Aridification: Why Should You Care?

As this is being written, parts of California are still getting substantial rainfall. A blizzard is even forecasted for Southern California.

This is a historical event. The last time Southern California experienced blizzard conditions was in 1989.

California has experienced very unusual weather over the past two years. The last few months of December 2022 were extraordinary because the state received so much rainfall in such a fleeting period. And now a blizzard in an area of the country where the average year-round temperature is in the 60s and 70s?  Unthinkable.

What climate experts are saying is that this is another example of climate change impacting Southern California. Wild swings of very dry weather, lasting for years, and now several months of very wet weather.

The reality is that California should enjoy it while it lasts. Long-term predictions are that the state and much of the Southwest and other areas of the country will return to what has been evolving for several years, and that is aridification.

So, we are all on the same page, aridification can be defined as a process in which a region, state, or entire country becomes increasingly dry. It's happening around the globe. 

And because it's happening around the globe, we all must become more familiar with it, even if we don't live in areas currently experiencing aridification.

Here's why We Need to Understand Aridification:

Crops. Invariably, the first signs of aridification are that crops that grow in a region are no longer receiving sufficient irrigation to grow.  

Economics. Farming communities soon begin to suffer economically when they cannot grow crops. They soon need help feeding their livestock as well as themselves.

Inflation. Food is a core commodity. When the supply of food is reduced, costs go up. This will apply not only to fruits and vegetables but meats and chicken. A domino situation sets in. With supplies going down and costs up, scores of other industries are impacted. This raises the prices of all types of goods and services.

Movement. Aridification has been causing people living in farming communities to move to cities. Very often, their skills are not easily transferable to urban living.

Water. With water supplies in shorter demand, water costs go up. Localities must look further for new supplies as old watering holes dry up. They must charge for this.

Conflict. This is a big concern in many parts of the world. This includes conflict between cities, states, and countries. The Middle East has only one percent of the world's freshwater, but it must be shared among five percent of the world’s population. So far, tensions here have been resolved. But will they in the future?

Non-potable. This refers to any water that has not been treated or evaluated to be sure it is safe for human consumption. Aridification is making it harder for millions of people to get safe drinking water.

Poverty. View water as a foundational. If water is in short supply or there is no potable water in a region, poverty is invariably the result. Aridification contributes to world poverty, which is expected to become more of a concern in years to come.

Depletion. Many states in the U.S. no longer depend on rainfall events for their water. Instead, they are draining underground water supplies. The problem is these supplies are drying out and are not being replenished. Where, responsible public officials are asking, will people living in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and parts of Texas get their water five or ten years from now? 

Our only option is to use water efficiently or, if possible, not at all. That's what waterless urinals are designed to do. Reduce water consumption dramatically and permanently, so it can be used for drinking water, growing crops, and protecting communities and economies.

The Dust Bowl – Facts About the Greatest Manmade Environmental Catastrophe in American History

We often hear about the impact climate change is having on water, causing some areas of the country to experience prolonged periods of drought while others are experiencing far more moisture than in the past.

But climate change had no role in causing the Dust Bowl. Rather, it was the result of several conditions, incidents, and unfortunate happenings.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the Dust Bowl.

What was the Dust Bowl?

The Dust Bowl brought economic, ecological, and human misery to millions of Americans. It occurred simultaneously with the Great Depression, which added to the economic suffering.

The Dust Bowl was caused by extended drought, unusually hot weather, strong winds, and poor agricultural practices.

Soil erosion along with high winds and choking dust clouds called black blizzards — because they eliminated daytime sunlight — swept through the Midwest, from Nebraska to Texas.

When did it occur?

The Dust Bowl started in 1931 and tapered off by 1939.

How many black blizzards occurred?

In 1932, there were 14 black blizzards. By 1933, there were 40.

What were the poor agricultural practices?

After World War I and throughout the 1920s, mechanized farming equipment was introduced to allow farmers to grow more crops over more land.  This helped increase profits. Previously unplowed land — as much as five million acres — was plowed to produce record crops.

