Problems with Water-Using Urinals

As buildings slowly open around the country, building owners and facility managers are discovering several problems with traditional – water-using - urinals. Invariably, these problems are significant enough that a plumber must be called in to fix them.

Lack of use during the pandemic is the root cause of many of these issues – but not always.  Others are more common problems that frequently occur with traditional urinals. 

So, what are some of these common problems? Let’s take a look.

Clogged Drain Walls

Water in a traditional urinal is released from small holes located at the top of the urinal. These holes can become clogged by calcium build-up. They can also become clogged due to other minerals in the water. This is especially true in regions of the country where the water is hard. What typically happens when these holes clog is the flow is reduced. In most cases, a plumber must be called in to clear the holes. If ignored, the situation can worsen, little if any water will be released, and bacteria can build up in the urinal, potentially causing odors.

Unpleasant Odors

If there is a drain blockage - indicated by the urinal draining more slowly than usual - this could cause water to pour onto the restroom floor and allow odors to be released. This is especially true of older urinals and older plumbing. While solutions can be poured down the drain to help eliminate the blockage, a plumber usually must come in with a router to address the issue.

Water Leaks

Water leaks from urinals can be serious. Typically, the leaking water ends up on the floor. The tile and grout floors in most public restrooms can become very slippery when this happens. These floors have smooth surfaces with little or no traction to help prevent falls. The leaks typically come from pipes connected to the flush mechanism at the top of the urinal or base, where water is drained away. We should mention one more problem: when water leaks, water bills rise. Even one small leak can result in dozens of gallons of water wasted every month.

Low Water Pressure

Guess what happens when water leaks come from several urinals and other water-using devices and fixtures? These leaks may result in not having enough water available to flush waste in urinals and toilets. It’s just one more reason leaks should always be fixed as soon as possible. Leaks can lower water pressure for the entire building.

Changes in Water Color

Sometimes, when flushing a urinal, the water looks discolored. Often this discoloration is caused by rust. The pipes leading to the urinal can become corroded over time, and this causes the water to have a dark or unusual color. The rust can stain the urinal and cause unusual odors. These rust stains can usually be removed, but it takes time and special cleaning solutions and tools to do the job. Typically, what needs to be done is replace the rusty pipes delivering water to the urinal, which can be a costly procedure.

So, why are we discussing all these issues?

First, and again due to the pandemic, more buildings are experiencing urinal-related problems. But there is another reason. Virtually every issue discussed here does not occur when no water or waterless urinals are installed. No pipes are needed to deliver water to waterless urinals, so rust stains are not an issue. There are no changes in water color because no water is used with waterless urinals. No odors and no clogs.

And one more thing. With these problems eliminated and waterless urinals installed, no longer a need to keep the plumber on speed dial - a significant cost savings.

It Was the Floor Drains That Were Guilty

Almost twenty years ago, the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, was reported. The victim was a 48-year-old Chinese businessman traveling through Hong Kong. 

Surprisingly quickly, the disease spread to many other parts of Asia and other parts of the world. Even North America was impacted. The first recognized North American case of SARS occurred in Toronto when a woman who had just returned from Hong Kong fell ill from the virus on February 23, 2003.  

In a short period, 257 people living in the greater Toronto area also came down with the disease, and public health officials suspect the transmission may have started with this first victim. This is because many of the SARS victims were patients, visitors, and healthcare workers in Toronto-area hospitals, which, due to lack of information, awareness, or neglect, had not adopted measures to stop the transmission.

About 8,000 people were stricken with the disease during this outbreak, and about 775 died from it.

At first, it was not clear how SARS was being spread. Very often, diseases are transferred by cross-contamination: the virus is living on something or someone and then transfers to something or someone else. Public health officials initially believed this was how SARS was spreading. However, in time researchers discovered that the primary way SARS spread was through airborne transmission.

SARS and the Amoy Gardens Apartments 

In September 2003, the World Health Organization published some of its first studies on SARS and found that SARS likely started in China. It found its way to Hong Kong through that city's Amoy Gardens apartment building.  

An upscale high-rise complex, many apartments in this building and other Hong Kong apartment buildings have floor drains in their kitchens and bathrooms. Researchers discovered that fecal droplets containing the SARS virus were present in the building's drainage system, but they weren't sure how the virus was getting into the apartments.

