Water-Using Urinals and The Plume Factor

Airborne Bacteria - CDC

Plume, and its danger to human health, came to light during the pandemic. However, it's something we have known about for years. However, even though we have been aware of this, little if anything has ever been done about it. Fortunatley, it has garnered more interest and concern since the end of the pandemic.

So, we are all on the same page, plume is the release of microscopic contaminants when a toilet is flushed. As these transmissions become aerosolized and airborne, they can be inhaled or coat nearby surfaces – including clothing - that later can be touched.  When this happens, it can start the spread of cross contamination.

As just referenced, typically when we talk about plume, we are referring to toilets. But now we know the problem exists with water-using urinals and can be just as bad. Further, we now also understand that the situation can be made even worse due to COVID and other viruses. This is because we have learned that coronavirus and many other viruses are found in urine, which can also be aerosolized. 

"Flushing will lift the virus up from the toilet bowl," says Ji-Xiang Wang, who researches fluids at Yangzhou University in Yangzhou, China. "Bathroom users need to close the lid first and then trigger the flushing process."

Wang gives us a solution – close the lid - however, this solution is not available in most public facilities in the U.S. Lids were removed from toilets decades ago. Doing so reduced the toilets' costs and made for one less thing to be cleaned in a public restroom. So, one redesign solution for healthier and safer restrooms in the future is for toilet manufacturers to re-introduce lids on their products. 

Another is full-length doors and partitions. Typically, doors and partitions enclosing toilet stalls leave a foot or two of space at the bottom and another couple of feet at the top. To prevent the plume from traveling beyond the toilet, these coverings must enclose the entire stall, top to bottom.

As we mentioned, with water-using urinals, this situation can be even worse. Today, there is rarely a divider between urinals. And if there is one, it is typically only three or four feet long and required to extend six inches beyond the front of the urinal. 

This is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. That's hardly large enough to prevent plume from becoming airborne and being inhaled by nearby urinal users.

Most observers now Believe we have two key options to prevent water-using urinal plume from spreading in a public restroom: 

1. Enclose the urinals into separate, totally enclosed stalls, just like toilets mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, this increases costs and often requires more space. When it comes to restrooms, we must think like a developer.  Restrooms do not make money for building owners so they are often kept as small as possible. 

2. The other option is to transfer to waterless urinals. Because there is no flushing, plume is not an issue with waterless urinals. Further, because waterless urinals are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, many building owners and managers now believe this is their best option.

This is because, waterless urinals meet all their concerns: helping to make restrooms cleaner and healthier, prevent plume, and keeping costs down.

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

Ten Quotes About the Importance of Water

1.   "If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in water." Loren Eisley, American Anthropologist

2.   "Water is the driving force of all nature." Leonardo Da Vinci

3.   "We forget that water and life cycles are one." Jacques Cousteau. Oceanographer

4.   "A river seems like a magical thing. A magical, moving, living part of the very earth itself." ― Laura Gilpin, American Photographer

5.   "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." — W. H. Auden, Poet.

6.   "Time to care before streams are bare." The Dharma Trails, Inspiration, and Awareness

7.   "Pure water is the world's first and foremost medicine." Slovakian Proverb

8.   "When the well is dry, we know the value of water. Benjamin Franklin

9.   "Water is life, and clean water means health." Audrey Hepburn

10.                "Water is life. No Blue, No Green." Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer

 Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

Addressing Potty Parity | The Conclusions Might Encourage You to "Hold It"

We've all seen this. It's intermission at a theater, and lines are formed to use the restrooms. And then we take note: the line for the men's room typically moves fast and is rarely all that long. However, the line for the ladies' room moves slowly, sometimes very slowly, and stretches for what seems forever.

This is called potty parity and there are documented reasons for this.

For instance, a study published in December 2021 by the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, says one problem is that women tend to linger longer in restrooms. "Linger" is the key word here.

The study says they tend to chitchat more, spend time applying makeup, look in the mirror, and adjust their gowns. This all takes time. Men don't do this – or at least not as much. They tend to get out of the restroom as quickly as possible, making this one reason why women must wait in line 34 times longer than men.

Then there is a much more practical reason. Men can go right up to a urinal and do their business. In contrast, according to another study, women must open the stall door, close it, and then repeat the process when leaving.

Further, researchers at Ghent University in Belgium say that due to the pandemic, they often grab paper to wipe down all touchable surfaces in the stall, including the door handle, upon entering and exiting. "This results in an average (extra amount of) time spent at the toilet of 1 minute and 30 seconds for women."