These record crops reached a crescendo during the 1931 season, but due to the Depression, there were few buyers. Farmers let their crops die in the fields, and the over-plowed land was left bare. In time, the fertile topsoil blew away in the winds. Drought made the situation even worse. Eventually, many farmers lost their farms to foreclosures. Their land and any remaining crops were left to turn to dust.

Did the government step in to help?

Yes; in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted programs to help farmers avoid foreclosures to help keep their farms afloat. The administration also set up programs to teach farmers new farming practices to protect their land and begin farming again. However, it was a major undertaking. By 1935, 35 million acres of farmland were ruined, and the topsoil covering more than 100 million acres of land had blown away.

Did the Dust Bowl cause illness?

Yes, both humans and animals suffered. The dust storms caused dust pneumonia, which occurs when excessive and prolonged inhalation of dirt and dust results in inflammation of the lungs. Acute respiratory infection is followed by painful and severe symptoms. Fever developed, and many people died of dust pneumonia.

Could the Dust Bowl happen again?

According to the Yale School of the Environment, much has changed in the U.S. heartland, “with improved irrigation and agricultural practices. [But] with rising temperatures and worsening droughts caused by global warming, another Dust Bowl in the U.S. is possible.”

Another concern is that underground water from aquifers is drying up in large parts of the Midwest.

“There comes a point where if you’re not replenishing aquifers, then all you need is the next minor drought to come along, and … you run the risk of another Dust Bowl-like event,” says Tim Cowan, a senior research fellow at the University of Southern Queensland who studies the effects of climate change on precipitation and heat waves.

Does water efficiency play a role in preventing another Dust Bowl?

Yes, it does. Water efficiency means utilizing new and existing technologies such as waterless urinals, which use far less water than traditional products, including no water at all. Water efficiency can and will play a significant role in preventing another Dust Bowl because it helps reduce the amount of water drawn from aquifers, helping them replenish, so we can better manage through another drought when it comes along.

What Is a Flash Drought?

Most of us know what a flash flood is. In late 2022, California and many other areas of the western United States experienced several flash floods that resulted in damaged homes, mudslides, and killed 17 people.

A flash flood, according to NASA, is a rapid rise of water along streams and low-lying land. It typically occurs within six hours of a major rainfall event but can happen even sooner in an intense storm with heavy rain.

Flash droughts are just the opposite, but in many ways, they can be just as damaging. Unlike flash floods, which can develop in hours, flash droughts usually take weeks to months to develop.

But these are not traditional droughts. A drought usually takes years, sometimes a decade, to develop.

The big concern about flash droughts is that communities have little chance to prepare for them. This is unlike the droughts we have seen in the past, where public officials, businesses, and consumers are provided with ample warning signs that drought conditions are growing and becoming more serious.

With a flash drought, there is no warning. In 2017, a flash drought hit Montana and the Dakotas, catching everyone by surprise and causing $3 billion in agricultural losses.

In a step-by-step fashion, here’s how it happened:

• These areas of the country experienced a combination of lower-than-normal precipitation and higher temperatures.

• These factors reduced overall land moisture.

• Under normal conditions, moisture accumulates from rainfall. Plants draw this water through their roots and release water vapor into the air. This is called transpiration.

• But with already dry conditions and higher temperatures in Montana and the Dakotas, there was an increase in evaporation and less transpiration. Vegetation could no longer produce all the moisture the atmosphere demanded.

• When this happened, reduced moisture caused surface air temperatures to rise, further drying out the soil. This started a domino effect. The area became increasingly warmer and dryer very quickly, resulting in a flash drought.

Flash droughts are relatively new. The term was coined in the early 2000s to draw more attention to this form of rapid – or intensified – drought conditions. It’s a byproduct of climate change. Rising global temperatures due to climate change are behind flash droughts, according to University of Texas professor Zong-Liang Yang. Climate change contributes to the chain reaction just discussed.

 One of the big problems that results from a flash drought is that drought conditions can set in very quickly and unexpectedly. During the first part of 2012, areas in the Midwest received near-normal precipitation through May. But by June, temperatures increased, the area became dryer, and a flash drought occurred by August, causing more than $30 billion in damages.

 Can we predict flash droughts?

