Preventing Faulty Drainpipes in a Canadian Hospital from Spreading Disease

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Right before the Royal Jubilee Hospital was officially opened in Canada in 2004, alarm bells started ringing.  It was discovered that there were more than 100 defective floor drains in the hospital. If the hospital had been fully opened, "it could have put patients and staff at risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)," according to a local news reporter, Malcolm Curtis.

Fortunately, the situation was discovered and rectified soon enough that no illness was linked to the floor drain problem.  What was happening, was that the drains on all floors in the hospital's diagnostic and treatment center, were inundated with what was called "smelly sewer gases escaping into the building," according to the reporter.

“The gases could contain viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome that can be transmitted through breathing, although hospital officials denied that patients were at risk."

As you probably know, the Hong Kong SARS epidemic was ending at about this same time. By then, nearly 800 people had died of the disease. When public health officials and others investigated the cause of the epidemic, they found it centered around one exceptionally large apartment complex, called the Amoy Apartments.  

Apparently, what was happening is that sewer odor fumes, containing the pathogens that caused SARS, were being released through some of the apartment sink and floor drains. This occurred because the P-traps in these apartments, which generally were filled with water, had dried up. This literally opened the door to the sewer - and its odors and pathogens - below the building.

The building soon became the epicenter of the disease.

Concerns are now mounting today that something similar could happen with coronavirus. The pathogens that cause coronavirus are also being found in wastewater. This means that if the water in P-traps has evaporated, coronavirus pathogens could also be inhaled, spreading the disease and possibly causing even more deaths. 

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As for the Royal Jubilee Hospital, it appeared that the original drainpipes were not designed properly. To prevent sewer gasses from being released, the hospital staff was pouring water down the drains as often as once per day.  This was not practical.  As a result, hospital engineers began installing new drainpipes along with devices called “trap primer valves” under the more than 100 floor drains.

A trap primer valve is a plumbing device that adds a small amount of water to the P-trap on an ongoing basis. With these installed, hospital staff no longer needed to pour water down the drains daily.


While it was not reported how much it cost the hospital to install these, we can assume it was thousands of dollars.  As a result, we are wondering if far less costly steps could have been taken that would not only have stopped the odors for months but would also have helped ensure the hospital staff and patients would not inhale harmful pathogens.

One far less costly option would be to pour a small amount of water and a few ounces of EverPrime liquid primer in the drains about every three to six months.  EverPrime does not evaporate and can withstand extreme climate fluctuations, from very cold to extremely hot.

We are not sure when EverPrime was invented, so this may not have even been an option available to the hospital back in 2003.  But fortunately, we have it today. This means no building administrators should ever have to grapple with dangerous sewer odors being released in their facilities again.

Facility Managers of Schools beware of dry trap seals in building drains

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Thousands of schools around the country are re-opening or plan to do so at some point this fall. Because most of these schools have been closed for months due to COVID-19, school administrators are doing everything possible to make sure schools are not only clean but healthy. However, one troubling area that may be overlooked is right under their feet: floor drains.

Under each floor drain is a trap seal. When it is working correctly, it is filled with water that blocks odors, bacteria, and pathogens – including those that might cause COVID – from being released into the air.

It is when they dry out that serious problems can occur, making the drain an open sewer line.

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“Drains provide excellent conditions for these potentially deadly inhabitants to not only survive, but thrive,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and founder of Waterless Co., Inc. “Some of these may even be multi-drug resistant organisms, that are also resistant to traditional cleaning solutions and disinfectants.”

This was one of the causes of the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong. According to a report in Infection Control Today, the World Health Organization found that the U-trap seals (a.k.a. P-trap seals) in the drain pipes at the city’s Amoy Garden apartments triggered the SARS outbreak because the water in the drains had evaporated. 

“These traps are designed to hold water at all times. The water acts as a barrier and prevents insects, foul smells, and, in this case, viruses and bacteria from backing up through the drains.” 1

To address this situation, Reichardt says many cleaning professionals and building engineers pour bleach down the drains.

However, bleach may just pass through the drain and possibly corrode pipes, especially older pipes.” Instead, he suggests using a liquid “ever prime,” now widely available.  

