinds of climate conditions.”

Finally, before re-opening facilities, Reichardt advices, “it would be a good idea to pour water or the liquid primer in all drains once again, just to be on the safe side.”

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*Personal protection gear

Waterless Urinals: A Conservation Practice Widely Accepted

While waterless urinals are certainly not new—having been available in the United States for nearly 30 years—hotel owners and managers often have several questions about these urinals before selecting them, according to Klaus Reichardt, whose company introduced waterless urinals to the United States three decades ago. Among them are the following:

How do they work? All the systems work primarily the same way. Urine flows down the bowl past a cylinder placed at the bottom of the urinal. This serves as a strainer, catching debris, but also allows urine to flow under the cylinder and past a sealing liquid. This oil-based liquid prevents odors from being released into the restroom.

If they all operate the same, are they all the same? No. The critical difference is in the cylinders just referenced. Some cylinders are more costly than others, while others last longer than others (based on usage). This can play a role in the return on their investment. “It is essential that owners/managers thoroughly investigate the different no-water urinal technologies before making a purchasing decision,” Reichardt says.

To Read more from Robert Kravtiz, click here to visit GreenLodgingNews.com.

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.