Then, a third reason contributes to the long wait for women. Communities throughout North America require a set number of gender-segregated restrooms in a building based on the size of the building or its use. However, many of these gender-segregated restrooms are the same size. Toilets take up more space than urinals, which means there are invariably more urinals in a men's room than toilets in a ladies’ room.

In one example provided by Ghent University, a women's restroom had ten toilet stalls. However, the men's restroom directly across the hall has two toilet stalls, but twelve urinals in the same-sized restroom. Because most men do their business standing up, it's easy to see why their line is smaller and moves faster. In fact, they timed it. Men typically waited 40 seconds to use the restroom in this example, whereas women waited two minutes and eight seconds.

Based on these studies, both universities have produced different layouts that could be used in ladies' restrooms to reduce waiting times. The gist of these layouts is that for every toilet in a men's room, there should be 1.5 to 2 toilets in a ladies' room. However, restroom size constraints continue to be a problem.

So, what is the answer to potty parity? Here is what Ghent University concluded:

The holy grail is to use unisex toilets (allowing men and women to use the same restroom). In these mixed toilets layouts, the toilet cabins are available for both sexes and optionally complemented with extra urinals for the men. As sharing the toilet capacity across sexes is more efficient, the average waiting time decreases.

Rotman University agreed, concluding that unisex restrooms enhance potty parity wait times and even increase users' feelings of safety.

All interesting, but where do waterless urinals fit into the picture?

They will not speed up wait times, whether installed in a traditional men's room or unisex restroom, but they will make the restroom cleaner and more hygienic. Let's remember. Water-using urinals release aerosol plumes. These droplets spread pathogens from human waste, including contagious diseases. Because waterless urinals do not use water, plume is not an issue.

Looking for ways to make restrooms cleaner and more efficient? Click Here

Should You Install a Home Urinal?

A Los Angeles journalist faced a dilemma. After purchasing a home in 2007, he realized it needed a new bathroom. While contemplating how he wanted the bathroom to look and what materials and fixtures he wanted to install, it occurred to him that one of his dreams had always been to have a urinal in his master bath.

 The contractor was more than happy to install one. However, a very successful real estate broker next door said that installing a home urinal was “absolutely” the wrong thing to do. It seems that for most people, urinals conjure up all kinds of unsanitary images. Ultimately, the journalist decided to let this dream go unfulfilled.

 At about the same time, a woman in Ontario, Canada, told her designer that she wanted a home urinal installed in her new master bedroom, believing it would help keep the bathroom cleaner and more sanitary. “My husband’s aim isn’t that good,” she said. “So, it seems like a good solution.”

 Overcoming Home Urinal Barriers

It’s true that many people, men as well as women, find the thought of installing a home urinal a bit grungy. It is not uncommon to find unsightly and unsanitary urinals in truck stops, gas stations, schools, sports arenas, and scores of other locations.

 However, builders of high-end homes and apartments have found that today's consumers are more receptive to home urinals, often because they have seen elegant versions in luxury and boutique hotels.

 Further, architects and designers report that in recent years, clients have been requesting home urinals more frequently. For example, Fenwick Bonnell (of Powell & Bonnell, a design firm in Toronto) reports that his company completed a recent renovation that included his-and-her bathrooms with a bidet for the lady and a urinal for the gentleman.

 At another home, this one in Plano, Texas, a $3-million entertainment wing was added that included a urinal at the request of the homeowner. The addition’s designer, Ashley Astleford, said she was not surprised at the request because home urinals have become more common in recent years.

 Cost and Installation Issues

Home urinals such as the upscale and stylish models described earlier typically range in price from $300 to $650 for waterless urinals. Water using urinals can range from $900 to $1,300 due to increased installation costs and flush mechanisms.  

Waterless urinals tend to be less expensive to purchase and install because they have fewer plumbing requirements and do not need flush mechanisms, which can be costly.

 Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., says that there are currently about 9 million urinals installed in the U.S., with about 260,000 new urinals installed annually. Although there are no exact figures, Reichardt's best guess would be that about 2 percent of U.S. homes currently have home urinals installed.

 Go Ahead … Use My (Home) Urinal

Although no designer or home urinal manufacturer is predicting that home urinals will soon be found in all new homes or renovations, most agree that they will be increasingly in demand.

 Some designers even recommend a home urinal for families with several boys, indicating it just makes sense to have one. Either way, homeowners considering the installation of a home urinal should do their homework and investigate the options, models, makes, and costs involved in such a decision, including any ongoing costs for traps/cylinders in the case of a no-water urinal. Some people may be surprised to find that a home urinal is just what they are looking for.