“Administrators should pour some water and then a few ounces of ever prime liquids into every floor drain before school opening. It will last for months and block fumes and pathogens from being released.”

1 “SARS and Plumbing: The Role Sewage Plays in Spreading Disease,” Infection Control Today, May 13, 2003

Let's Have Some Fun Peeing Again

Boy, it's been rough the past few months. Most of us were in lock down for about three months, our jobs and businesses took a hit, and if you are a parent, your kids were likely driving you slightly crazy. Now adding salt to the many wounds, some areas of the country may be going back into lock down mode.

We need some fun, anywhere and anyplace we can find it.  So, at least for the fellas, how about starting with urinals. A few years back, there were some innovative things happening to urinals in Europe and South America when it comes to urinals. While they may not necessarily be considered "fun," at least in the traditional sense of the word, if we had them again, at least they would likely put a smile on your face.

 

IMAGE CREDIT: http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/household/bathroom/guitar-pee-musical-urinal.asp

IMAGE CREDIT: http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/household/bathroom/guitar-pee-musical-urinal.asp

Guitar Pee

As the name implies, this is a musical urinal.  Guitar Pee was made by Billboard Brazil and installed in bars around Sao Paolo.  It is designed to be very interactive, helping guys entertain themselves a bit when making a pit stop.

The Guitar Pee urinal is shaped like a guitar. As the gentleman uses the urinal, the system’s guitar components detect the flow rate and thrust of the urine being released into the urinal.  As the flow and force accelerates, so does the music. When things start to wind down, the guitar recital comes to an end.

 

MPee3 (The Guitar Pee Add-On)

This system worked with Guitar Pee.  It’s was an app you can download to your phone or other devices.  But here was the big feature of the MPee3 system.  It allows you to stream the musical performances of other Guitar Pee performers. That way you can share your special urinal event – as well as those of others - with all your friends.

 

Mr. Friendly
This urinal is still around.  A Dutch start-up invented Mr. Friendly, calling him a "smart urinal." It’s “smart,” because it is a waterless urinal, but more than that, it entertains users with advertisements. Here's how it works.

As soon as a gentleman steps up to it, the urinal starts showing advertisements from all types of organizations on a screen – from cars and men's clothing manufacturers to local flower shops.  Because Mr. Friendly is often found on commuter trains in Holland, possibly the flower shop owners see this as a perfect time to remind men to bring home some flowers.  

As with Guitar Pee and MPee3, sensors know when Mr. Friendly has a captive audience - of one - and it begins the advertisements. 

And a captive audience, it is.  The unspoken word when using public urinals is you always look straight ahead. And straight ahead just happens to be where the Mr. Friendly advertising screen is located.

Once again, sensors tell the system when their captive audience has left.

 

Target Practice

How about some target practice?  Back in Victorian England, urinals were often decorated with images of a honeybee. The bee was placed near the bottom of the urinal and was designed to help gentleman instinctively aim for the target.  It definitely made peeing fun.

Examples of these bees installed in urinals can be found in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.  Along with bees placed at the bottom of the urinal, we also have a company that still makes decals that look like flies and other insects.

Along with providing the user with a target practice, they are designed to improve cleanliness and reduce cleaning costs.  They also help reduce splashback. That’s when urine splashes back on clothing, hands, and shoes, a challenge that is more common than men realize.

 

Easy-Peasy

Finally, Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm has come up with his own urinal.  Still a concept, David calls it Pee Cube.  He says the thought behind the Pee Cube was to make using a urinal more hygienic and to ensure that urinating in a public restroom is "easy-peasy."

Here's how Pee Cube works:

·      The user enters a "structure," as David calls it. This is made up of partitions on either side of the urinal, enclosing it, and providing privacy.

·      As the user enters the structure, he steps onto two large foot pedals on the floor.

·      Stepping onto the foot pedals signals a trap door to lift, revealing the Pee Cube urinal.

·      But that's not all. Sensors move the urinal up or down - based on the crotch height of the user.