It’s not easy to predict when or where a flash drought might hit. For instance, in the scenario referenced in Montana and the Dakotas, 2017 started out as a typical year as far as temperatures and precipitation were concerned. But unexpectedly and without warning, it was over in a few months.

Even in the best of situations, scientists say nature can be chaotic, which puts limitations on weather predictions. It’s one reason weather forecasters typically do not make weather predictions beyond ten days. There are just too many variables. Further, climate change is making things worse. Due to climate change, most scientists agree, we must expect the unexpected.

 So where does water efficiency come into play? Water efficiency is the long-term reduction in water consumption. Waterless urinals are a perfect example. By reducing the consumption of 35,000 gallons of water per urinal per year, we are saving millions of gallons of water throughout the United States.

 By using less water, we are not as vulnerable to flash droughts or traditional droughts. We can move water supplies more quickly to where they are needed. This makes the country more water resilient and agile.

Resilience, agility, and water efficiency are the long-term ways we can minimize the impact of flash droughts.

 Sources:

What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains (waterdesk.org)

‘Flash Droughts’ Coming on Faster, Global Study Shows | Jackson School of Geosciences | The University of Texas at Austin (utexas.edu)

https://tinyurl.com/2cbrh37x

Video: The Situation Regarding Water Today in the United States

Hello! This is Robert Kravitz, and this is the first in our series of interviews with Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co., Inc, based in Vista, California.

For those that don't know, Waterless Company was started over 30 years ago. They were the first company to introduce no-water urinals to North America. Today they are referred to as pioneers in water efficiency.

We're calling this series of interviews Waterless Foresights-a Video Series.

Robert:

Hello Klaus, how are you today?

Klaus:

Hi Robert. Great to talk to you and thank you for having me on the show today.

Robert:

Klaus, because you have been involved with water efficiency for more than 30 years, I'm curious about the situation today in the United States regarding water. We got all that rain over the holidays in California. But does that mean we are ahead of the curve now? Are things better now? What is the situation with water today in this country?

Klaus:

That's a particularly good and broad question, and I can start broadly. Water still is the stepchild of so many things.

Every year, thirty to thirty-eight States in our country are under drought watch.

Much of it has to do with the lack of precipitation. But it also has to do with population growth in various areas of the country and the fact that we cannot expand water treatment facilities in certain areas because of environmental concerns. So, a lot of varied factors come into play when we talk about water in this country.

But water issues are finally coming to many more people's awareness. The media is helping make this happen. This was especially true eight years ago in Atlanta, where water for the city was depleted.

Robert:

I just read somewhere that the amount of water in the lake in Salt Lake City is one-third of what it was ten years ago. Making this an even bigger concern is that there are all kinds of sediment at the bottom of the lake where it's dried up. If it becomes windblown, it could prove toxic to the people living in Salt Lake City.

Klaus:

Yes, I have heard that too. If this sediment gets airborne, the masks we wore during COVID won't help much.

This is an extremely hazardous material in the air. Situations like this have happened before. It indicates some of the hazards before us if we don't start using water more efficiently.

You know, there is a difference between conserving water and water efficiency. To conserve water, we can start by just turning the faucet off when we brush our teeth. It can also mean using restroom fixtures, from toilets and urinals to faucets and showerheads, which are designed to use less water.

This is what makes them water efficient.

To become more water efficient, whether at home, in schools, or in the office, we first must become more aware of how much water we use and take steps every day to reduce the amount we use.

Robert:

I noticed you did not mention your own company, Waterless Co. Waterless urinals are now required in some states like Arizona. This is because they eliminate the use of about 35,000 gallons of water per urinal, per year. They help us reduce consumption and use water far more efficiently.

Klaus:

I appreciate you mentioning this. Here's a little example.

In a school, factory, or restaurant restroom, if you can just eliminate the flush urinals and replace them with waterless urinals, you can reduce the amount of water used in that restroom by as much as 30 percent.

Robert:

Wow, I did not know that. That is a major reduction.

Say, this has been a terrific discussion. I look forward to our future talks. Thank you.

The Unspoken Climate Disaster on Our Hands

We’ve got an absolute climate disaster on our hands here in the United States, and what amazes me is that it still gets only limited attention. No, I’m not talking about the drought in California — I’m talking about Salt Lake City.