 Home urinals are one of our specialties. To learn more about them, contact us here.

Prompts Have Power - at least in public restrooms

Over the years, “prompts” have proven to help change behaviors. Prompts are typically signs, for instance, in restrooms, to remind users to wash their hands. Most of us get a prompt every time we get in our cars. A light and chime come on, prompting us to fasten our seat belts.

Ten years ago, a study, “The Use of Visual Prompts to Increase the Cleanliness of Restrooms on a College Campus,” was conducted to see if prompts could change men’s behaviors in public restrooms and help keep restrooms cleaner and more sanitary. Although the study was done a decade ago, its findings are still relevant today.

Here’s how the study was run. Men’s rooms on two separate floors — floor one and floor two — in a university building were used. A men’s room on the third floor was also included, but as a control setting. A controlled setting is used in research to help eliminate uncertainties.

As to what the researchers were looking for: urine, or more specifically, urine on a tile floor. Here’s how they did it:

At the end of each day, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., two observers independently assessed the floor tiles in each of the restrooms. A corresponding square on a datasheet was crossed off for each floor tile with urine on it. The amount of urine on a tile was not quantified; as long as there was any evidence of any amount of urine on a tile, the box was crossed off. Furthermore, the difference between urine and water was ascertained by the translucent visual properties of the former. Also, water evaporated without leaving a mark, while urine resulted in a reflective stain on the floor tiles.

The study on floor one continued for 38 consecutive days. On the other two floors, it ran for 51 days. All floors had considerable amounts of urine on the floor tiles, especially near the urinals.

To address this, the researcher used the following prompts:

•        In the restroom on floor one, a sign was posted between two urinals that read, “For Pete’s Sake, Gentlemen,” and was printed in black, 50-point type. The second line of text read, “Please Stand Closer,” referring to the urinals and printed in red, 64-point type.

•        In the floor two restroom, another prompt was placed at the bottom of the urinal. This prompt depicted a black, circular “bullseye” that was 6.4 cm in height. This prompt also included textual feedback in the form of a heat-activated message that read, “Help the Cleaners. Please Aim Straight.”

•        No signs or prompts were used in the control restroom.

Drum Roll: The Results

The prompts worked. The introduction of the sign, “For Pete’s Sake, Gentlemen,” resulted in a 37.7 percent reduction in urine found on the floor tiles. The “bullseye” prompts were effective as well, just not as effective, resulting in a 24 percent reduction in urine on the restroom floor tiles.

But there’s more. The custodial workers were very happy. While they still had to clean the restroom floors each day, less urine on the floor reduced the amount of urine tracked onto nearby hallways. This made their job easier and helped keep the facility cleaner and healthier.

This study reminds us of the introduction of waterless urinals back in the early 1990s. In those days, men were baffled. How do you use this thing? Where’s the flush valve? The funny thing was, there was nothing for them to do but use the urinal and walk away. We had signs — prompts — indicating this, and the issue soon disappeared. Our conclusion: Prompts work.

Unraveling an Odor Mystery From The Ground Up

Recently, we received the following email from the head of maintenance in a Midwest school district:

Hello,

We’ve been having a heck of a time tracking down and ending sewer gas odors being released in one of our largest schools. We’ve checked just about everywhere. Some of my maintenance staff checked the basement and even crawled into the crawl space below the school. We could not find the source. With Spring Break fast approaching, we want to take care of this before the school reopens. Do you have any suggestions?

My replay is below:

First, I want to say that I am not a plumber; if the problem continues, it may be necessary to call one. But before you do that, consider the following:

Determine if the odors are more prevalent in one area of the building. The plumbing system for a large school can be extremely complicated. Pinpointing where the odors are most prevalent gives us a particularly good starting point.

Next, check to see if there is any floor settling in this problem area. If there is, and it’s a concrete floor, the odors may be coming through the cracks. Also, if there is settling, the floor or the concrete could be pressing against the pipes below. Possibly it has loosened pipe joints and fittings. Pay particular attention to pipes delivering water away from the building to the sewer. Ask your maintenance staff to check the basement and crawl space once again, explicitly looking for settling concrete that might be damaging pipes.

Similarly, check the pipe fittings to drains in the problem area. If lose, these could allow odors to be released. Along with double-checking for water leaks every year, it’s always a good idea to check that the joints are tight as well.

