Unintended Benefits of Urine and Waterless Urinals

For centuries, scientists and engineers gave little thought to using urine for just about anything. 

It was flushed down toilets and urinals, and that’s the end of it.

However, as waterless urinals have become much more popular and used in more places worldwide, surprise, we are finding more uses for urine, uses we never thought of before.

But before we go on, we need to mention one thing: these benefits are essentially eliminated when the urine is mixed with water. That’s what makes the urine that can be collected in waterless urinals so important. While it may come from different sources, this is pure urine. No water has been mixed into it to dilute the contents.

So how is urine used today? 

Here are some surprising uses:

·       In Japan, they are building horse barns designed by Keio University. They convert the urine of the animals in the barn into heat. Right now, these are small barns, only made for four animals. But the scientists point out two things: along with creating heat, the urine is used to produce organic plant fertilizer. Further, they state that the technology is in its infancy. In time, larger barns housing far more animals will be heated with urine.

·       Now you can grab a urine-made stool. The “Dupe Stool” is a very sturdy stool created in the U.K. It’s made from bacteria, sand, and urine. What’s more, in time, it can be broken up and used for fertilizer. This means nothing ever goes to waste.

·       If in China, eat like the Chinese do. In parts of China, they make a delicacy called “virgin eggs.” They take the urine of young boys, preferably under the age of 10, and use it to boil chicken eggs. They say it has magical nutritional and fertility qualities and improves the immune system. Whether it does or does not, in some parts of China, they love eating virgin eggs.

·       If you see someone with yellow teeth, it may have nothing to do about their lack of brushing or cleaning their teeth. In China, once again, a research team has developed a way to grow a tooth-like structure using stem cells harvested in urine and other organic materials. While the process does not necessarily impact the color of the teeth, in some cases, they do have a bit of a yellow tint after harvesting.

·       We rarely think about it here, but in many parts of the world, such as Africa and South America, cell phone users may find recharging their phones exceedingly tricky. The problem is that outlets are hard to find, and many times once they are discovered, there’s no “juice” in the outlet. A team of scientists at Bristol Robotics Laboratory in the U.K. has come up with a solution. They have developed a device that processes six hours of power from one liter of urine. Even better, the system is relatively easy to make, so they are marketing it as a DIY – Do It Yourself –project that can be made by just about anyone anywhere in the world if they have urine collected nearby.

It’s likely no one ever thought about these benefits when Waterless Co introduced the waterless urinal thirty years ago. In those days, the key concerns were reducing water consumption and reducing facility operating costs.

Now, waterless urinals are helping to create an array of new products and technologies.  It wasn’t in the cards thirty years ago, but given time, we at Waterless Co believe several new products and technologies will be produced as a result of waterless urinals.

Water conservation never gets old

A new name has been coined for the prolonged drought condition in the Colorado River Basin: Mega drought. Water conservation in the home and business can be part of the solution.

Here are some basic water conservation practices worthy of remembering as we navigate through prolific drought.

General rules of thumb to improve efficiency and reduce waste in the home include:

• Leak detection and repair: Even small leaks can add up to significant water loss. Look for and repair leaks frequently.

• Replace or retrofit appliances and fixtures: Install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances. A large percentage of water is flushed down the toilet. Retrofit to code, 1.6 gallon toilets, or install ultra-low flow or dual flush units. Only run clothes and dishwashers when full. Install on-demand hot water heaters or hot water circulating pumps.

To read more from this article on Steamboatpilot.com, click here.

Taiwan, Microchips, and Water

As many of us know, one of the reasons several items, from cars and cell phones to toasters, are in short supply right now is because there is a worldwide microchip shortage. Yes, many of today’s toasters use microchips, as do scores of other household appliances. Most of these microchips come from Taiwan.

However, what many of us do not know is that one of the key reasons for this worldwide chip shortage is water, or shall we say, lack thereof. A severe drought, the worst in 50 years, has been gripping Taiwan for the past several months.

According to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), 156,000 tons of water are needed per day to operate their microchip manufacturing plant. That’s enough water to fill roughly 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day.

