Eight Benefits of Waterless Urinals

Every so often, we like to review the many benefits of no-water or, as they are more commonly called, waterless urinals. We’re doing this because many areas of the world are experiencing prolonged drought conditions, which are now becoming permanent. Therefore, finding ways to reduce water consumption has become more imperative worldwide.

With that said, here are the Top Eight Benefits of installing waterless urinals:

1.    Water Savings

Might as well start with their key benefit: waterless urinals significantly reduce water consumption. It’s estimated in the U.S. that more than five billion gallons of water are used every day to flush urinals and toilets. Typically, in an office building, school, or similar commercial structure, about half the water used is that in toilets and urinals. Conventional urinals use one to five gallons of water per flush. No-water urinals use, well, no water.

 2.    Low Maintenance

You probably guessed it, but the flush mechanism on water-using urinals typically needs a lot of repairs. The flush valves, either from age, use, or tampering, invariably need fixing. This can prove costly because, in most cases, the entire mechanism must be replaced.

3.    No Clogging

Nope, we’re not talking about clogging dancers. Instead, we’re talking about drain lines clogging on traditional urinals. The clogging is the result of the mixture of water and urine, which forms encrustations in the pipe resulting in clogged pipes. Best keep the plumber’s number handy.

4.    More Hygienic

In general, urine does not contain harmful microorganisms. But that all can change when the urine is mixed with water. You see, the water in water-using urinals gives the germs the moist environment they need to grow. Worse, these germs can become airborne with flushing and splatter. This was a big concern during the pandemic and sure enough, COVID was found in the urine of those infected with the disease. This means the virus could spread from inhalation. Waterless urinals remain dry. There is no flushing. Germs, bacteria, and microorganisms cannot survive on a dry surface. Plus, there is less splatter with waterless urinals all of which makes them more hygienic.

5.    Odor Control

The first two things you notice when you use a waterless urinal are 1) there is no flush valve and 2) there’s a little gadget placed at the base of the urinal. That little gadget is essential. It’s called an EcoTrap®, and it’s designed to prevent sewer odors from entering the restroom. It needs to be filled with a liquid sealant called BlueSeal® to ensure it works properly. The EcoTrap and the BlueSeal keep the restroom smelling fresh and clean.

6.    Sustainability

Waterless urinals were promoting sustainability long before most organizations were even focused on sustainability. When you consider that one waterless urinal can save up to 35,000 gallons of water per year and that millions of waterless urinals have been installed worldwide, we see they have significantly contributed to conserving water, our most important resource.

7.    Energy Reduction

Ever wonder how water gets to your facility? Massive water utility pumps deliver it there. These pumps are invariably powered by electricity. If less water is pumped to your facility, it means your facility is helping to reduce energy consumption. The cost to pump and remove water is worked into your water utility bill. Less water used and less energy needed helps reduce your water bill.

8.    Retrofits

We can’t leave without discussing retrofits. In a post-COVID world, facility managers are remodeling restrooms to help them stay cleaner and more sanitary. What they are finding is that installing no-water urinals is a very cost-effective retrofit. They require less plumbing to install and no special pipes or connections. This makes installing waterless urinals easier, faster, and much less expensive.

Something We Don't Want to See: Hunger Stones

As rivers around the world, especially in Europe, begin to dry up due to intense drought and aridification, they are revealing carvings, some centuries old, created by people who experienced repeated bad harvests and little or no food due to lack of water. While some of these carvings were uncovered decades ago, these hunger stones, as they are called, are showing up more frequently today.

For example, found on the banks of the Elbe River, which begins in the Czech Republic and flows through Germany, are stones that date back to 1616. One such etching in German has the following words:

“Wenn du mich seehst, dann weine,” which translated means: “If you see me, then weep.”

 A study conducted by Czech researchers, Droughts in the Czech Lands, 1090-2012 AD, found that some of these carvings read like a diary written by several people who may or may not have known each other.

 Among the thoughts expressed in this “group” diary are the following:

Year 1482: Water of the River Vltava green and stinking.

1473: Streams dried up. Forest fires. Poor harvest.

1442: Poor harvest of cereals and hay; severe shortage of water.

1393: Possible to cross the River Vltava on its bed, water as green as grass.

1369: Better wine in Bohemia than in Austria due to severe drought.

1262: Autumn and spring crops perished, grass dried up, poor harvest of fruit and wine.

According to the Czech researchers, the “chiseled [carvings] indicate years of hardship and warn of the consequences of drought.”