 The Great Salt Lake is drying up. It’s shrunk by two-thirds since the 1980s. At that time, the lake’s surface covered about 3,300 square miles. Jump ahead to 2022, and it covers less than 1,000 square miles.

Moreover, the lake’s salt content hovered around 9 to 12 percent in the 1980s. Today, it’s reached 17 percent, and herein lies the problem. Such a high salt content threatens the algae in the water, which also threatens the insects and brine shrimp that feed on the algae, and the lives of millions of native and migrating birds that depend on the lake’s water for food and habitat.

But even this isn’t the worst of it. The shrinking lake means more arsenic from the lakebed will be exposed. With high winds and storms, the arsenic will get into the air, threatening the lives of thousands of people living near the lake.

“We have this potential environmental nuclear bomb that’s going to go off if we don’t take some pretty dramatic action,” Joel Ferry, a Republican state lawmaker and lakeside rancher in Utah, told the New York Times.

A situation like this has already existed, but on a smaller scale. In 1913, Owens Lake, located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Inyo County, California, was purposely drained into the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Climate change or mother nature played no role.

What happened next is what is feared in Salt Lake City. At the bottom of the Owens lakebed was a morass — a mushy, muddy patch of ground. This morass contained noxious alkalis, carcinogens, arsenic, nickel, and cadmium. As it dried, this toxic mixture was stirred up by periodic winds and inhaled by nearby residents. It was estimated that at one time, as much as four million tons of this dust was in the air. How many people died or were sickened by this, we do not know. However, it was considered a calamity at the time.

Getting back to the Great Salt Lake, what can we do to address this problem? What’s obvious is that the lake needs more water. Just recently, Utah Governor Spencer Cox issued an executive order to use a melting snowpack to help fill the lake. “The Great Salt Lake is crucial to our environment, ecology, and economy, and we must do everything we can to protect it,” the governor said in a written statement.

“We’ve been blessed with a significant snowpack so far this winter, and this executive order will allow the state to move quickly to increase the lake level in the south arm by capturing spring runoff. We don’t want to miss this opportunity to safeguard the lake.”

However, there’s an elephant in the room that the governor and other public officials are trying to ignore. While the governor is happy to report “significant snowpack so far this winter,” the reality is that Utah has been getting less moisture for years and often experiences drought conditions.

“Utah is a semi-arid state, and its water future is one of the most significant challenges facing us today,” according to the Utah Department of Natural Resources. “It is our belief that we will meet the future water needs through a combination of multifaceted solutions that include conservation, efficiency, optimization, agriculture conversion, and water development.”

The key word here is efficiency. Using water efficiently refers to installing low-water-using fixtures and mechanicals that use less water or no water at all compared to traditional ones. The perfect example is waterless urinals, now being installed in Utah and around the country.

Today, we are seeing virtually every manufacturer of water-using products, whether for the home or industry, develop systems that use less water.

This tells me that our future water challenges can be addressed, and water efficiency is the answer.

Why Were These Housing Developments Stopped?

Two states that have grown dramatically in population since the beginning of the pandemic are Arizona and New Mexico. But today, an unexpected brake is being applied to this growth. New growth typically means new housing, and in both states, there is not enough water to support all the new housing currently under development or planned.

 A perfect example is the Teravalis planned community near Phoenix. Planned by the Howard Hughes Corporation to great fanfare, the blueprint calls for building 100,000 homes and 55 million square feet of commercial space. Three hundred thousand people will live in the development, and 450,000 will work there.

Jay Cross, Hughes corporation’s president, assured local business and political leaders that Teravalis “will provide an exceptional quality of life and opportunities for growth.”

While the development has continued, it is facing an array of new challenges it did not expect when it was initially proposed. For instance, Arizona groundwater — where the state gets most of its water — is falling so fast that thousands of wells around the state are already bone dry.

This lack of groundwater has caused another significant housing development, this one in Pinal County, Arizona, also near Phoenix, to halt construction.

According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, there is insufficient water to support the development because groundwater pumping has exceeded the supply. Making matters worse, the department is unsure if or when there will be enough water for the development to continue.