TSMC is the largest chip manufacturer in the world. The company supplies chips to just about every company, large and small, globally. So, if production has slowed down, in this case, due to a shortage of water, this means the impact is likely being felt just about everywhere. And don’t expect this to get any better anytime soon. Typically, Taiwan is considered one of the wettest countries in the world. So, in the past, it had the necessary enormous amounts of water to manufacture microchips.

But a new study, published June 24, 2021, in Physics.org. from “The Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics,” suggests persistent air pollution problems going back more than 13 years is reducing the amount of rainfall in the country. The study analyzed data from 2005 to 2017 and suggests that aerosol concentrations have been building up in the atmosphere around Taiwan.

These concentrations have directly reduced the amount of rainfall in the country. “These drought conditions are impacting people’s daily lives and industrial production,” said Qilong Min, a research associate at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) and the study coauthor.

“Scientists are trying to understand the linkage of the drought and other environmental factors. We’re looking closely at all those environmental factors—including aerosols in the atmosphere. Our analysis is showing a clear linkage that when air pollution is higher, it results in a decrease in the characteristics of rain droplets and frequency of drizzle events.”

Some observers suggest that if Taiwan no longer has the necessary water to manufacture microchips, why not just build new plants in new countries?

Much easier said than done.

First, new plants would need to be built in countries that have vast amounts of water, just as Taiwan traditionally has been blessed with. Few countries have that. Further, these are very costly manufacturing facilities. To replace them would cost billions of dollars, which likely would need to be paid by governments.

Another thing to consider, the people working in these plants are highly skilled. Most have been trained specifically to work in this manufacturing facility doing this type of work. Replacing these people in another, possibly remote area of the world, would likely prove difficult.

So what options do we have?

The first is one we have not addressed. That is that this summer is, by all accounts, a true game changer when it comes to water and drought. It’s all around us, year after year, from California to Taiwan. People are beginning to realize this is long-term and to recognize the connection between climate change and its impact on people’s lives, manufacturing, and worldwide economies.

The second is more obvious. Plants in Taiwan and similar plants worldwide need to develop manufacturing technologies that do not require as much water to manufacture microchips. Already recycling and filtering systems are being introduced. However, TSMC and other companies likely should have been working much harder on developing new water-reducing technologies long before it became a crisis.

Finally, reducing water consumption and using water much more responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably must now be on everyone’s mind. Remember, this summer, the summer of 2021, is a game changer for dry weather and drought. We need to make changes now to protect our futures.

More Ways to Reduce Water Consumption

This Drought Looks Like
a Real Gamechanger

The western part of the United States is experiencing one of the worst droughts in years. And this one looks like a real gamechanger. More people now realize this is part of a permanent trend.

Fortunately, many western states have learned from past droughts and now manage water much better than a decade ago. Further, new technologies have been introduced that help us use water more efficiently.

However, the future calls for more stringent steps to reduce consumption, especially in commercial facilities. 

"Because a great deal of the water used in commercial facilities is used for landscaping," says Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder of Waterless CO., Inc., "that's the first place to start."  

Among his recommendation:

• Catalog all vegetation growing around the building and determine which plants/vegetation can be replaced with native plants that use less water.

• Analyze the land layout. Higher areas likely need more water than lower areas due to water runoff.

• Switch to recycled water. Treated wastewater can be used at such places as golf courses and cemeteries. "These locations use huge amounts of water for irrigation. Converting them to recycled water reduces water consumption dramatically."

• Irrigate only at night.

• Install water sensors to determine if irrigation is even needed.

• Install several water meters to monitor how much water is being used throughout the property.

"However, if a facility is not landscaped, then [we need to] focus on restrooms," says Reichardt. "This is where the most water is consumed in these facilities."

Among the steps he suggests building owners and managers take are the following:

• Install aerators in all faucets.

• Look for and fix leaks.

• Install new urinals that consume less water per flush or transfer to waterless urinals that use no water at all. They are also less costly to install and maintain.