National Public Radio reported that while these hunger stones have been seen in the past, due to recent droughts in Europe, they are being seen more often.

This is likely because Europe is now experiencing its worst drought in five hundred years, according to Andrea Torti, a senior researcher at the European Commission’s Joint Research Center.

This year, 47 percent of Europe is facing varying drought conditions — from mild to severe. As to why this is happening, a growing body of research is pointing to, you guessed it, climate change. Not only is there a lack of rainfall, but due to higher temperatures, there is enhanced evaporation, which has been determined by testing ground soil.

Of additional interest, the drying up of Europe’s rivers is revealing more than just hunger stones and etchings. Among items revealed are the following:

• As Italy’s Po River has dried up, Business Insider reports “a slew of archeological treasures” not seen in centuries has been uncovered.

• A shipwreck last seen during World War II resurfaced in June 2022, again in the Po River.

• The river also revealed a submerged 1,000-pound bomb from the World War II era that never exploded.

• Most dramatic, 20 German World War II warships resurfaced in the River Danube in Serbia earlier this year.

What we are witnessing here are ominous signs. We know there have been droughts throughout history, some very severe. But with so many centuries-old hunger stones and artifacts being uncovered now, it tells us drought conditions are getting worse.

This also tells us the word “drought” may no longer be the correct term to use. This is aridification in all forms: lack of rainfall, higher temperatures, and more evaporation. These are signs of things to come.

As grim and ominous as this sounds, many of the world’s water issues can be addressed. More water is being treated, so it can be used repeatedly. Water infrastructure is improving — slowly — but it is improving.

And technologies such waterless urinals, which are certainly not new, are now being rediscovered by many building owners.

Waterless urinals are a symbol. They tell us we do have ways to reduce water consumption in many ways. We just must take advantage of them.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Water and Economics

This article was originally published in Water Quality Products. Click here to read the original article.

While it may surprise those focused on water-related issues, potable water and a country’s GDP can be very closely intertwined. To better comprehend this, let us first get a better understanding of GDP.

GDP has long been considered one of the best barometers of a country’s economy and economic growth. The Gross Domestic Product of a country measures a country’s production in a given amount of time, typically in annual increments. It includes all the goods and services produced in a country regardless of their purpose.  

Traditionally overlooked in GDP is the impact water—or lack of it—can have on a country’s economy. However, a study published in March 2020 clarified that what the researchers called “water scarcity” can have significant, long-term negative impacts on a country’s economy and growth.

Let’s look at that study now.

Entitled “Evaluating the impacts of water resources technology progress on development and economic growth over the Northwest, China,” it was published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal, and conducted by scientists at China’s Shaanxi Normal University.

The scientists focused on a region of China as it existed in 1996 regarding population growth, industry and economic development, and overall living conditions. The collected metrics gave them the region’s GDP, which they followed through 2017.  

We should note that a geographic area’s living conditions can be a crucial component of GDP. As living conditions improve in a region or country, GDP increases because people purchase more products and services. However, particularly pertinent to our discussion, water use also increases.  

With the GDP stats in hand, the researchers then examined the impact water shortages and water scarcity had during these 21 years. They found that “water scarcity is increasingly becoming the biggest bottleneck for urban future development” in this and other semi-arid provinces in China.  

Other Concerns

The researchers noted two additional issues that are impacting not only this area of China but also many other areas of the world, including here in North America.  

1. Overload. Most areas of the world access underground water reservoirs—aquifers—in varying amounts to meet their water needs. Typically, with rainfall events, these aquifers become refilled and regenerated. However, the researchers found that demand for this underground water is greater in the analyzed areas than the speed at which the aquifers can be refilled. This they termed overload.  

2. Water Efficiency. Water efficiency typically refers to long-term water-reducing strategies, often measured by the amount of water used and delivered. However, it also focuses on water waste. The researchers found that there is considerable water waste in this part of China, with a great deal of it originating from the water-providing utilities in this area.

The water waste most often happens when the water is treated and delivered, along with how manufacturers and industry use it in this region. Vast amounts of water, the researchers pointed out, are wasted by the industry sector.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The following are some of the researcher’s conclusions. We should note that while many of these recommendations pertain specifically to this area of China, they have universal applications to regions and countries and their economies around the world. With that said, the following were among their conclusions:

• Progress in water technologies that help reduce water consumption can increase GDP growth.

• Development of products that reduce waste and help use water more efficiently can result in more significant economic expansion.