·      When the user steps off the pedals, the trap door closes, the urinal automatically flushes, and once again, disappears from view.4

 

That's the gist of it. The Pee Cube may be more practical than the other types of urinals just discussed, but all share the same thing in common, at least initially: They get you thinking about something else for a few minutes other than the pandemic and hopefully put a smile on your face.

 

We can use that right now.

 

Will Water Become a Luxury in the US?

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Adding to the many other challenges this country faces right now – the pandemic, a struggling economy, public unrest, and general confusion – we need to add something more: water bills. 

The problem is that water bills in the U.S. are on the rise, just as many people find themselves out of work. In fact, in 12 diverse cities, combined costs of water and sewage have increased by an average of 80 percent between 2010 and 2018. 

According to a study by the Guardian newspaper, the result is that two-thirds of residents in some U.S. cities can no longer afford their water bills. To come to this conclusion, the Guardian determined that if a water bill exceeds four percent of a household's total income, it is considered unaffordable.

The reason the water bills are going up is not news. Communities have been grappling with water infrastructure problems for years.  Further, many are being forced to add water structure to address growing populations, deal with climate change issues, and grapple with fuel hikes.

As to the twelve cities where water is now unaffordable for a significant percentage of residents they are the following:

1. New Orleans

2. Cleveland

3. Santa Fe

4. San Diego

5. Austin

6. Philadelphia

7. Seattle

8. Tucson

9. San Jose

10. Indianapolis

11. Fresno

12. Charlotte, North Carolina



"More people are in trouble, and the poorest of the poor are in big trouble," said Roger Colton, a leading utility analyst. He was commissioned by the Guardian to analyze water poverty. "The data shows that we've got an affordability problem in an overwhelming number of cities nationwide that didn't exist a decade ago, or even two or three years ago in some cities."  

You might wonder if the Federal government is stepping up to the plate to address this situation. The answer is no. Again, as reported in the newspaper, "federal aid to public water utilities… has plummeted while maintenance, environmental and health threats, climate shocks, and other expenditures have skyrocketed."

According to some observers, what is happening is that water is becoming a "luxury" in parts of this country. For instance, in Austin, TX, if water bills continue to go up, it is believed that 80 percent of low-income residents will face unaffordable bills by 2030.

You might also be wondering if water bills are no longer affordable for some households, will their water be turned off? The answer is: it's already happening. In Philadelphia, some people have been without water service for years. 

Residents use plastic bags for the toilet and bottled water to wash their hands, reports the newspaper. 

So, what can we do?

It is an exceedingly difficult situation and will require all branches of government – Federal, state, and local – to come up with workable solutions. 

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Plus, private industry should be called in to see where savings can be found now and long-term.  

For the rest of us, the way we can help is to reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently. We see this happen every day as more and more facilities install water using devices, including restroom fixtures such as waterless urinals, that reduce consumption dramatically. This will put less pressure on water utility companies, giving them more time - and some much need breathing room  - to build up water infrastructure.   

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

 

 

 

Waterless Co "Baja" Urinal Ranked Best No-Water Urinal of 2020

July 30, 2020 – Vista, CA - According to Nestlord, a product review service affiliated with Amazon.com, the best no-water urinal for 2020 is the "Baja" from Waterless Co. Inc.

The review states that among the reasons the Baja was selected was because the cartridges used with the Baja only need to be "replaced two to four times in a year" and only cost $10.

This is far less expensive than the cartridges used, for instance, in other water-free urinals.  Plus, cartridges used in competing no-water urinals often need to be changed six or more times per year.

Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Among the other benefits pointed out in the review are the following:

·       The Baja is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant

·       The Baja comes with two EcoTrap cartridges, considered the best in the industry.

·       BlueSeal liquid is used in these cartridges, which prevents odors from being released.

·       The Baja is also "easy to install and connects directly with two-inch standard drain lines," allowing it to be installed in almost all facilities.

Baja Waterless No-Flush Urinal

"Of course, we are very proud of the Baja," says Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder of Waterless Co.

"It has been our bestselling no-water urinal for years.  We are also grateful it was honored as 'The Best Waterless Urinal of 2020.'"