"As for toilets, the keyword today is 'velocity,'" says Reichardt. "Newer toilets use compressed air – velocity - to flush waste. This technology eliminates the need for second flushes and reduces water consumption dramatically."

Public Restrooms: How to Design For All

Public restrooms pose a distinct challenge that embodies the essential goal of design: to create functional spaces in institutional and commercial facilities without sacrificing aesthetic quality. COVID-19 has accelerated the advancement of public restroom design across market sectors.

By shifting to single-user, gender-neutral restrooms, managers can make restrooms more personal and inclusive and less institutionalized.

Public expectations for sanitization in facilities are at an all-time high, and customers are increasingly looking for a positive restroom experience. Functional components of hygiene, cleanability, and conservation of resources remain primary concerns, tempered by the innate need to be surrounded by aesthetically pleasing design.

Touchless and sustainable

The trend of touchless technology will continue to be the primary arbiter of change. Sensor-activated faucets came into prominence in the early 1980s and have proven to be one of the most important and lasting innovations in restroom design. Fixtures continued to improve over the decades, in terms of reliability, cost and efficiency. 

The newest touchless fixture solutions combine faucet, dryer, and soap dispensers with trough-style sinks. Safety and appearance retention are the primary goals of these combination style units. Because hand washing and drying occur in the same space, water spills on the floor are limited, mitigating slip-and-fall conditions. Deeper sinks also help minimize splash. 

Conservation also is a major consideration in the design of public restrooms. For example, hand dryers are not only convenient but reduce paper towel waste. An increased focus on resource conservation, coupled with the popularity of touchless combination units, led to the development of waterless urinals in the 1990s. In light of the pandemic, as more customers and guests are keen on cleanliness, the use of waterless urinals will expand.

While waterless urinals are common in high throughput public facilities, such as stadiums and highway rest stops, waterless toilets have not yet become mainstream. These devices greatly reduce the spread of bacteria because users do not need to touch the device due to the lack of a flushing requirement.

Currently an outlier, the waterless or composting toilet was featured prominently by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in the Netflix movie, “Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates.” The foundation sponsored a competition that addressed the need for sanitary waste disposal in developing countries.

While these systems often target residential use in rural areas, the same technology could be applied to higher capacity public restrooms in the future. The increasing price of water will drive acceptance of these new approaches. As water continues to be a scarce resource in many regions and water futures are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the transition to waterless technology for commercial use seems highly probable over the next 10 years.

Touchless fixtures help create a cleaner restroom by managing stock and having fewer touchpoints to disinfect. Similarly, waterless urinals help reduce odor complaints.

Maintenance labor costs remain a primary concern for building owners and managers because demands for wage increases and wage parity become increasingly prominent in today’s current socio-political environment. As a result, the need for easily cleanable fixtures and materials will continue to grow. 

To Read more from the original article by Rick Marencic, on Facilitiesnet.com, click here.

Have a Happy, Healthy and Safe July 4th!

We at Waterless want to wish each and every one of you, our clients,
and our future clients a happy, healthy, and safe July 4th weekend.

Let’s acknowledge all the people that fought so hard to keep our country
safe and strong – and are still doing so.

We have much to be grateful for, including living in the USA.

This country symbolizes freedom, happiness, and prosperity for people all over the world.

Enjoy your holiday and please, if you are out in a park, at the ocean, or climbing a mountain,
remember, we must all use water responsibly. 

A Photo Essay - California faces another drought as lake beds turn to dust

Water shortages and dry conditions are already affecting the state as the governor has declared an emergency in 41 of 58 counties

Verdant hillsides losing their hue, receding reservoirs with bathtub rings of newly exposed earth, crops withering in the fields.

These are the visions of California’s parched landscape as the state braces for another potentially devastating drought. Water shortages and exceptionally dry conditions are already beginning to hit home.

To read and see more photos, click here to take you to the original article on Guardian.com

How Waterless Urinals are Changing Schools in India

For some visitors to this site, the following may be a bit difficult to read. However, we should keep in mind that the conditions described here are quite common around the world.

In many parts of India, school restrooms do not have urinals. Instead, the restrooms typically have a blank wall. Boys are expected to urinate against the wall. 