Have you checked the vents atop the school? All plumbing systems require air vents to be installed on the roof of the building. The vent may be covered with debris over the winter months. Plumbers tell us these vents can be blocked for assorted reasons, including wasps and other insects building a home in them.

If the problem persists, and before you call the plumber, I have one more suggestion: EverPrime. Every drainpipe has a “P” or “J” trap below the drain. Here’s what could be happening. 

This trap retains water, preventing sewer odors from being released into the building.  However, this water can evaporate, and if it is not replenished - meaning no additional water is poured or enters the trap- it allows odors to escape. We see this all the time in school because they are often closed for prolonged periods of time. Check the area that is the key source of the problem. If it is in a room or area of the school that is rarely mopped or the sinks are seldom used, this could be the problem.

Everprime will block the odors, potentially indefinitely. I suggest pouring about a gallon of water down the drains first, then adding about three ounces of EverPrime into each drain. Give it a couple of days and see if this solves the problem. If it does, the school district just saved a lot of plumbing bills, and your schools should open after the Spring break odor free.

From Grainger: Thougths About Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals have grown in popularity in recent decades, especially as more businesses, facilities, and individuals continue to look for more ways to cut their budgets and go green. Installing waterless urinals in office buildings, industrial facilities and highly trafficked public places can offer several advantages. 

Efficiency. According to the EPA, a typical office building that replaces its fixtures with highly efficient waterless urinals can save 26,000 gallons of water per year or more. Further, they can enjoy:

Cleaner air. Conventional toilets and urinals contain water that can harbor disease-causing bacteria to be released into the air and onto surfaces when flushed.Waterless urinals, on the other hand, have no flushing action and are designed to dry out between uses, so they can't release contamination in this way.

Hand hygiene. With no handles or buttons, waterless urinals are entirely touch-free, helping reduce the opportunity for cross-contamination.

More predictable maintenance. Waterless urinals require regular maintenance—changing cartridges or topping up the sealant at specific intervals, for example. However, the lack of a flush valve and the rarity of clogs and overflow can simplify maintenance tasks.

Things to Consider Before Installing Waterless Urinals

When planning a waterless urinal installation, there are several things to keep in mind, including cleaning procedures, rebate opportunities and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Retrofitting and ADA Compliance

No-flush urinals can be installed virtually anywhere a conventional variety would be used. However, if you're retrofitting an older facility, it's also worth keeping in mind that in restrooms with two or more urinals, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires at least one to have a rim no higher than 17 inches from the ground.

Connecting a Waterless Urinal

Although waterless urinals don't use water to flush, they still require a drain connection. Waterless urinals usually fit standard 2-inch drainage lines or can be adapted to fit 1.5-inch lines. However, FacilitiesNet recommends not installing waterless urinals if the building's drain and vent system uses copper pipes.

Without the dilution of flushing water, concentrated urine can react with copper, leading to pitting and corrosion. Checking that drain lines comply with plumbing code standards and slope enough to push waste through without water flushing is also recommended. Manufacturers also typically recommend that waterless urinals not be installed on unvented (not to code) drain lines, and it's important to snake the drain line to eliminate any clogs before installation.

Cartridge Life and Cost

When choosing a waterless urinal, you may want to check for details on cartridge life, cost and compatibility. Although the maintenance procedures are similar on most waterless urinals, the cost of the replacement parts can vary. 

Maintenance and Cleaning

Before installing waterless urinals throughout a facility, it's a good idea to train cleaning personnel on proper maintenance techniques. Generally, the interior and the exterior areas of the waterless urinal can be cleaned and disinfected using a spray cleaner and cleaning cloth. Some manufacturers have developed their own cleaning products designed to be used specifically with waterless units.

Manufacturers advise against any cleaning process that uses a large amount of water, because this can disrupt the liquid seal in the cartridge and lead to clogs in the drain line.

Rebates and Local Incentives

Learn more on the Grainger Website

Sealants, Traps, and Cartridges – Oh, My

At first glance, most no-water urinals look exactly like traditional, water-using urinals. However, a closer inspection shows they have two significant differences.

First, a conventional urinal has a flush valve – manually operated or automatic – at the top of the urinal. Waterless urinals do not because, as the name implies, they do not use water.

The second difference is when we glance at the bottom of the urinal bowl, a regular urinal may have a urinal screen installed. A waterless urinal has a trap or cartridge. This is a critical component of a waterless urinal; something similar is found in almost all no-water urinals.  