 

 

About Waterless

Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems.  Based in Vista, Ca, the company was started in 1991 and is the oldest manufacturer of waterless urinals in North America.  The company’ manufacturers a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning liquids, and cost saving restroom accessories. For more info, email us at info@waterless.com or visit: www.waterless.com 

The Splashback, Urinal, and COVID Connection

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that coronavirus can spread in an infected person's urine.

Referred to as "viral shedding," this means if traces of contaminated urine become aerosolized and inhaled, the disease can infect others in the restroom.

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The setting in which this is most likely to happen is around urinals.

"The reason it is such a problem around urinals is due to the flushing of a traditional urinal and 'splashback,'" says Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc. 

To help prevent this and protect health, Reichardt suggests building managers do the following:  

·       Increase urinal cleaning frequencies, "and make sure all surfaces surrounding the urinals are cleaned and disinfected."

·       Block off every two urinals so there is more distance between urinal users

·       If possible, reduce water flow rates; this will help reduce the pressure of the flush

·       Have posters made encouraging men to urinate at a 90-degree angle. "Urinating in the water (at the base of the urinal) causes the most splatter and aerosolization."

·       Gentleman might consider sitting instead of standing; the stream is five times faster when standing at a urinal than when sitting in a toilet.

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·       Install waterless urinals; because there is no flush of water, aerosolization is substantially eliminated.

·       Use a paper towel to touch the flush handle

·       To foster social distancing, place distancing markers on the floor behind the urinals.

·       Place mats under urinals to absorb splatter and change them frequently

"In the past, the big problem with splashback is that if the pee puddles, for instance on floors, it breeds bacteria and is one of the reasons public restrooms can smell," adds Reichardt. 

"But now, that bacteria may include the pathogens that cause COVID. This makes splashback a much more serious problem that must be addressed."

Restroom Vandalism in China, El Paso, and Atlanta.  It's More Similar Than You May Think

Usually, when we hear about China, it's related to the coronavirus or trade issues. What we don't hear that much about is this: restroom vandalism.

But apparently, according to Kate Navarra, a freelance writer writing in Park & Recreations Magazine, Chinese vandals are famous for routinely targeting concession stands, storage sheds, and public restrooms in just about all corners of the country. 

Sometimes the public restrooms, if they have showers, become the "individuals personal shower stall," which they manage to use long after the restroom has been closed for the day. Further, while there, they often "decorate" these restrooms and fixtures with their personal brand of graffiti.

In one Chinese public restroom, the problem was not so much graffiti or turning the public restroom into a personal restroom. It was theft. Thieves were removing so much toilet paper from the restroom, "officials installed facial recognition software in the restrooms" to help prevent it.

The way this worked was the toilet paper was installed on rolls inside the walls of the restroom.

When someone wants toilet paper, they must stare at a machine for three seconds. The system would then dispense two-feet of toilet paper.

But that's not all. Because the system was equipped with facial recognition technology, in most cases, it could recognize and identify the person asking for the toilet paper. For many people, this was considered "too much information" for the government to have.

Further, if the individual wanted or needed more toilet paper, "they must wait nine minutes before being doled out a second ration," according to Navarra.

But we cannot point the finger just at China. We have our own problems over here. 

For instance, El Paso, Texas, has more than 250 parks and 16 recreational centers all equipped with park restrooms. Theft and vandalism was an ongoing problem in all these sites, but especially in one in particular. 

To stop theft at this problem location, maintenance crews placed a quarter-inch metal plate over the entire restroom door, covering the door and its locking mechanism. Without the keys to the metal door, "you had to reach in a contorted fashion to unlock the door." 

Guess what? El Paso apparently has many contortionists. The door and the restroom were broken into regularly.

What surprisingly did help in the El Paso parks were solar powered motion triggers installed in the restrooms. If someone enters – meaning breaks in - after hours, the system plays a pre-recorded announcement that they are not to be in the restroom and are being photographed. And, sure enough, they were. 

Cameras in hidden areas of the restroom began flashing. Using a Bluetooth connection, the images were sent to the Park District and shared with the local police. "Since installation, we have not had one incident" in this location, says one of the park administrators.

