The 5 Global Leaders in Water Efficiency (And Where the U.S. Stands)

Water scarcity affects billions worldwide, making water efficiency more critical than ever. While many focus on temporary conservation measures during droughts, true progress comes from long-term efficiency solutions that create lasting change.

Understanding the Difference: Conservation vs. Efficiency

Water conservation typically involves temporary restrictions during crises—think drought-related usage limits or emergency measures.

Water efficiency takes a different approach, focusing on:

• Innovative technologies and smart systems

• Advanced management and monitoring infrastructure

• Water-saving fixtures and equipment

• Public awareness campaigns that make efficiency a lifestyle

As Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc., explains: "These approaches create lasting reductions in water consumption, and these reductions can be very significant."

The Top 5 Water-Efficient Countries

According to WorldoStats.com, these nations lead the world in water efficiency:

Singapore – Masters of desalination, water recycling, and comprehensive rainwater harvesting systems

Israel – Global pioneer in drip irrigation technology and wastewater reduction programs

Netherlands – Leverages advanced water recycling with strong public-private partnerships driving innovation

Denmark – Operates a national leak detection system with sophisticated monitoring and rapid repair protocols

Australia – Champions water-efficient agriculture and has created innovative water trading markets

Where Does the U.S. Stand?

While not making the top five, America is making meaningful progress. The biggest challenge? Aging, leaky infrastructure that wastes billions of gallons annually.

The encouraging news: Major water efficiency projects launched in the past two years are tackling waste nationwide. Since COVID-19, commercial buildings have accelerated retrofits with water-saving technologies, including no-flush urinals and other efficient fixtures.

"These upgrades are part of broader initiatives to make buildings healthier, safer, and more resilient to environmental risks," notes Reichardt. "Becoming more water efficient is one of their key goals."

The Path Forward

As water challenges intensify globally, the countries leading in efficiency offer valuable blueprints. Their success comes from combining technology, policy innovation, and cultural shifts toward valuing every drop.

The question isn't whether we can afford to invest in water efficiency—it's whether we can afford not to.

BlueSeal® - The Essential Component for No-Flush™ Urinals

BlueSeal® is our premium, long-lasting, and biodegradable trap seal liquid specifically designed for waterless urinal systems. This innovative solution enables No-Flush™ urinals to function effectively while preventing odors.

How It Works

BlueSeal® has a lower specific gravity than both water and urine, which provides two key benefits:

• During use: The liquid remains in the trap for extended periods, with only small amounts carried away with each use

• During non-use: BlueSeal® stays in the trap indefinitely, creating a permanent odor seal

Key Features

Temperature Performance

• Zero evaporation at temperatures up to 100°F

• No freezing until -70°F

• Reduces or eliminates costly urinal winterization procedures

Compatibility & Durability

• Compatible with commercially available cleaning products

• Will not be damaged by standard EcoTrap® cleaners

• Biodegradable and environmentally responsible

Application & Maintenance

Easy Installation

• Add 3-ounce portions directly into the urinal EcoTrap®

• Use the included PortionAid for accurate measurement

• Follow bottle instructions for best results

Simple Maintenance

• Clean waterless urinals the same way as conventional urinals

• Refill BlueSeal® using the PortionAid for precise measurement

• Fill PortionAid by squeezing the bottle, then pour directly into EcoTrap® holes

• PortionAid design minimizes waste and ensures accurate dosing

Product Options

• Standard bottles with PortionAid included

• Gallon size available (Item #1101)

• MADE IN THE USA

More BlueSeal Features and Benefits Here

Quiz: Predicted 2025 “False Summer” Crisis

☀️ Hey Friends! Before you dive into your day—or your first coffee—let’s stir in a splash of curiosity. We’ve brewed up a quick and quirky quiz all about “False Summers” and their sneaky impact on water consumption.

🔍 But first things first: read this eye-opening article by Klaus Reichardt on how these surprise warm spells can wreak havoc on our water systems:

https://lnkd.in/gPfeSz94

🧠 Then, pop on your thinking cap (bonus points if it’s sun-proof), and take on these five fast questions. No pressure—just a fun way to learn something new while your caffeine kicks in.

Ready to play water detective? 💧 Let’s go!