While looking for a connection, the researchers discovered that many floor drains did not have a water trap seal. A water trap seal is created when water builds up in a U-shaped pipe under the drain. 

The reason this U-shaped pipe is installed in most drains around the industrialized world is to prevent sewer odors from being released into the air. In the case of the Amoy Garden apartments, the drains had dried out, which is not uncommon, and the fecal droplets containing the virus drifted up the pipes, became airborne and caused the illness to spread.

The Office Facility Connection

A close look at many office facilities finds that floor drains are often present throughout the complex. They are commonly located in restroom areas and kitchen areas. Mopping and cleaning these floors usually keeps these water traps filled with water. This way, no odors or airborne contaminants are released.

However, floor drains are also found in scores of other areas of an office building, such as mechanical, electrical, and HVAC rooms, that may not receive such cleaning. As a result, these floor drains can and do dry out, releasing odors. And should disease-causing contaminants, bacteria, or viruses exist in the sewer pipes below, there is potential that they can spread disease, just as happened at the Armoy Gardens apartments.

There are relatively easy and inexpensive ways to prevent this. One way is to pour a small amount of a liquid trap sealer such as EverPrime into all drains. This can keep the trap sealed for months, possibly years. Schools often use EverPrime to help prevent drain pipes from drying out over the summer and winter months when their buildings are primarily vacant.

While no one can say with certainty, the SARS epidemic could have been minimized if health officials had realized sooner that SARS was spread through the air and that a simple plumbing fix could have helped stop the transmission. This experience, while unfortunate, has taught us the importance of water trap seals not only to keep odors out of buildings but also to prevent the spread of disease and maintain the health of building inhabitants and visitors. 

Facility managers should ensure that the floor drains in their buildings are filled at all times, especially in those areas that do not receive much moisture. This is where the possibility, if not likelihood, that the floor drains will dry out, a situation that can easily be prevented with EverPrime.

A frequent speaker and author on water conservation issues, Klaus Reichardt is the founder and CEO of Waterless Co. Inc, Vista, CA, maker of waterless urinals and other restroom products. He founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water conservation in mind. He may be reached at Klaus@waterless.com.

Why Go Waterless?

Many facilities are now considering waterless urinals because they are an effective way to reduce water consumption—making them a Green, environmentally preferable choice. Additionally, reducing water consumption saves money. Just like everything else, due to inflation, water utility costs are going up around the world.

Before 1990, the average urinal in the United States used as much as four gallons of water per flush. Today, because of legislation and increased conservation measures, conventional urinals use about one to one and a half gallons of water when flushed.

However, this is still a significant amount of water.

The average office building in the United States uses 15,000 gallons of water daily. Waterless urinals have the potential to reduce this amount significantly. Moreover, this water usage can prove to be quite detrimental in the country's most drought-prone areas, such as California and other western states.

We should also know that the cost to install and maintain waterless urinals is less than that of traditional urinals.

"The initial installation is easy and relatively inexpensive because you need only a drain line instead of both a water and a drain line," says David Rose, an architect in Troy, MI. "You also don't have to contend with additional plumbing, flush valves, sensors, and the like, which can be costly maintenance headaches."

How They Work

Waterless urinals are not new—they are more than one hundred years old. They were first installed during the early 1890s in public marketplaces in Switzerland. These early models used sesame oil to keep urine below the urinal drain to minimize odors. However, these early urinals were forgotten until the 1970s, when they were rediscovered during the "ecological movement" taking root.  

A no-water urinal works the same way as a conventional one, except without water. A traditional flush urinal has a "trap" in the drain, filled with a small amount of water that prevents odors and sewer gases from escaping.  

Waterless urinals also have a trap (or cylinder) that sits atop the drain area of the urinal. The cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid or sealant. Urine passes through the trap and sealant, forming a barrier that prevents odors from escaping. It also helps to eliminate the evaporation of urine, which can harm indoor air quality.  

Cleaning and Maintenance

Waterless urinals are cleaned the same way as conventional urinals, except without the need for powerful chemicals. The urinal's trap insert requires attention, and the liquid sealant must be replenished, prolonging the trap's life span and effectiveness.  

