Commercial Green Building News and Analysis!

How Stuff Works: Waterless Urinals

Question:


How do waterless urinals work?

Answer:


Waterless urinals are becoming a fixture in many green buildings because they save 1.5-3 gallons of water per flush.

Waterless urinals use gravity, valves and/or fluid dynamics to trap liquid waste and create a seal between urine, odors and sediment and the bathroom itself.

Various methods such as a cartridge that holds biodegradable liquid which urine passes through before collecting safely beneath/below or through the use of sensitive valves that unroll as liquid (urine) enters them, then roll up to create a seal. Liquid separation methods create an airtight seal and typically employ a combination of a funnel and pleasant smelling sealant liquids. Similar to traditional urinals, waterless urinals require regular cleaning to create an odor-free environment.

The installation of waterless urinals qualifies for LEED WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies.

***NOTE: At the moment, many waterless urinals are prohibited by building code in many major cities, including New York City.

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