However, these systems do not come cheap. They cost about $8,000 per unit.

Another problem some restrooms have in this country is that people move in, making them their residence. In the process, they take whatever they can. This has been a problem with Atlanta's MARTA system, the city's subway, which has several one-person restrooms. 

To address this, administrators have installed "smart" devices that can tell how long someone has been in the restroom.  These devices serve two purposes. 

·         First, if someone has entered the restroom and there is no movement after ten minutes, station attendants are instructed to see if everything is alright or if there is a health emergency. It has, and does happen.

·         In other cases, if there is no movement after ten minutes, it means someone has moved in for the night. Once again, the station attendant comes in, but this time to ask the person to move on.

However, since these "smart" devices have been installed in the subway restrooms, administrators report that vandalism and theft from the restrooms have dropped significantly.  It appears, whether in China or here in the U.S., it is new technology that is protecting our public restrooms.

 

 

 

 

Six Changes to Expect in the Post COVID Restroom

Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash

Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash

We have heard it several times before: COVID is changing everything, and one of the areas in a commercial facility that will be changing the most, and very soon, are restrooms.  As businesses around the country and the world begin reopening, some have already made these changes.


Among them are the following:



1.  Sinks and Countertops

Photo by Buchen WANG on Unsplash

Photo by Buchen WANG on Unsplash

Many facilities are removing sinks from restrooms.  Where there may have been three, there are now only two.  The reason for this is to allow more space between the sinks.

Remember, more space – or shall we say enhanced distancing – is one of the key ways to stop the spread of this disease. 

However, the materials used are also changing. What we will see more of is the use of exceptionally smooth, non-porous materials.  Right now, natural and synthetic quartz are getting quite a bit of attention. These smooth surfaces help prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, or soil accumulation.

 

2.  Antimicrobial Finishes

Many commercial restrooms, by law, must have such things as grab bars installed in their restrooms.  Studies have found that these can become very germ-infested, very quickly.  Further, they are not often cleaned as frequently as they should, and are often overlooked entirely when it comes to cleaning.

Expect grab bars and other high-touch metal surfaces in restrooms to be manufactured with antimicrobial coatings. In some cases, copper will be used.  Copper is inherently antimicrobial.  These items will still need to be cleaned. It's just that the copper or coatings will help delay or minimize the contamination that can build up on these surfaces.

 

3.  Changing Soap Locations

Wall dispensers for soap may be a thing of the past.  Typically, when these are installed, one dispenser is installed for every two or three sinks.  The problem is that in the process of reaching over to grab the dispenser, soap can drip onto the counter, on faucet handles, or onto the floor, potentially spreading contaminants.  In the future, expect each sink to have its own soap dispenser, comfortably located close by.

 

4.  Central Washing Stations

The typical American restroom has one wall for sinks, and opposite the sinks, are toilets and urinals.

In Europe, on the other hand, many restrooms are designed with a central washing station in the middle of the restroom. Toilets and urinals are installed around the parameter of the restroom.

Why would this be better?  With the European design, there is greater room circulation and fewer people bundle up in one central area – to use the sinks – than with the American layout.

 

5.  Touchless Everything

Every restroom fixture that once needed to be touched – for instance, to flush - will now have auto sensors determining when flushing is called for or water is required. Going "touchless" has been evolving for more than a decade. However, COVID has accelerated the pace.

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This also makes it easier for custodial workers to keep restrooms cleaner and more hygienic.  For instance, over the years, with the installation of more waterless urinals, cleaning workers have found them to be easier to clean and maintain.  This is because they do not have any type of flush handle to wipe and disinfect.

 

6.  Improved Ventilation

Expect ventilation systems to be enhanced considerably in the post-COVID restroom.  The goal is not just more air in the restroom.  We want more air movement with more fresh air mixed with treated air.

While the jury is still out, it is believed COVID germs can become aerosolized, collect, and remain in the air.  With these enhanced ventilation systems, they will be removed from the restroom, so that they are not inhaled.

 

 

Rethinking the Restroom in the Post COVID Era

The following article was published in CMM in July 2020. 

