The new urinals

**alaskaguy** · 07-07-2010, 07:43 AM

Flushless and waterless urinals.

The new urinals employ a plastic cartridge filled with a liquid sealant. Urine passes through, but sewer gases remained trapped beneath the sealant—no water needed.

Al Gore has signed on as an advisor for the new urinal.

The plumbers unions aren't impressed. Since there is no plumbing, there is no repair work for plumbers.

In addition, the new urinals are illegal in many areas because plumbing codes never contemplated a urinal without water.

Link:
******* Match: Is the World Ready for the Waterless Urinal? | Magazine

**drmwevr08** · 07-07-2010, 07:45 AM

They installed those one one floor in my building. I think they smell like pee more than a typical flushable. I wondered how they were supposed to work though so thanks for the link.

**cyclonenum1** · 07-07-2010, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by alaskaguy

Flushless and waterless urinals.

The new urinals employ a plastic cartridge filled with a liquid sealant. Urine passes through, but sewer gases remained trapped beneath the sealant—no water needed.

Al Gore has signed on as an advisor for the new urinal.

The plumbers unions aren't impressed. Since there is no plumbing, there is no repair work for plumbers.

In addition, the new urinals are illegal in many areas because plumbing codes never contemplated a urinal without water.

Link:
******* Match: Is the World Ready for the Waterless Urinal? | Magazine

New? SMU has had them in campus buildings for well over a year. Great idea.

**ia8manfan** · 07-07-2010, 08:04 AM

I work in a LEED Platinum certified building and we've had them for 3 years. Made by the same manufacturer. Not a bad idea, just smells sometimes, and the design kinda causes "splashes" on yourself.

**bos** · 07-07-2010, 08:07 AM

There are some at the cheap seat movie theaters here. They are ok for the most part, but yeah they do retain some smell that flush aways dont.

**RustyClone** · 07-07-2010, 08:07 AM

They aren't that new. The cartridge must be replaced on time. Also the urinal should be wiped down regularly. The theory is great but places with a lot of use (casino) they would never fly.

**bos** · 07-07-2010, 08:08 AM

Is it just me or was the drawing of a dudes bronson not necessary to portray how the toilet works with the stream?

**Wesley** · 07-07-2010, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by ia8manfan

I work in a LEED Platinum certified building and we've had them for 3 years. Made by the same manufacturer. Not a bad idea, just smells sometimes, and the design kinda causes "splashes" on yourself.

What's a little smell between friends?

**drmwevr08** · 07-07-2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by bos

Is it just me or was the drawing of a dudes bronson not necessary to portray how the toilet works with the stream?

Nuts included! You have to be clear or people just won't get it.

**GeronimusClone** · 07-07-2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by bos

Is it just me or was the drawing of a dudes bronson not necessary to portray how the toilet works with the stream?

lol for the first time I've heard it called a "Bronson".

**capitalcityguy** · 07-07-2010, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by ia8manfan

I work in a LEED Platinum certified building and we've had them for 3 years. Made by the same manufacturer. Not a bad idea, just smells sometimes, and the design kinda causes "splashes" on yourself.

Given the two downsides you listed, how does it retain in your mind "not being a bad idea"?
Smell and splash = bad idea in my book.

**RandomFan** · 07-07-2010, 08:47 AM

My favorite line of the story:

She conducted her own analysis, which involved visiting men’s rooms to acquaint herself with the subject matter.

If waterless/flushless urinals are such a great idea, then why is it illegal (and ridiculously expensive if caught) to urinate in public? Don't the cops know I could get uromysitisis poisoning and die?

**Baffan** · 07-07-2010, 09:05 AM

These have been around for quite a while... At least 5 years but now that the whole green/LEED thing is picking up more steam, it's a very cost effective way of obtaining LEED points from a construction point of view.

As someone has already posted one of the biggest downfalls is that you need to be careful where you install them. Last time I knew the cartridge with the liquid sealant really only lets urine pass through. It all has to do with what I assume is the density of the liquid.

In other words if it's in a place where you might have people that would find it funny to put things other than urine in the urinal it could cause a lot of problems and/or make you replace the cartridge more often than you anticipated.

**gogagig** · 07-07-2010, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by alaskaguy

Flushless and waterless urinals.

The new urinals employ a plastic cartridge filled with a liquid sealant. Urine passes through, but sewer gases remained trapped beneath the sealant—no water needed.

Al Gore has signed on as an advisor for the new urinal.

The plumbers unions aren't impressed. Since there is no plumbing, there is no repair work for plumbers.

In addition, the new urinals are illegal in many areas because plumbing codes never contemplated a urinal without water.

Link:
******* Match: Is the World Ready for the Waterless Urinal? | Magazine

They could do even better- just put up some bushes and encourage people to go behind them.

**Cyclones_R_GR8** · 07-07-2010, 11:31 AM

Looking at the diagrams at the bottom of the article, it appears that the elbow that is normally below the urinal is now incorporated into the replaceable cartridge. That means there has to be an ample amount of urine in the bowl to raise the level high enough to get into the drain pipe.
I would think that would smell quite a bit especially if sitting for a while. Or if someone who ate a bunch of asparagus just used it.