• Water scarcity will hinder future economic development in China and other parts of the world, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

• Even in non-arid regions, water scarcity can constrain economic growth.

Fortunately, we are making considerable progress in introducing water-using technologies that can reduce water consumption, cut waste, and use water much more efficiently. Cities and municipalities are making significant advances. El Paso, Texas, for example, is building an advanced purification system to treat sewage water and turn it into drinking water. This direct-to-distribution approach helps reduce water waste.

In New York City, six colleges have banded together to reduce water consumption, primarily by finding ways to use water more efficiently. It is estimated this will save more than 1.3 million gallons of water per month.

Additionally, increasingly commercial facilities are installing low-flow restroom fixtures and waterless urinals here in North America and around the globe. Because more water is typically used in restrooms than in any other location in a commercial building, this step alone will save millions of gallons of water annually.

But this study tells us we must do more and continue to do more. Preventing water scarcity and improving water efficiency is a journey. There is no endpoint. And protecting this vital natural resource will also help protect and grow the economies of countries around the globe.

Klaus Reichardt is the founder and CEO of Waterless Co., Inc. He frequently reports on all types of water-related issues and can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Source: “Evaluating the impacts of water resources technology progress on development and economic growth over the Northwest, China.” Na Qiao, Lan Fang, Lan Mu. PLoS One, March 12, 2020.

Water’s Role in My Life

Growing up in Germany, there were occasional droughts, some of which were serious and long-lasting. Still, I do not remember these droughts negatively impacting my family, my school, or others in my community.

Of course, if we were asked to reduce water consumption during these droughts, we would do so. However these droughts did not interrupt our lifestyles, those of our neighbors, or businesses throughout the country.

It was not until I moved to California that I realized how water – or lack thereof – could impact people’s lives. Throughout history, California has experienced droughts.

One of the worst I experienced was in 1976-1977. While it only lasted one year, most everyone in the state was limited to five-minute showers, and even the amount of water used to brush your teeth was reduced to just a few drops.

The problem in California, when it comes to water and droughts, is that they are so frequent – and they are getting more frequent today with changes in the climate. In addition to this, they last longer.

For instance, since my first experience with a California drought that lasted just one year, there have been three more of importance:

•       The 1986 drought lasted five years.

•       The 2006 drought went on for four years.

•       The 2011 drought continued for six years.

And today, the state’s current drought, which officially began in October 2019, may be the worst drought the state has ever experienced.

With this drought, people all over California are beginning to realize our climate is changing and it is negatively impacting water. We are moving from frequent droughts, which lasted one to a few years, to permanent drought conditions, now referred to as aridification.

As for me and in regards to water, I guess I was ahead of the game. I realized years ago that these frequent and more prolonged droughts in California were ominous signs for the future. The state’s population and businesses were growing tremendously, but the amount of potable water available was decreasing.

I assumed then, and I believe now, we have reached a tipping point. We must find ways in California, around the country, and around the world to reduce consumption, and that is how I got involved with waterless urinals.

Years ago, one traditional urinal could use as much as 50,000 gallons of water per year. Not only was that not sustainable, but it was simply wasteful.

This triggered my interest in waterless urinals then and has increased my interest in waterless urinals and water efficiency ever since.

In the past few years, our company has gone from not only marketing waterless urinals but to working on convincing people throughout North America and internationally that we must use water more efficiently!

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

The Human Toll of Drought

Although droughts represent only 15% of natural disasters, they take the heaviest human toll, causing about 650,000 deaths in the past 50 years.

Let’s Use Water Efficiently

Waterless.com

Living with Aridification

A shrinking lake near Fresno, CA

This article was recently published in the July Issue of Smart Water Magazine

Having been involved with water-related issues for more than thirty years, one of the changes I have noticed when we discuss water are the terms we use. Years ago, when it came to reducing water consumption, the term most used was “water conservation.” That stayed true until about ten years ago. Then a new term was introduced, “water efficiency.”

So, we are clear, water conservation tends to focus on short-term reductions in water consumption, for instance, during a drought. 

On the other hand, water efficiency refers to long-term water reductions.

Typically, in the past, water efficiency meant installing products, devices, and technologies that use less or no water compared to traditional products. Waterless urinals are a perfect example. They eliminate the need for water, making them a long-term solution to reducing water consumption.

However, today an unfamiliar word is evolving. This one puts more emphasis on climate changes in different regions around the globe and the increasing serious impact they have on water.

That word is aridification.

