Flushless urinals can conserve water
Urinals consume a lot of water---about one gallon per flush. Seventeen percent of water in restrooms in public and commercial buildings is used to flush urinals, according to a 2005 study published by TriplePundit, a green-business advocacy group. But new flushless urinals use no water at all. The study estimates that each flushless urinal in a men's bathroom could save building owners about 150 dollars per year in water bills, with no significant increase in installation or maintenance costs, and without compromise on convenience or hygiene.
How flushless urinals work
Flushless urinals use a pore-free glaze or gel coating that repels urine, so all the urine runs down to the bottom, said the authors of the TriplePundit study. At the bottom, there's a siphon trap containing a special sealing liquid made from alcohols and mineral oils that is lighter than urine. The sealing liquid floats on top of urine and allows urine to pass through it into the siphon trap, where the urine drains down a conventional drainpipe. The sealing liquid is supposed to block any odors from the urine or drainpipe.
Minimal maintenance
Maintenance is minimal, according to the TriplePundit study. Maintenance involves wiping down the urinal surfaces with a liquid cleaner whenever you sanitize the bathroom. The sealing liquid and siphon trap are contained in a removable cartridge in the urinal base that is good for about 7,000 uses. Every three months or so, depending on usage, the siphon cartridge should be replaced with a new one. Alternatively, some urinal makers employ a reusable siphon cartridge. You soak the cartridge with a disinfectant cleaner and replace the sealing liquid, then reinstall the cartridge in the urinal.
Installation considerations
TriplePundit study advises that flushless urinals may not be suitable for every situation. Installation requires a steeply-sloped drainpipe to carry away the urine via gravity alone, which may limit the locations where these units can be installed. The study estimates that it takes about two hours to install a flushless urinal. But with no need to hook up a water supply line, installation can take less than 15 minutes if a drain line and support studs are already present.
Maintenance training critical
Training maintenance staff is critical for success, according to the TriplePundit study. Improper or inadequate maintenance is the leading cause of odors and other hygiene problems associated with flushless urinals. For instance, alkaline cleansers cause the sealing liquid to break down, releasing odors. Only a neutral or slightly acidic cleanser is suitable for these units. You should never dump large volumes of water down these units because that the sealing liquid will be depleted quickly. Cleaning flushless urinals with hard water---unfiltered water with harsh minerals---may lead to calcium deposits on urinal surfaces that can trap urine odors.
Building code issues
Plumbing codes in many areas may not permit flushless urinals. Minnesota went so passed a law in 2007 banning these urinals statewide, citing lack of industry standards for the units. But plumbing trade journal ContractorMag said Minnesota repealed the ban in 2010 and referred the issue of developing code standards for flushless urinals to the state Plumbing Board within the Department of Labor and Industry.
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