There are a few manufacturers of waterless urinals in the market today, and each uses a slightly different system, requiring different maintenance. Facility and building managers should do their homework, analyze each design, and decide which works best for their facilities. 

Potential Drawbacks

There are some drawbacks when switching to a no-water system. For instance, the cylinders (traps) used can be expensive on certain models and may need to be changed more frequently than initially thought. But this is not the case with urinals marketed by Waterless Co., Inc. 

Additionally, some facilities with few males and few urinals may not benefit from installing waterless urinals. However, there will be benefits in facilities with ten or more males.

Facilities with waterless urinals must also educate their custodial staff on how to maintain them. As mentioned earlier, abrasive and powerful cleaners used in a conventional urinal should not be used to clean a waterless urinal.  

Additionally, men must get accustomed to using waterless urinals. Using them for the first time, men usually look for a flush handle or search for an electric sensor. To end the confusion, one large Chicago office building even installed a small sign above each urinal that says, in essence, "This is a waterless urinal. No flushing is required. After use, walk away."  

Still, the economics are favorable from the beginning with waterless urinals because no-water urinals are less costly to install and maintain compared to conventional ones. "Overall, waterless urinals are an efficient and economical alternative to traditional urinals," contends Rose. 

Although the cost savings are a real value when installing waterless urinals, another significant benefit is being environmentally responsible. Facilities looking to pitch in and do their part for the environment may provide an ideal service when installing waterless urinals.

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

Memorial Day Message from Waterless Co., Inc

There are so many quotes in honor of Memorial Day. Virtually, all of them make us stop and think about how special this day is.

But of all these memorable quotes, the one that stands out for me is attributed to Army General, George S. Patton:

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

On this Memorial Day, let us take a moment to remember those who have given their lives for our country. Let us honor their sacrifice and pledge to never forget their service.

Enjoy this holiday and let’s remember why we honor it.

www.waterless.com

Waterless Announces New Tagline: “Pioneers in Advancing Water Efficiency”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Press Release 

Waterless Announces New Tagline

Goal: to remember the past but focus on the future 

Waterless Co., Inc., long known as an “icon” in the no-water urinal industry, introduces a new tagline, “Pioneers in Advancing Water Efficiency.”   

According to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of the company, the new tagline reflects where the company has been, its expertise in the no-water urinal industry, its knowledge of water efficiency, and the future. 

Waterless Co., Inc, is the oldest manufacturer of no-water urinals in North America. Based in Southern California, the company first began marketing waterless urinals in 1991.

“At the time, no other manufacturers were making no-water urinals in North America,” says Reichardt. “Rarely did you hear anyone use the term ‘water efficiency.’ We truly were pioneers back then in every sense of the word.”

 Today, with the chronic and ongoing drought conditions in California and throughout the Southwest, Reichardt believes the new tagline will better position the company for further growth.

 “There are several new players in the no-water urinal industry,” he says.

“However, building owners and managers should work with long-term suppliers and brands.   Because we are pioneers and our fixtures have been installed in buildings for more than 31 years, we have earned their trust and confidence."

Reichardt also points out that recent market research studies predict significant growth in the waterless urinal industry over the next several years.

“We want this new tagline to help us take advantage of this growth. I am extremely optimistic that working together, our country can address its water challenges – and it will be easier than we think today.”

###

 About Waterless Co. Inc.

Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems.  Based in Vista, Ca, the 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

Waterless Announces New Tagline: “Pioneers in Advancing Water Efficiency”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Press Release 

Waterless Announces New Tagline

Goal: to remember the past but focus on the future 

Waterless Co., Inc., long known as an “icon” in the no-water urinal industry, introduces a new tagline, “Pioneers in Advancing Water Efficiency.”   

According to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of the company, the new tagline reflects where the company has been, its expertise in the no-water urinal industry, it’s knowledge of water efficiency, and the future. 

Waterless is the oldest manufacturer of no-water urinals in North America. Based in Southern California, the company first began marketing waterless urinals in 1991.

 “At the time, no other manufacturers were making no-water urinals in North America,” says Reichardt. “Rarely did you hear anyone use the term ‘water efficiency.’ We truly were pioneers back then in every sense of the word.”