The term seems to have different definitions based on how, who, and where it is used. But it means the following:

Aridification is the progression of an area that once experienced regular rainfall events with occasional droughts to one where rainfall events are fewer and further between, and the number of droughts increases and become longer. Eventually, the entire region becomes excessively and irreversibly drier and warmer than in the past. 

Aridification is different from a drought because drought is temporary. Aridification is here to stay. The result: everyone and everything that uses water is going to have less.

A perfect example of aridification is what is happening to the Colorado River in the U.S. This river, which runs from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, provides water for about forty million people. However, it has been subjected to warmer temperatures and received less snow and rainfall for two decades.

Today, it carries far less water than it did 20 years ago, with reductions averaging as much as 19 percent from 2000 to 2014. That is expected to decrease by another 20 percent by mid-century and 35 percent by the end of the century. If this holds true, the Colorado River may only carry a fraction of the amount of water it did twenty years ago – a permanent change that will impact the lives of millions of people. *  

Dealing with the Challenges of Aridification

As we mentioned aridification is a global issue. Many areas around the world are now or soon will be experiencing aridification. This means water utility companies and governments in these areas are going to have to grapple with this issue, one that may be one of the most serious – but fortunately solvable – in the 21st century.

Among the steps we will need to take are the following:

Realizing and accepting the fact that aridification is real and permanent.

Just recently, I was told of a visitor to Southern California who was surprised how much water is still being used for the outdoor irrigation of landscaping. Because Southern California is ground zero for aridification in the U.S., this tells us many citizens and businesses here are still not acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. Acknowledging the reality of aridification is the first step in addressing it.

Incorporating water efficient technologies into all new and existing building projects.

It was during the oil crisis of 1973 that many countries around the world, along with builders and designers, were forced to examine the energy use and efficiency of their buildings. What they realized is that these facilities were built to be very dependent on fossil fuels to heat them in the winter and cool them in the summer. After the oil crisis, buildings were constructed so that they used less energy and used it more efficiently.

Due to aridification, we must do the same with water. With every restroom fixture and water-using device installed in a facility, we must ensure that it is the most water efficient system available. This will encourage more manufacturers to improve the water efficiency of their products. This is still not at the top of the agenda for many facility managers, builders, and designers, but with aridification, it must be.

Expanding water recycling and reuse programs.

This is the practice of reclaiming water from a variety of sources, treating it, and reusing it for beneficial purposes. This could be for vegetation or human consumption. Some areas of the world have extensive recycling and reuse programs in place, but far too many have few or none. Making matters worse, it is often in these areas that aridification is most acute. To ensure water security around the globe and deal with the many challenges aridification poses, water reuse programs are necessary, and for those countries that already have them, they must be expanded.

Finally, desalination programs must be expanded.

One of the first countries to successfully use desalination technology, as far back as 1938, was Saudi Arabia. Historically, the concerns about desalination plants are that they are costly to build, operate, and often require enormous amounts of petroleum to operate, negatively impacting the environment and sustainability.  Today, those costs are coming down and green power alternatives are being used to power these plants. This is making desalination technology more viable around the world.

We started our discussion about how the terms used to discuss water-related issues have been changing. But one thing that has not changed in all these years is the fact that we should be able to address our water challenges, including those caused by aridification. Technology is on our side. We just must put it to use.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

*Udall, B. and Overpeck, J. (2017), The twenty-first century Colorado River hot drought and implications for the future, Water Resour. Res., 53, 2404– 2418, doi:10.1002/2016WR019638.

Water for Life Update: Dealing with Foul Odors as People Return to Work

Hello,

This is Robert Kravitz.

I'm a writer for the building industry, and this is another Water Is Life Update from Waterless Co., Inc.

Say, it was announced here in Chicago that many of the major employers have set Monday, September 12, 2022, as the day they expect – if not require – their employees to return to work.

Many of these buildings have been closed for two years. As they reopen, it's been reported that many now have a foul odor inside. According to building engineers, what's happening is that the unpleasant odors are coming from floor drains.

Here's what's happening. The water in the U-trap underneath the drain, which usually holds water to block sewer odors from entering the facility, has dried up.

Fortunately, this is an easy fix but an essential fix. Those foul odors are often dangerous gases that can be health risking to building users.

Here's all we need to do. Products available, referred to as "ever prime" or "ever primer," can be poured down these drains. A few ounces does the trick. It's a simple, $2.30 per drain solution.

Fast and easy, this will end the odors and ensure workers return to fresh, smelling, clean, healthy buildings.

