No Flush...No Way

By Klaus Reichardt


About 15 years ago, when waterless urinals were new to the North American market, there was little resistance to the devices. They were often thought of as a novelty item and only avant-garde architects and builders and developers in such states as Arizona, California, and Texas considered them viable and valuable.
However, that has all changed, and changed rather dramatically in the past couple of years. Water concerns have spread throughout the United States even in some areas that are normally considered water-rich. But most significantly, reducing water usage is considered the “Green” thing to do and can even help facilities earn points toward LEED certification.
All is not rosy, however, and the welcome mat for waterless urinal systems is not found in every community. One of the first concerns that had to be addressed, and in some localities continues to surface, is the concern that waterless systems are unsanitary and potentially a health risk.
In fact, “there have been more studies conducted on waterless urinals than perhaps any other plumbing fixture or product,” says Winston Huff, a LEED Accredited Professional. “We know they are safe and sanitary as long as they are properly maintained.”
Not only was this concern addressed in favor of the waterless urinal systems, but some studies concluded that waterless systems are actually more sanitary and hygienic than water-based urinals. This is because no water is sprayed with the flush, which can release airborne bacteria to nearby walls, floors, and other surfaces. In addition, bacteria usually do not develop on the urinal surface because the interior walls stay dry. Further, the user never comes into physical contact with the system.
Code ConflictsPassing the health test was one hurdle; however, in some localities, others remain. Some code officials simply do not understand the technology, and in many situations, the installation of waterless urinals is simply not an item covered—resulting in rejection of their installation. In these cases, developers must apply for a variance or special concession to install waterless systems—and only after code officials have been given a detailed explanation of how they work, are maintained, and are installed.
Another road block surfaces in some cities that allow the installation of waterless systems, but only if a water line is placed behind the urinal banks should it be necessary. Other localities even require that a “roughed-in” flush valve connection be installed and ready for service above each waterless unit.
This can add to installation costs, forcing some developers to forestall the installation of no-water urinals. And in those restrooms where look and design are a key concern, having the roughed-in valve area exposed over the urinals, no matter how well concealed, distracts from the overall appearance desired.
Union ConcernsPossibly the most vocal obstacle, although it has recently dwindled significantly, has come from local plumbing unions. This came to a head in 2007 with the construction of the Comcast Center office tower in Philadelphia. The $540 million building sought to be one of the Greenest structures in the city as well as the United States. To do this, the owners wanted to install waterless systems to help save an estimated 1.6 million gallons of water per year.
However, the local union opposed the no-water systems, sometimes returning to arguments that they are unsanitary, but also indicating they required less installation time and needed fewer repairs than a conventional urinal, impacting their members’ pocketbooks.
Ultimately, a compromise was reached through negotiations with the city’s mayor, permitting the installation of the waterless systems but requiring that the water supply infrastructure also be installed behind the urinals. As part of the agreement, the developer of the tower was also prohibited from installing any other waterless urinal systems in any other city facility for five years.
Trends and DirectionNo matter the obstacles, the trends and directions are clear. Waterless urinal systems will continue to garner greater interest in years to come and be installed in many more facilities. This is evident by the fact that at one time, Waterless No-Flush® urinals were the only systems available. Today, several manufacturers are producing waterless urinals.
The best way to head off no-flush urinal conflicts and address installation concerns is by developing a building team and making sure everyone on the team is well-versed on the technology, understands how it works, and is enthusiastic about it. This includes the architect and the contractors as well as the building owners and developers, and even the key building tenants if it's an office building.
Additionally, developers should look for supportive waterless urinal manufacturers and distributors. Some manufacturers have had ample experience dealing with code and building regulators and know what issues may materialize and how to address them.
“If you are going in front of the code review board, they can be there to help state the [waterless] case,” says Huff.