New Mexico is in the same boat if we can use that term when discussing such arid conditions. One project, Campbell Ranch, proposed building 4,000 homes, a commercial center, and two golf courses governing 8,000 acres.

However, state engineers said the development would require about 400 million to 500 million gallons of groundwater annually. The water is just not there. “It’s fundamental; [you] can’t build that development without water,” said Kathy Freas, a co-founder of a citizens’ group opposed to the Campbell Ranch plan.

Another development, Santolina, was a 14,000-acre development proposed in 2014. In this case, parts of the development have been under construction.

But construction has slowed as the developer looks for more water and new ways to reduce water consumption if and when the development is ever completed. Still, recent reports that it will need 7.3 billion gallons of water per year to serve its projected 90,000 residents have resulted in highly active public opposition.

So, will these two housing developments in New Mexico ever be completed? The first one, Campbell Ranch, looks dead in the water — if there ever was any water. The developers of Santolina are still looking at their options.

As to Teravalis, Arizona has approved a $1 billion, three-year program to secure water supplies for the entire state. But this is considered a drop in the bucket. “Teravalis will be in the making for 50 years, maybe 70 years, until buildout,” says Greg Vogel, CEO of Land Advisors, a development consultancy. “[That’s when] they’ll have enough water.”

 So what’s the answer to these and similar situations around the country? It’s the same thing other states and communities around the world are doing. They are finding ways to use water more efficiently, which is the only way to reduce consumption and the amount of groundwater being pumped out of the earth.

 Arizona has been a leader in this movement. For instance, the state requires the installation of waterless urinals, saving millions of gallons of water each year. But even with these steps, the problem both Arizona and New Mexico are facing is that they are growing faster than they have water, and there are few options. These new mega-developments will have to be placed on hold until things are balanced out.

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

Are We Out of the Woods Yet?

California has recently experienced nothing less than a deluge of rain as January 2023 now goes on record as one of the wettest in 25 years.

This is true in other parts of the west as well. These storms have been fueled by atmospheric rivers – a band of moisture that can flow for thousands of miles. 

In this case, it started near Hawaii and has found its way to the West Coast.

“Atmospheric rivers are not new,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc., makers of no-water urinals.

“But with climate change, they now produce staggering amounts of precipitation in a shorter amount of time.”

So, does this mean California’s drought, along with the droughts in many other

western states, is over? Not so fast, says Reichardt.

For California, drought conditions have lessened, but they are not over. 

“We will need much more rainfall to get out of the drought.”

Furthermore, drought conditions extend far beyond California. According to

Drought.gov, as of January 17, 2023, 44 percent of the lower 48 states are in varying degrees of drought.

The site also points out the following:

• More than 276 million acres of crops in the U.S. are experiencing drought conditions.

• Eighty-one million people in the lower 48 states are being affected by drought conditions.

• Thirty-three states are experiencing Moderate Drought (D1) conditions. Moderate Drought means streams, reservoirs, and wells are below average, and voluntary water-use restrictions are in place.

• Some areas of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska are in Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions, the driest category, requiring more drastic water restrictions.

“While all the rainfall is getting the media attention, what is probably more important news is that we are slowly becoming more water efficient,” adds Richardt. 

“These water efficiency improvements may involve just installing waterless urinals, but when combined with other projects, they are helping us become much more resilient to drought.”

### 

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 nearly 31-year-old company is the oldest manufacturer of waterless urinals in North America. The company offers a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning liquids, and cost saving accessories. Visit: www.waterless.com 

Waterless Co. Inc.

1050 Joshua Way

Vista, CA 92081 USA

800.244.6364

sales@waterless.com

What Artificial Intelligence Says about Waterless Urinals

We asked one of these new artificial intelligence writing systems to tell us what they know about waterless urinals. We gave it the keywords "waterless urinals," “waterless urinals and water use” “waterless urinals and hygiene,” and the system went to work, magically making content.

Below, verbatim is that magical content:

 Hygiene

Waterless urinals are an excellent way to improve hygiene in a restroom.

They do not need to be touched, and the urine does not have to be flushed, so germs have less opportunity to spread.