Say, if Waterless Co. can help you in any way as people return to work, feel free to give us a call: 800 244 6364 toll-free.

China, Water, and World Economies

The following are key points in an article written by Klaus Reichardt and published by Smart Water earlier this year.

It should be no surprise that China is one of the countries most concerned about water scarcity and its economic impact, not only on the Chinese economy, but the world economy as well.

China accounts for about six percent of the world's total freshwater resources. Compare that to the U.S., which has 45 percent - the largest share - of the world's total freshwater resources of any country in the world.

China is listed as one of the thirteen most water-poor countries globally. With limited freshwater supplies, ongoing water pollution also aggravates their freshwater supplies. 

This means that the country is facing increased water scarcity in the coming years and potentially worse, a severe water crisis that might negatively impact the country's future economic growth.  In many ways, this is happening right now.

This is the conclusion of a study recently published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal. "Evaluating the impacts of water resources technology progress on development and economic growth over the Northwest, China," was published in March 2020 and conducted by scientists at Shaanxi Normal University. 

These scientists examined a region of China as it was in 1996 regarding population, industry, water-related issues, and economic status, to the way it was in 2017, a 20-year period.

Then they took the next step and examined how water shortages and water scarcity impacted the GDP or gross domestic product in this specific region of China.  GDP is the monetary value of all goods and services in a country.

The researchers found that "water scarcity is increasingly becoming the biggest bottleneck for urban future development" in several semi-arid provinces in China. 

The areas of China included in the study have been experiencing increased water shortages, primarily for the same reasons we mentioned earlier: population growth, economic development, and the overall improvement in living conditions.  We should also mention, some parts of China also have poor water infrastructure, which wastes millions of gallons of water per year.

Water Overload

Two other concerns were mentioned in the study. For instance, the researchers also reported water "overload." Because of increasing demands, more of this region's water is derived from underground sources, as it is in many other parts of the world. 

However, the researchers found that China's underground water sources are not being regenerated. This is causing the overload, as they call it. Typically, with rainfall events, underground water reservoirs refill with water. However, this is no longer happening in this area of China due to overload.

 Recommendations

The study concludes with recommendations that can be used not only in China, but in countries and facilities around the world.  Among their conclusions are the following:

• Continue developing and installing new water technologies that reduce water consumption.  

• Conduct water audits in residential and commercial buildings. A water audit identifies where water is used, wasted, not used efficiently, or not needed at all.  

• Repair water infrastructure. The researchers found that "water institutions," which are water treatment, delivery, and water removal organizations, were wasting substantial amounts of water due to poor water infrastructure.

• Development of products that reduce waste and help use water more efficiently. These can result in more significant economic expansion.  

• Evaluate current restroom fixtures. Today, restroom fixtures are changing rapidly, becoming more water efficient. This is important because in most facilities, the most water consumed in the facility is in the restrooms. 

• Low-flow and no-water fixtures, such as waterless urinals, should be installed. These can reduce water consumption significantly.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Urinal Flushing in a Post-Pandemic Era

During the worst months of the pandemic, researchers in China reported that the COVID-19 pathogen and other COVID-related microorganisms were released when a urinal was flushed. The flushing, they said, caused an alarming upward flow of coronavirus-laden particles that could shoot into the air as much as two feet in less than six seconds.

The study, published in August 2020 online in Physics of Fluids, confirmed that virus particles of COVID-19 are found in urine, “which means urine-based transmission could be a previously ignored transmission route. [This] also means that besides the toilet, the [flush] urinal, which is a common facility in the male public restroom, could become another dangerous item … promoting virus transmission.”

Xiangdong Liu, one of the Yangzhou University researchers behind the study, said that along with spreading the coronavirus, “urinal flushing [can] promote the spread of bacteria and viruses.”

This discovery of the aerosolization of the pathogen that causes COVID has several profound implications. This was at about the time researchers first realized that the transfer of COVID was most likely to occur by inhalation and not by touching contaminated surfaces.

However, this had far-reaching implications because this is not how health-threatening bacteria and germs are normally transferred. Typically, harmful pathogens collect on walls, counters, and other touchable surfaces.

Once we touch those surfaces, the pathogens are transferred to our hands and fingers. They then can become transferred once again when we touch our mouths or eyes, or touch food, which is then consumed. This is referred to as “cross contamination” and is the way many diseases are spread.

So, what does this mean to us today, as the pandemic drifts into the rearview mirror? Among the things we should know and learn from this study are the following:

·       Urine is normally viewed as “sterile,” and germfree. However, pathogens can and do collect in urine, especially if a person is ill. 

