Saving Water With Urinals

While common in the western United States, waterless urinals are not very common in the Southeast United States. During November 2007, the City of Villa Rica replaced all but the most efficient of our flush urinals with waterless urinals. If you'd like to check them out, we have these new urinals at the Villa Rica Public Library and at Gold Dust Park.

Manufacturers of Waterless Urinals

How They Work

Waterless urinals use a trap, just the same as any other plumbing device. The main difference is in how the trap is expected to work. In flush urinals, excess water from each flush is used to reseal the trap after the bulk of the water is used to push the urine through the trap.

In waterless urinals, a sealing liquid, usually dark blue in color, is used to permanently seal the trap. Urine pushes itself through the sealing liquid then on through the trap and into the sewer line. The sealing liquid must be periodically replenished. One manufacturer states you will generally require three ounces of sealing liquid for every 1500 uses.

Expected Savings in Water and Costs

The operational costs** of a standard flush urinal in Villa Rica are as follows:

-- Around $6.05 for 1.0 gallon flush urinals per 1000 uses (1000 gallons)
-- Around $9.08 for 1.5 gallon flush urinals per 1000 uses (1500 gallons)
-- Around $18.15 for 3.0 gallon flush urinals per 1000 uses (3000 gallons)

The operational costs of a waterless urinal are:

-- Around $1.00 per 1000 uses (no water used)

Waterless urinals result in substantial water savings and can eventually pay for themselves. **Please note that because of the various amounts paid for water consumption in Villa Rica's tiered water rates, your actual costs and savings may be higher.

In addition to savings in water costs, waterless urinals generally have lower maintenance costs since there are no water valves to maintain. They may also be used more often since the most common reason for taking a urinal out of service is due to water valve problems. This results in additional water savings since toilets generally use more water than urinals.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantage -- Water Savings. Toilets and urinals account for about half of a typical building’s water consumption. Conventional flush-type urinals use between one and five gallons per flush, depending on their age. Because no-flush urinals use no water, one to five gallons of water is saved with each use.

Advantage -- Low Maintenance. Waterless urinals generally require little maintenance. The absence of a flush valve eliminates valve repairs and reduces opportunities for tampering. Additionally, overflow due to clogged drains and vandalism is not a problem because large amounts of water are not being flushed.

Advantage -- Improved Hygiene. Urine is generally a sanitary liquid, composed mainly of dissolved metabolic waste and excess water. Urine does not normally contain harmful microorganisms unless the person urinating is harboring some type of urinary tract infection. On the other hand, water used by conventional urinals gives germs in the restroom the moist environment they need to grow. Manufacturers design waterless urinals to dry out between uses impeding bacterial and viral growth. In addition, because there is no handle, no-flush urinals are touch-free, reducing the spread of communicable diseases.

Advantage -- Odor Control. The absence of a water-urine blend in the bowl lessens the prevalence of odors often associated with urinals, according to at least one manufacturer. The sealant liquid filling the trap is designed to keep odors out of the restroom.

Advantage -- Environmental Friendliness. Waterless urinals contribute positively to the environment. First, the absence of water for flushing reduces the demand for water. Also, because no water goes down the drain, additional wastewater requiring treatment is not generated. Next, the special drain cartridges and inserts used in some models are recyclable. Finally, the sealant liquid composed of natural oils is biodegradable.

Advantage -- Energy Reduction. Widespread use of waterless urinals could result in an overall reduction in energy use. Cities and other water supply agencies would not have to use energy to treat and pump as much water.

Advantage -- “Green Building” Credits. Many new construction projects are earning certification as “Green buildings” under the LEED program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Installation of waterless urinals helps gain water conservation points.

Disadvantages -- User Acceptance. Some owners report initial reluctance on the part of users to accept waterless urinals. Two universities reported that signs posted near the urinals explaining how they work and why they were installed seemed to increase favorable responses.

Disadvantages -- Retrofits. When replacing conventional urinals, removal of flush valves and capping of water supply lines will be necessary. Some remodeling may be required to lower the drain lines to bring the new waterless urinals to the proper mounting height.