If there's no flushing involved, you won't have to worry about splashback, which can happen when someone doesn't aim correctly. And if there is less splatter, then that means fewer chances for germs to spread.

This also makes it easier for surfaces to remain clean.

All you have to do is aim, and the urinal takes care of the rest. Just wash your hands normally when you're done.

 Sanitation

Waterless urinals are a great choice for anyone who wants to minimize the spread of germs in their bathroom. Although you may think that flushing is an important part of keeping things clean, in fact, it's not.

Flushing often causes splatter, which can get onto your hands or shoes when you walk away from the urinal.

The health benefits of waterless urinals go beyond just reducing the number of bacteria in the air around you—they also help minimize restroom odors.

If you're looking to improve the sanitation of your bathroom or restroom, waterless urinals are the way to go.

Water Use Reduction

Waterless urinals have been shown to reduce water usage by up to 80%! [NOTE: This is the AI system talking. While water consumption is reduced significantly, we cannot confirm this number]. They have been shown to save thousands of gallons of water per urinal.

Waterless urinals can reduce your monthly water bill by up to 50%! [NOTE: Again, this is the AI system talking. We cannot confirm this number.]

Waterless urinals are a great way to save money and water. In fact, they are so effective at saving water, just one urinal will save about $50 per year [on your water utility bill].

 Installation

They can be installed in almost any location, from public restrooms to private homes.  They are easy to install and can be used with existing plumbing systems.

The installation process takes about two hours, but this time can be reduced if you have someone helping you. The first step is to remove the existing urinal and then install the waterless urinal using the instructions provided by your manufacturer.

 How It Works

A waterless urinal uses an engineered trap system that collects liquid but does not release it until it reaches a certain level in the bowl. Any liquid entering the bowl is captured and stored for later disposal instead of being flushed down the drain each time someone uses the restroom.

 Are the Future

Waterless urinals are the future of hygiene.

Urinal users need to know they can improve their hygiene by using waterless urinals. Waterless urinals are designed without flushing mechanisms and [do not need] any contact with human hands. When you use a waterless urinal, you never have to touch anything.

So, if you're looking for ways to improve your hygiene at work or at home, consider installing a waterless urinal!

Our Takeaway

Well, that’s what the AI system told us. For the most part, we agree with everything it says, even if it is a bit repetitive. In fact, in some ways, we could not have said it better.

Waterless Co., Inc. Pioneers in Water Efficiency

Waterless Urinals: The Advantages and Disadvantages

A Texas school district was considering installing waterless urinals in their schools. Before making any decisions, they hired a local engineering firm to review the advantages and disadvantages of installing these urinals.

Here is what the engineering company reported:

Advantages

Water Savings. Billions of gallons of water are used daily in the U.S. to flush toilets and urinals. Newer urinals use about one gallon of water per flush have been introduced. However, this still adds to the billions of gallons of water flushed into sewers from restrooms each day. Plus, many schools still have older urinals installed that use as much as three to five gallons of water per flush. Replacing these urinals with waterless urinals that use no water can save billions of gallons of water annually.

Low Maintenance. The report indicates that some no-water urinal manufacturers report drain lines from waterless urinals are less susceptible to clogging because there is no mixture of water and urine, which causes encrustation in pipes that can lead to clogging. Further, because they have no flush valves, there are no valve tampering or repair issues, a big concern in schools and restaurants. The report does suggest "occasional flushing with a few gallons of water" to keep the drain lines clean.

Improved Hygiene. The conventional urinals' water gives germs the environment they need to grow. Because the waterless urinal stays dry between uses, it becomes an inhospitable environment for bacteria and viruses to grow. (Note: This became one of the key selling points of waterless urinals during the pandemic because the pathogen that causes COVID is found in urine and can become airborne and inhaled with urinal use). Also, because there is no flush handle, there is no need to touch the urinal, reducing the spread of communicable diseases.

Environmentally Friendly. There are several ways waterless urinals contribute positively to the environment. First, they use no water, saving billions of gallons per year. They also reduce the amount of water delivered, removed, and treated as wastewater. This saves energy. Cities need massive amounts of energy to pump, deliver, and treat wastewater. Further, they can help facilities earn LEED credits due to water reduction.