The trap/cartridges are designed to keep sewer odors from being released into the restroom. However, because they play such an important role in ensuring the no-water urinal is operating properly, we should know a few more things about the trap/cartridges. For instance, it is filled with a sealant.  To explain what a sealant is and the many roles it plays, let’s dig a bit deeper.

What exactly is a sealant?

The sealant is an oily, biodegradable liquid, which is lighter than urine, so it floats in the cartridge.

Why do the traps/cartridges need to be filled with a sealant?

The sealant helps seal away trap odors. About three ounces is all that is needed and can last several months.

What is the actual trap/cartridges made of?

They are made of various plastics. Some are recyclable, some are not.

Are all the traps/cartridges the same in no-water urinals?

They may vary in design, but perform, in principle, the same task. Most do require the use of a sealant. NOTE: While the different traps/cartridges are similar in functionality, it is important to only use the trap/cartridges designed for your waterless urinal.

Do they have to be changed?

Yes, they do need to be changed. Equate the trap cartridge with an air filter. Over time, soil builds up and it can clog. Therefore, it needs to be changed. As to frequency, building owners and managers need to know that some traps need to be changed – the old trap removed, and the new trap installed - more frequently than others. It all depends on the trap’s design.

Making matters worse, the ones that need to be changed the most frequently tend to be the costliest. It’s easy to compare the lifespans. While the exact lifespan of the trap can vary, the manufacturer will likely suggest how often to change the trap. Also, compare cartridge costs as there are vast differences, which of course make a budget difference over time.

How do you replace them?

It’s easy and should take less than 10 minutes. 

Here are the five simple steps:

1.    For standard cleaning procedure, put on a pair of nylon or rubber gloves per OSHA regulations.

2.    Grab the tool that the manufacturer provided for removing the trap. 

3.    Use the tool to remove the trap. It may start dripping once removed, so have a trash bag or bucket handy.

4.    Install the new trap, add some water for the sealant to float on, and fill it with the recommended amount of sealant, about three ounces.

5.    If necessary, clean the area in the urinal where the trap was sitting.

Are there some troubleshooting things we should know about sealants, traps, and cartridges?

Urinal odors:  Add 3 oz of sealant into the trap/cartridges.

Debris in the trap/cartridges: Just remove it. Debris should not damage the trap/cartridges.

Water was poured down the trap: There should be no reason to ever pour water into the trap/cartridges. However, if water has been poured in, it possibly flushed the sealant out.  Add more sealant.

The urine is not draining through the trap cartridges:  This simply means the cartridge is full and needs to be exchanged.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

Understanding the Difference Between Water Efficiency and Water Conservation

Video: Understanding the Difference Between Water Efficiency and Water Conservation.

These two terms are often used interchangeably, as if they mean the same thing.

In this short, two-minute video, Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Company, Inc., clarifies the difference between these two terms.

How To Use a Public Restroom Safely in 2023

During the pandemic, we learned several good restroom habits that kept us healthy.

However, public health officials are concerned that many of these protective measures are now being tossed out the window.

“Even when restroom surfaces look clean, they may be little more than a Petri dish,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc. marketers of no-water urinals. “With so many surfaces, counters, knobs, and handles in public restrooms, it’s hard not to come in contact with surface contaminants.”

Making matters worse, toilet and urinal plume – the releasing of germs and bacteria into the air when toilets or urinals are flushed –continually adds germs and bacteria on to surfaces. While not a concern when no-water urinals are installed, most all toilets release plumes.

To help protect ourselves, Reichardt suggests we do the following:

Cover your Hands

Don’t be shy about gathering a paper towel when you enter a public restroom. Use it to cover your hands, so you don’t touch any restroom surfaces or fixtures.

The Quicker, the Better

Be quick. Do what needs to be done, wash your hands, and be out the door as soon as possible. The longer you linger in a restroom, the more chances you encounter pathogens.

Wear a Mask

Wearing a mask in a public restroom is optional, but still a good idea. Not only is toilet plume a problem, but when people gather in public restrooms, they are more likely to sneeze and cough, potentially spreading germs.

Stay Off Your Phone

A Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease study found that mobile phones are a hotbed for bacteria, viruses, and fungi. One key reason: they are used while people are using the toilet. 1

Don’t Ditch the Paper Towel

Instead of tossing used paper towels, use them when you exit the restroom.

“Finally, see something, say something,” adds Reichardt. “If the restroom needs cleaning attention, tell someone in charge. What you are doing is helping to keep others healthy.”

###

1.    Mobile phones represent a pathway for microbial transmission: A scoping review

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 33-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