 Today, with the chronic and ongoing drought conditions in California and throughout the Southwest, Reichardt believes the new tagline will better position the company for further growth.

 “There are several new players in the no-water urinal industry,” he says. “However, building owners and managers should work with long-term suppliers and brands.   Because we are pioneers and our fixtures have been installed in buildings for more than 31 years, we have earned their trust and confidence."

 Reichardt also points out that recent market research studies predict significant growth in the waterless urinal industry over the next several years.

 “We want this new tagline to help us take advantage of this growth. I am extremely optimistic that working together, our country can address its water challenges – and it will be easier than we think today.”

###

 About Waterless Co. Inc.

Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems.  Based in Vista, Ca, the 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

reducing water consumption in Industrial facilities

They are doing this not only because they may be in areas suffering from chronic droughts or climate change, but because it is simply good business.

The less water used, the less these industries must pay for water, and in some cases, the cost of water may be one of their most significant expenses.

 Key Points:

 

·       Exactly how are industrial facilities reducing water consumption?

·       By changing employee behaviors. 

·       By benchmarking consumption. 

·       By analyzing their water bill.

·       By giving staffers prices and incentives for using less water.

·       By putting the staff in charge.

·       By minimizing the use of water for cleaning.

·       By checking restroom fixtures and installing water fixtures that use less or no water at all.

Learn More Here

 #waterconservation #waterconservation #waterefficiency #aridification #industrialrealestate

Industrial facilities making strides in reducing water consumption

They are doing this not only because they may be in areas suffering from chronic droughts or climate change, but because it is simply good business.

The less water used, the less these industries must pay for water, and in some cases, the cost of water may be one of their most significant expenses.

 Key Points:

 

·       Exactly how are industrial facilities reducing water consumption?

·       By changing employee behaviors. 

·       By benchmarking consumption. 

·       By analyzing their water bill.

·       By giving staffers prices and incentives for using less water.

·       By putting the staff in charge.

·       By minimizing the use of water for cleaning.

·       By checking restroom fixtures and installing water fixtures that use less or no water at all.

Learn More Here

 #waterconservation #waterconservation #waterefficiency #aridification #industrialrealestate

Here’s How to Make Restrooms Greener, Healthier, and Saving Money At It

Even with all the rain in California, half of the country is currently experiencing some form of drought. This makes this a perfect time to think about ways to make restrooms greener water efficient. The main reason for this is with more people starting to go back to the workplace and back to school, a green restroom is typically a healthier restroom.

We want to do everything possible in a post-COVID era to ensure restrooms, no matter where they are located, are clean, safe, and healthy as people return to the swing of things.

With all of this said, how do we go about making a restroom greener and save money too? Among the steps are the following:

Use green-certified cleaning solutions. These cleaning solutions have been independently tested and verified to help reduce cleaning's impact on the user and the environment.  Plus, today’s green-certified cleaning solutions are very cost competitive.

Use disinfectants sparingly.  In April 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they are concerned that we are overusing disinfectants. Further, not only is this unnecessary, but the possibility of someone also getting COVID by touching a surface is remote. The problem with disinfectants is that they can be harmful to the user.   Further, the CDC reports poisonings related to disinfectants have gone up since the pandemic began.

Install waterless urinals. When it comes to making restrooms greener, waterless urinals can serve us in two ways. There probably is no other building technology that can reduce water consumption as much as installing waterless urinals. Further, waterless urinals are healthier. By eliminating the "plume" of air released when a water-using urinal is flushed, this helps eliminate the chances of harmful pathogens being released into the air.

Sensor-Controlled Lighting.  There is no reason for lights in restrooms to be left on all day. Sensor-controlled lighting helps save energy. Taking this a step further, LED light bulbs should be installed. They use less energy, generate more light, and last far longer than traditional light bulbs.

High-Efficiency Toilets – with Lids. We have discussed the need for high-efficiency toilets several times in our posts. These typically use less than the 1.6 gallons per flush currently mandated by law. However, due to COVID, we should add a lid to these toilets. The lid helps prevent plumes from escaping, as we referenced earlier. This makes for a healthier restroom.