Disadvantages

Retrofits. While most waterless urinals are designed with the same footprint as traditional urinals, it still is necessary to cap the water supply lines that feed the urinals they are replacing. Plus, some remodeling may be required to lower the drain lines to bring the waterless urinals to proper mounting heights.  But this is not true in most cases and typically depends on the type of waterless urinal selected.

Rebates: At this time, not all water districts offer tax rebates for waterless urinals even though they may do so for high-efficient toilets. However, as water rates keep climbing and more areas of the country are impacted by drought conditions, they may offer rebates to help encourage and reduce consumption along with consumer costs.

Report Conclusion:

Waterless urinals offer a viable alternative to conventional flush-type urinals. Potential advantages – improved hygiene, water savings, reduced maintenance, and environmental friendliness – warrant this conclusion.

Further, they determined:

Widespread use of waterless urinals can produce a domino effect of conservation. Since no water is required, water utilities will not need to treat and pump as much water. Also, the absence of flushing means less wastewater is generated, requiring treatment. Smaller quantities of water pumped leads to energy savings. Therefore, water is conserved, as are resources needed to generate electricity.

How Often Should You Replace Urinals?

Do Your Urinals Look Like This? If So, Read This.

Most people only think about changing or updating their urinals once they have problems with their existing urinals. Or they already update and retrofit their existing restrooms frequently enough that the issue never comes to light.

Either way, here is what we need to know: view old urinals like old cars. The longer you have them and keep driving them, the more likely they will have problems.

And just like an old car may break down at the worst opportune time, don’t be surprised if an old urinal does the same, breaking down at a time when the restroom is being heavily used. This happens at sporting events all the time.

Urinals, based on federal standards, have a 25-year life cycle based on required flush volume. However, in recent years, reduced flush volume mandates have been introduced three times. All retrofits must adhere to the new standards.  

A lightly used urinal may last even longer. However, the key concern with older urinals is that they typically use a lot of water per flush, potentially more than they were designed to use. This tells us that the cost of owning the older urinal may become an issue due to increasing water rates around the country.

The size of the urinal can also be a factor in its longevity. Traditionally sized urinals tend to be easier to replace. Many urinals are now available that will comfortably “fit” where the old urinal was installed.

Larger urinals, on the other hand, may be harder to replace, making the process more complicated and costly. As a result, many building owners and managers tend to keep these larger urinals as long as they can even if, as mentioned earlier, the cost of ownership is continually increasing.

Then there are the “old school” full-stall or full-length urinals like in the picture above. These are urinals that reach and are supported by the floor. You still find these in older schools, libraries, and church facilities. Typically, these urinals remain in place for years for one key reason: removing them would require significant restroom retrofitting and construction.

Building owners or managers nurse full stall/full length urinals along, making repairs as needed, and waiting until they have the funds to renovate the entire restroom before replacing these old dinosaurs - I mean urinals.  

This tells us how long urinals typically last and why some building owners hang on to them. But there are usually four factors at play when it comes to deciding when to replace a urinal.  These are the following:

Chips and cracks. With older water using urinals, chips and cracks can build up in the water disbursement rims.  This can cause germs and bacteria to build in the rims, which can cause odors to be released. This can be unsightly as well as unhealthy.

Flush valves. These need constant care and attention, especially in areas of the country that have hard water. Hard water can clog up flush valves.  One Florida plumber said he was called frequently to fix the flush valves on the old school full-length urinals installed in a church. Over time, the flushing system on these urinals would break down, and the water would run continuously, non-stop. After so many visits, the church decided it would be less costly to retrofit the entire restroom than call the plumber so often.

Hygiene concerns. This has always been a concern, but these concerns mounted during the pandemic. The problem is that older water using urinals release aerated droplets as they are used.  If these droplets are contaminated, they can become airborne and potentially spread disease.

Water Efficiency. Many building owners and managers are now concluding that using 35,000 gallons of water per year with a traditional urinal is not an efficient way to use water. What typically happens is they replace these water-hungry urinals with waterless urinals. 

Water consumption is reduced, there are no flush valves to repair, no aerated droplets, and water utility bills are reduced. Overall, a win-win-win situation.