Have you ever gone into a public restroom and heard someone in the next stall having what sounds like a conference call with a dozen people? 

Expect those “conference calls” along with 20-minute “beautifying” sessions in public restrooms to be things of the past in the post-COVID-19 era.

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“Public restrooms are no longer the place to use your phone, do your hair and makeup, [or] that sort of stuff,” Elizabeth Scott, an associate professor of biology at Simmons University in Boston and founder of the Simmons Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community, says in a recent article in New Jersey’s The Daily Journal. “You [will] want to get in and out of there as fast as possible.”

This is just one of several changes we can expect. Along with modifications in the way's restrooms are cleaned and sanitized, we can anticipate major structural redesigns as well.

Some of these shifts are long overdue. For instance, have you ever opened a restroom door to find a line of people inside waiting to use the facility? Consider that another condition of the past. More restrooms will be designed with availability indicators. As one person leaves, a light installed outside the restroom will turn from red to green to indicate the next patron may enter.

Further, restroom users may no longer come in and leave through the same door. Especially in larger restrooms, you can soon expect two automatic doors—one for entry and one for exit. This not only will help regulate occupancy but will also reduce the number of surfaces touched. More restrooms will also have s-shaped doorless entries, such as those in airports and other heavily used facilities.

 

Protection from the plume

Of interest to cleaning professionals, restroom design will include features to deal with toilet plume—aerosolized droplets of water that spread germs.

“Plume, whether from toilets or urinals, is caused when they are flushed,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc. “They release germ-infected particulates that invariably land on nearby surfaces, but which can also be inhaled.”

The problem may be worse with urinals as plume can also be released through splatter when the urinal is being used. According to Reichardt, cleaning professionals have known about plume for years but it is of greater concern today because recent studies have reported traces of the novel coronavirus in urine and solid waste.

“If these particulates are inhaled or touched when they land on surfaces, cross-contamination can begin, causing the spread of the disease,” he says.

To address this situation, more facilities are likely to consider installing no-water urinals. No water means no splatter and no flushing, which means no plume.

Photo by Lazar Gugleta on Unsplash

As for toilets, we may see the comeback of the toilet lid. These were removed decades ago in commercial facilities because they added to the cost of the toilet and were one more thing to clean. However, lids can play a key role in controlling plume by blocking its release or minimizing the particles that become airborne.

 

Social distancing

Along with the loss of toilet lids, many restrooms no longer have partitions between urinals. Most likely the reasons for this are similar to why toilet lids disappeared; partitions require the added cost of installation and increase the number of surfaces that must be cleaned.

But in the post COVID-19 restroom, keeping a six-foot distance between restroom patrons is ideal. The simplest way to accomplish this is to put more space between urinals and to install partitions—or  longer partitions—between urinals. We can expect to find these solutions implemented in men’s restrooms moving ahead.

 

Enhanced ventilation

After the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong, studies indicated that poor ventilation played a role in exacerbating the spread of the disease. It is believed the same may be true with COVID-19. Joe Allen, director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program, says in a recent article on nationalgeographic.com, “I always remind people to check the exhaust in the bathroom.” He added that moving “dirty” air out of the restroom is one of the best ways to safeguard against contamination.

 

Gender-neutral options

Gender-neutral restrooms were the talk of the restroom industry about two decades ago. Several avant-garde hotels and commercial properties wanted to be the first to install them. However, they never really took off.

But COVID-19 may have turned things around. With a gender-neutral restroom, toilets are housed in individual stalls. These stalls often have floor-to-ceiling partitions, eliminating open top and open bottom partitions, making them fully enclosed with walls. Sinks are available in a common area.

A totally enclosed stall offers privacy and safety, as well as social distancing. Steven Soifer, cofounder of the American Restroom Association, is advocating the installation of “single-person, gender-neutral restrooms.”  However, this may be a costly option.

The journey continues

We can expect more changes in the post-COVID restroom. “This really is becoming a journey,” says Reichardt. “Even when COVID is no longer an issue, it will have caused many restroom manufacturers to reconsider how restrooms are used and how they can be redesigned to further promote health and safety.”