1. What weather event is expected in 2025?
a) Record hurricanes
b) False summers with prolonged warm, dry spells
c) Heavy autumn rainfall
d) Early snowfall

2. Water consumption during a false summer could rise by:
a) 50–100%
b) 200–400%
c) 500%
d) 10–20%

3. True or False: Up to half of landscape irrigation water may be lost to evaporation during false summers.

4. Which of the following is a recommended proactive solution?
a) Real-time water usage monitoring
b) Building bigger reservoirs
c) Increasing irrigation hours
d) Turning off all plumbing systems

5. What restroom upgrade is highlighted as the major water saver?
a) Dual-flush toilets
b) Waterless urinals
c) Touch-free soap dispensers
d) High-pressure showers

Let me know how you did on the quiz…Klaus

A Smart Solution to the "False Summer Surge": Why Waterless Urinals Matter

Scientists warn that in 2025 North America may face false summers—extended, unseasonably warm and dry periods lasting into October or November. These events can overwhelm communities, especially water systems.

The Crisis

• Water demand may spike 200–400%.

• Landscaping irrigation losses increase due to faster evaporation.

• Buildings use more water for cooling, straining infrastructure.

• Old or stressed plumbing is more prone to leaks from fluctuating temperatures and heavy irrigation use.

Risks for Facilities

• Increased leaks from expanding/contracting pipes.

• Irrigation wear leading to broken valves and sprinkler heads.

• Rising utility bills signaling hidden problems.

What Facility Managers Can Do

• Leak detection systems that send real-time alerts.

• Water monitoring tools to catch sudden usage spikes.

• Routine plumbing inspections of pipes and irrigation.

• Tenant education on spotting leaks.

• Accounts Payable monitoring for unusual water bill increases.

Long-Term Solutions

• Install water-efficient restroom fixtures (low-flow toilets, faucets, showerheads).

• Adopt waterless urinals, which save thousands of gallons yearly without sacrificing hygiene.

Bottom Line

False summers may bring serious water crises, but with smart monitoring, proactive maintenance, and efficiency upgrades, facilities can reduce risk, cut costs, and conserve resources.

Upgrade Your Primary Bathroom with a Waterless Urinal

Waterless No-Flush Urinals have already made their mark in airports, schools, factories, and even military bases—proving they save water, cut energy use, and stay fresh without the hassle of constant maintenance.

Now, you can bring those same benefits home. Imagine a urinal in your primary bathroom that looks sleek and modern, never needs flushing, and doesn’t waste a single drop of water. That’s the beauty of a Waterless No-Flush Urinal.

No water line. No flush handle. No odor. Just a clean, efficient, and hygienic solution that redefines convenience.

Perfect for homes where space and practicality matter, a waterless urinal also adds an unexpected touch of elegance. It’s a smart upgrade that makes your bathroom more sustainable, stylish, and surprisingly comfortable.

For More Info, Contact Us Here.

NVIROCLEAN: The SPRAY and WALK AWAY CLEANING SOLUTION

Music to every cleaning worker's ears.

NviroClean™ from Waterless Co., Inc. revolutionizes urinal maintenance by eliminating the need for wiping or scrubbing. Simply spray the product in and around any urinal—waterless or traditional—and let NviroClean do the work for you.

How It Works

The advanced formula breaks down soils and organic materials on contact. For waterless urinals, regular use helps reduce buildup in the trap and cartridge insert at the urinal's base, effectively extending cartridge life and reducing maintenance costs.

Versatile Applications

• Waterless No-Flush urinals

• Traditional flushed urinals

• Drain lines (breaks down sediments to keep drains cleaner)

Simple Instructions

Just spray and walk away—it's that easy. Always follow the instructions on the bottle for best results.

For more information:

• Visit: www.waterless.com

• Call toll-free: 800-244-6364

How Much Water Do Airports Use? A Look at Major US Hubs

Water Use at Airports

• Scale: Large international airports are among the biggest non-municipal water users.

• Consumption Levels:

• Annually: ~132 million gallons to over 1 billion gallons

• Daily: ~400,000 to 3 million gallons (1.4–11 million liters)

Major Areas of Use

• Restrooms: Biggest share — toilets, urinals, and sinks (all potable water).

• Other Uses:

• Drinking fountains and restaurants

• Cleaning (floors, terminals, windows, aircraft)

• Cooling/HVAC systems (chillers, cooling towers)

• Landscaping and irrigation

• Specialized uses — aircraft de-icing and fire suppression

Why So High?

• Airports function like large cities, combining aspects of office buildings, malls, industrial facilities, and public infrastructure.

• Much of the water use isn’t for planes directly, but for the passengers and facilities that serve them.

Conservation Efforts

Airports are adopting strategies to reduce reliance on local water supplies, including:

• Leak detection and repair

• Low-flow or sensor fixtures

• Waterless urinals

• Rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse

• On-site wastewater treatment for irrigation/cooling

• Integrated water resource management tied to regional water stress

• Benchmarking consumption per passenger or aircraft movement

Key Takeaway

Airports consume massive amounts of water, but the majority isn’t for airplanes, the people, facilities, and infrastructure that keep airports running. Increasingly, airports are turning into leaders in sustainable water management through technology and efficiency practices.