·       When a water-using urinal is flushed, pathogens can and do become aerosolized very quickly, in a matter of seconds, reaching far higher and into more areas than we realized before.

·       If the pathogens are inhaled, there is a possibility this will cause illness. This is how some respiratory illnesses and viruses are spread, such as colds and the flu.

·       However, what is more likely is that these pathogens will filter down to touchable and frequently touched surfaces. It is when we contact these touchable surfaces that the transmission of disease can begin.

And one more thing we should know: this only happens with flush urinals. The burst of water into the urinal is what generates the alarming upward flow as mentioned earlier. When using a waterless urinal, there is no flushing, or flushing mechanism. No water is used.  There is no alarming upward flow.

As a result, the chances of pathogens becoming airborne are exceedingly small, if at all. Even before the pandemic, waterless urinals were reported to be more hygienic than flush urinals, and this is likely one of the reasons.

This is also likely why, in a post-pandemic era, building developers, owners, and managers are taking a much closer look at waterless urinals. As they attempt to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of their tenants — and get them back to work and in the office — many are now installing waterless urinals.

What we are finding is that in some cases, it is the replacing of flush urinals with no-water, waterless urinals that is one of the first steps building developers, owners, and managers take to help protect tenant health. Based on the study above, it’s a particularly good place to begin.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Droughts: Their Impact on Lives and Livelihoods

Severe droughts have been a part of world history since the beginning of time. What's different today, primarily due to climate change, is they are becoming longer with less chance of the drought lifting. 

When this happens, it is referred to as aridification, the gradual process of an area getting drier and warmer. While arid regions may still experience rain events, these will become fewer and fewer over time.

Scientists are now paying closer attention to droughts, aridification, and what is causing them, primarily because they are happening so frequently and impacting more people. NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies is one organization that has been looking into historical precipitation data based on tree rings. If a tree grows over several years, it will have more – and more prominent – annual rings. This typically indicates a period of considerable precipitation.

If there are fewer rings – sometimes none – or the rings are less prominent, it indicates periods of drought.

But droughts do more than disrupt the life cycle of trees and vegetation. They also affect our lifestyles, businesses, and agriculture, and they can cause considerable suffering - even death.  

For instance, according to Statista, which collects statistics on many issues and topics, the following are the five worst droughts in recorded history and the deaths that resulted:

China: In 1928, an estimated 3 million people died due to a prolonged drought.

Bangladesh: Nearly 2 million people died due to drought conditions in this country in 1943.

India: Drought in India resulted in 1.5 million deaths in 1942 and another 1.5 million deaths in 1965.

Soviet Union: An estimated 1.2 million people were reported to have died due to drought in 1921.

China: In 1920, eight years before its most lethal drought, China suffered a severe drought that killed 500,000 people.  

Droughts not only cause deaths, suffering, and hardship, but they can change entire societies. As an example, a series of mega-droughts about 100,000 years ago in Africa caused one of the first migrations in human history. Africans moved away from the African continent because the lack of precipitation made it increasingly inhospitable. With no water, life became impossible.

Here are three more examples of how droughts changed entire societies:

1.   A 2013 report in the National Geographic Magazine concluded it was not civil strife that led to the fall of the pharaohs in Egypt about 4,500 years ago. It was chronic drought.

2.   The Mayan empire in Mexico was experiencing rapid growth about 1,200 years ago. But then drought set in. According to NASA, with drought and dwindling water supplies, crops failed and wars with neighboring nations over water began. This eventually led to the Mayan civilization's demise.

3.   In the U.S., the drought of the mid-1930s drove 2 million people off their land in the Midwest. This period was referred to as the Dust Bowl. However, something else happened during the Dust Bowl that is rarely reported, also causing people to leave this area of the country.

According to the American Red Cross, the arid conditions resulted in the spread of acute infections and diseases. They reported a 100 percent increase in pneumonia cases and acute respiratory infections. Due to all the airborne dust, there was also a steep jump in the number of people diagnosed with eye ulcers and serious eye infections.

The question we all need to ask ourselves now is whether we are living in another era that will result in extensive hardship, potential deaths, and the migration of people out of very dry areas of the country into those with more precipitation. After all, California is now reporting the worst drought in 1,200 years.

The only option we have to combat the effects of drought is to use water more efficiently and find ways to not use water at all. Waterless urinals are one example of a technology that has eliminated water use entirely. We need more technologies introduced that do the same.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com