Further, they are expected to then fetch a bucket of water and toss it against the wall. The problem is that all too often, there is no bucket, and even if there is, the water source may not be working.

Complicating issues, many schools in India do not have custodial workers and, if they do, cleaning is very infrequent. The result: boys’ restrooms throughout many parts of the country are dirty, smelly, and very unsanitary.

This situation is causing another problem. Sanitation is always a big concern in India, and the recent COVID outbreak has made it even worse. Teachers and parents believe the unsanitary restrooms are causing boys to grow up with little concern about proper hygiene and cleanliness. This may lead to even more public health problems in the future.

Until recently, addressing this challenge has proven difficult and very costly. To install traditional, water-using urinals in schools throughout India would cost millions of dollars and prove to be a major undertaking. Furthermore, water is not always available when needed. Even in the best conditions, water delivery can be intermittent, but during droughts, water delivery may be turned off for hours at a time. If water-using urinals were installed, they would likely make the restrooms even more smelly and unhealthy as waste accumulates in them.

However, a solution has materialized, to help promote proper hygiene, keep boys’ restrooms cleaner and healthier, and change behaviors so that boys value sanitation—the savior: waterless urinals.

Waterless urinals are being installed in schools throughout the country.   Because they are waterless, no water must be delivered to the urinal, eliminating that need and that cost. As the urinals are used, urine is drained into sewer pipes that are already hooked up to the schools.

Students are also participating in the installation of waterless urinals in their schools. This helps reduce the costs of installation, and their involvement also gives the boys a sense of ownership, not only for the urinals but the entire restroom.

Teachers and parents believe this is also helping to change behaviors. Boys are more focused on health and protecting health. With all these advantages, some are now wondering why no one thought of installing waterless urinals earlier.

Putting Waterless Urinals to the Water Savings Test

Putting Waterless Urinals to the Water Savings Test

Grappling with constant droughts, dry conditions, and a growing student population, in 2008, the Arizona School Facilities Board decided it was time to consider switching out the old water-using urinals in their schools and installing no-water or waterless urinals.  However, they had to make sure this switch would save them enough water to be warranted.

Further, they had to take their findings up the ladder to the Arizona State Legislator.  The legislators would want to know not only if this would help the schools reduce water consumption, but if it was worth the money.

To analyze the situation, the Arizona School Facilities Board created a spreadsheet. Six different schools in the state were selected.  These were of varying sizes and student populations.  Below is a replica of their spreadsheet:

Notes on the analysis:

• The number of students in each school and the number of males students in each school are based on how many students the schools are designed to accommodate. The actual numbers may be higher or lower.

• The number of flushes per day are estimates.

• Based on this analysis, these six schools would save 833,810 gallons of water annually.

• Based on water charges at the time, it was further estimated that the pay-back period, otherwise known as the return on the investment, would be about two years.

• Switching to waterless urinals, according to the analysis, would save these schools approximately $209,628 per year based on water charges at that the time.

As a result of this analysis, the Arizona School Facilities Board has become a very vocal proponent of installing waterless urinals. Additionally, because of this study, the state has since passed laws requiring almost all new and renovated schools in the state install waterless urinals. Further, they have extended this policy to almost all public buildings throughout the state of Arizona.

By 2023, Lake Mead could be in a Tier 2 shortage.

Lake Mead’s water levels are heading the wrong way and going there alarmingly fast.

If the forecast holds, it’s now likely that we will fall into a more severe Tier 2 shortage by 2023, spreading painful cuts to even more water users in Arizona.

That nugget of bad news comes from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-month study, which is updated each month to predict reservoir conditions for the next two years. In April, the projection was that Lake Mead – the reservoir that provides nearly 40% of Arizona’s water – would most certainly be in a Tier 1 shortage in 2022 but would miss the Tier 2 cutoff for 2023 by three-tenths of a foot.

Now, in May, the most likely projection is that Lake Mead will end 2022 at 1,048.83 feet of elevation – more than a foot past the trigger to put us in Tier 2.

To read more on azcentral.com, click here.