About Arizona's Waterless Urinal Mandate

Many of our distributors and customers are now contacting us regarding Arizona's waterless urinal law.

Below is a summary of the law.

We are sharing this because other regions of the country are now considering similar legislation using Arizona's law as a model.

Legislative History

In spring 2004, the Arizona Legislature approved Senate Bill 1275, directing that all new state-owned buildings must install waterless urinals.

A waterless urinal uses no water and has no flush handles, manual or automatic. The technology enables urine to flow into a cylinder located at the base of the urinal and then into a sewer drain. This prevents restroom odors.

More information is below.

The law took effect on January 1, 2005, and applies to every agency facility, university building, veterans' home, prison, and office complex that was erected or fully renovated after that date.

Core Requirements

• All new state buildings or major renovations must specify waterless urinals in plumbing plans.

• Existing facilities undergoing minor upgrades are exempt from full renovation until the upgrades are complete.

• The Arizona Department of Administration was charged with updating its Facility Standards Manual to incorporate these fixtures and training specifications for maintenance staff.

How Waterless Urinals Work

• They use a mechanical trap or an oil-based sealant cartridge to prevent odors, rather than flushing water.

• Typical cartridges last 3–12 months before replacement, depending on the no-water urinal selected.

• No water line is tied to the fixture; only a small drain connection is required.

Mandated Building Types

• All new Arizona state government buildings after the mandate’s effective date, including:

• University buildings

• Prisons and detention centers

• Veterans’ homes

• State office complexes

• Agency facilities

Renovations Covered

• Major renovations: Any full renovation of a state-owned building after January 1, 2005, required waterless urinal installation in restroom plumbing plans.

• Minor upgrades: Buildings undergoing partial or minor upgrades were exempt until a full renovation was undertaken.

Facilities Not Covered

• The law does not cover privately-owned buildings, schools not owned by the state, or federal buildings (unless the federal government or Department of Defense voluntarily applied similar standards).

• Local government buildings (county or city) and private sector facilities were not included unless they adopted their own mandates or rebate programs.

Water-Savings Impact

• Each waterless urinal saves an average of 1 gallon per flush cycle.

• For a moderate-traffic building (5 urinals, 200 uses per day), annual savings can exceed 365,000 gallons of potable water.

• Statewide, the project estimates that up to 200 million gallons will be saved per year once fully implemented.

Cost & Maintenance Considerations

• Initial fixture costs are comparable to those of a standard urinal.

• Installation costs are typically lower because no water-delivery piping is needed.

• The payback period typically ranges from 2 to 4 years, depending on facility usage and local water rates.

• Cartridge replacements cost $15–$40 each, depending on the brand selected; annual cleaning and maintenance training is folded into existing custodial contracts.

Arizona Implementation Timeline & Follow-Up

1.    January 1, 2005: Mandate begins for all design bids.

2.    2005–2006: Pilot installations at five major universities and the state capitol complex.

3.    2007: Performance review found odor complaints under 1% and full payback achieved at high-use sites.

4.    Since 2008, waterless urinals have become standard in every new state project.

Beyond Arizona, several other western states studied similar mandates by 2010, and many municipal governments have since offered rebates to encourage retrofits in private buildings.

For more information or questions, please contact Waterless Co. Inc.

GOOD NEWS: The Quiet Revolution Saving Millions of Gallons of Water

Waterless urinals are experiencing an unprecedented surge across Fortune 500 companies, major universities, and healthcare systems nationwide, as facility managers discover they can slash water consumption by over 1 million gallons annually with a single, strategic retrofit.

The numbers are staggering:

Each waterless urinal saves 26,000 gallons per year—enough water for an average American family of four for two months. Scale that across a typical corporate campus with 50 urinals, and you're looking at 1.3 million gallons saved annually equivalent to filling two Olympic swimming pools.

"We're witnessing a fundamental shift in how building operators think about water efficiency," says Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc., the company that pioneered waterless urinal technology in North America. "What started as a niche environmental solution has become an essential tool for meeting aggressive sustainability targets."

Driving Waterless Urinal Adoption

Three converging forces are propelling waterless urinals from curiosity to necessity:

Rising Water Costs: Commercial water rates have increased 40% over the past decade in major metropolitan areas, making every gallon count toward bottom-line savings.

Regulatory Pressure: New environmental mandates in California, New York, and other states are requiring dramatic reductions in commercial water usage, with hefty penalties for non-compliance.

Tenant Demands: Younger tenants are increasingly selecting office spaces based on verified sustainability credentials, not just square footage and location.