TMV. Thermostatic mixing valves are not as standard in North America as in other parts of the world. These valves mix the hot and cold water feeds to a pre-set temperature. This way, when the faucet is turned on, the water is automatically at the correct temperature. We often waste water if we must wait for it to get warm or, just the opposite, get cold. TMV systems can help eliminate this problem. Further, they help prevent releasing water that is too hot and scolding.

Enhanced Ventilation. Restrooms are not always well ventilated. Today, not only do we need well-ventilated restrooms, but air systems should have enhanced air filtration systems, such as HEPA filters, if possible. These do not work with all HVAC systems. Another option is using UV-C systems that electronically clean air as it is being released into the restroom.  These systems "zap" the air, killing pathogens in the process.

Taking these and many other steps will help keep restrooms cleaner, safer, and healthier. They should also help building owners cut operating costs and, if no-water urinals are installed, reduce water consumption dramatically. In other words, they have benefits all around.

What A Cleaning Expert has to Say About Cleaning Waterless Urinals

Ben Walker is a well-known and very respected cleaning consultant. He and his company, Management, Inc., work with large facilities and contract cleaning companies all over the world, helping them streamline cleaning operations, improve efficiencies, and reduce cleaning-related costs.

A few years back, his company was hired to help streamline cleaning operations for a new, exceptionally large, state-of-the-art building in San Diego, CA.

As he was touring the facility for the first time, he noticed something in the restrooms he had never seen before: waterless urinals. He was told they were installed because they can help reduce water consumption dramatically, as much as 35,000 gallons (about 132489.35 L) of water per year per urinal. In thirsty California, as well as many other western states, waterless urinals are now commonplace. In 2006, not so much.

Walker says that as far as cleaning and maintenance in the new building, everything was going perfectly – at least initially. The client was happy as were the building’s tenants. But by the third month, problems developed. The waterless urinals that the building proudly installed were releasing pungent odors that could be sniffed throughout the facility.

“This was a problem I had never faced before,” says Walker. And it was not just Walker. “I found…the custodial crew members [were also] struggling to keep the new waterless urinals clean, but a very pungent odor was beginning to overtake the facility.” 

What Walker later found out was that while waterless urinals offer “huge benefits,” as he called them, allowing organizations to meet their sustainably needs, they have their own cleaning requirements, many of which differ from the ways traditional, water using urinals are cleaned.

"While the cleaning procedure for waterless urinals isn’t difficult, they have additional process that managers need to be aware of.” 

Now aware of this, among his suggestions to managers and cleaning professionals are the following:

Read the cleaning instructions. Most manufacturers provide cleaning instructions with the waterless urinals. All too often, no one reads those instructions until a problem arises. Those problems usually can be eliminated if the instructions are read before any cleaning is performed.

Make sure the staff is using the proper cleaning solutions recommended by the manufacturer and that the chemicals are diluted properly. Some brands may require specific cleaning solutions; however, most waterless urinals can be cleaned using traditional cleaning solutions such as all-purpose cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants.

Keep the cleaning solutions from draining into the cartridge at the bottom of the urinal. The cartridge serves an especially important function. It helps prevent sewer odors – such as those this building in San Diego was having – from escaping into the building. If the cleaning solution fills the cartridge, it could reduce its effectiveness. To prevent this from happening, remove the cartridge when cleaning. (NOTE: This is Walker’s advice. This may not be necessary with all waterless urinals).

Wipe the urinal cleaning from the down. Also, use a cotton cloth or microfiber towel. Some cleaning professionals use paper towels. Paper towels are good for drying hands but not effective in cleaning, including cleaning waterless urinals.

Finally, take note as to when the cartridge was installed. Some cartridges have a noticeably short lifespan, two or three months.

Our comment: Interestingly, these short-lived cartridges are often the most expensive. The cartridges installed in urinals manufactured by Waterless Co., Inc, are inexpensive and can last as long as six months. Further, waterless urinals from Waterless Co., come with a unique key that can be used to quickly remove the cartridge when it needs to be changed.

Finally, determining when the cartridge needs to be changed can be subjective. Cleaning professionals should conduct a sniff test every time they clean a restroom where waterless urinals are installed. After two to six months, depending on what type of cartridge is installed, an odor may become noticeable. That means it is time to change the cartridges. Have more cartridges in the supply cabinet to remove the old unit and install a new one, in seconds.