But There’s More: The Hidden Benefits

The environmental impact extends far beyond the bathroom. Traditional urinals consume massive amounts of energy—from pumping water to treating wastewater. Eliminating flushing systems removes facilities from this entire energy-intensive cycle.

Maintenance teams are reporting unexpected operational advantages. Without standing water, waterless urinals eliminate the breeding grounds for bacteria and biofilm that plague traditional fixtures. The result? Cleaner facilities using fewer harsh chemicals and requiring less frequent deep cleaning.

"Our custodial costs dropped 30% in the first year after installation," reports a facilities manager at a major West Coast tech company who requested anonymity. "The units practically maintain themselves."

The Green Certification Advantage

For property managers chasing LEED, WELL, and other green building certifications, waterless urinals represent low-hanging fruit with maximum impact. Water reduction credits directly support certification goals that can increase property values by 10-15% and attract premium tenants.

"These certifications have evolved from nice-to-have marketing tools to essential competitive advantages," Reichardt explains. "Waterless urinals offer one of the most cost-effective paths to meaningful points."

Why the Time Has Come for Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals aren't new—Reichardt's company introduced them to North America in 1991. But a confluence of economic, environmental, and regulatory pressures has transformed them from an alternative solution into an essential upgrade.

"We're at an inflection point," Reichardt observes. "Climate realities, water scarcity, and economic pressures have aligned to make water conservation not just responsible, but profitable. Every gallon saved today is both an environmental victory and a competitive advantage."

As drought conditions intensify across the American West and water infrastructure reaches capacity limits nationwide, the humble waterless urinal may represent something much larger: proof that the most impactful environmental solutions often hide in the most unexpected places.

About Waterless Co., Inc.
Founded in 1991 and based in Vista, California, Waterless Co., Inc. pioneered waterless urinal technology in North America and has become the leading innovator in water-efficient restroom solutions. The company's comprehensive product line includes waterless urinals, specialized cleaning solutions, and water-saving accessories.

Company: Waterless Co., Inc.
Web: www.waterless.com

Waterless Urinals: Your Guide to Smart, Sustainable Restrooms

If you're looking for ways to make your building eco-friendlier while saving money, here’s one way to do it: install waterless urinals.

But maybe you're curious about how they work or wondering if they're right for your facility. Let's dive into this innovative technology that's helping facilities around the world reduce their environmental footprint and cut costs all at the same time.

How Do Waterless Urinals Actually Work?

The beauty of this technology lies in its elegant simplicity. Think of it as key components working together seamlessly.

The Basin Does Its Job. Just like a conventional urinal, the waterless version has a sloped basin that guides urine down to the base of the urinal. Gravity does all the work.

Where the Magic Happens. Here's where things get interesting. At the bottom sits a special cylinder (the trap) that acts like a one-way valve. It lets urine flow down to your building's sewer line while keeping unpleasant odors from floating back up into your restroom.

The Secret Ingredient: The Liquid Sealant.  Inside the trap is a specially formulated liquid that's lighter than urine and completely biodegradable. Picture it floating on top like oil on water, creating a perfect seal that blocks odors while still allowing liquids to pass through.

The Simple Flow Process. When someone uses the urinal, the urine naturally flows below this floating sealant layer due to its higher density. It then flows into your drainage system just like it would with a traditional urinal. The whole process is self-sustaining – no electricity, no water, no complicated mechanisms.

Why Your Wallet (and the Planet) Will Thank You

Believe it or not, waterless urinals have been around since the mid-1800s, but they really took off in the U.S. market in the 1990s thanks to pioneers like Waterless Co., Inc. Here's why they're making such a splash:

Water Savings That Add Up Fast. We're talking about serious water efficiency and conservation here. Each waterless urinal can save you between 26,000 to 35,000 gallons of water every single year – that's according to the EPA. If you run a large office building or school, you could be looking at millions of gallons saved annually. Your water bill will definitely notice the difference!

Your Maintenance Team Will Love You. Without all those flush valves, sensors, and moving parts that traditional urinals have, there's simply less that can break down with a waterless urinal in place. This means fewer service calls (usually NO service calls), less downtime, and more money staying in your pocket.

Installation Made Simple. The plumbing requirements are much more straightforward, which translates to faster installation times and lower upfront costs. Your contractor will appreciate the simpler job, and you'll appreciate the savings.

Are They Right for You?

Waterless urinals are about making a smart investment in your building's future. You'll be meeting sustainability goals that matter more than ever to employees, customers, and stakeholders, while also seeing real financial benefits month after month.

The technology has proven itself to be reliable and effective across thousands of installations. It's one of those rare solutions where doing good for the environment also means doing good for your bottom line.

Ready to take the next step toward more sustainable, cost-effective restroom management? Waterless urinals might just be the upgrade your facility has been waiting for.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.