What is a drought?

Droughts happen all over the world. And what is happening today, mainly due to climate change, is that parts of the world that rarely experienced water shortages are now having them.

Because of this, and because droughts may be a new experience for some people worldwide, the following questions and answers should resolve many of the questions you may have about droughts.

What is a drought?

Interestingly, there is not a precise definition. Two different areas of the world may be enduring similarly dry conditions. But because one usually does not get much water, their dry conditions will be viewed as normal, whereas the same conditions in another part of the world would be called a drought.

A workable definition of drought is the following:

A prolonged shortage in the water supply, caused by lack of rainfall or due to underground water supplies running dry. A “prolonged shortage” typically means a period of at least three or four months. Droughts can and often do last for years.

Where do droughts most often occur in the world?

Certain areas of the world do have droughts more frequently than others, mainly due to lack of rainfall.

These are Ethiopia, Sudan, Afghanistan, parts of China, and Pakistan. By the way, those areas of the world that receive the most rainfall are parts of Australia, China, Colombia, Africa, and a large portion of Hawaii.

Where are the world’s droughts right now? (Q1 2020)

Our neighbor to the north, Canada, is experiencing some drought conditions in different pockets around the country. Currently, there are very few drought areas in the U.S., but check back in a couple of months. That is likely to change. The part of the world that is now experiencing the most significant number of drought conditions is central Africa.

Is there one country in the world experiencing unusually severe drought conditions? (Q1 2021)

Invariably, there are one or more areas of the world in more dire straits than others. Currently, the southern part of Madagascar is not only suffering severe drought but also what is called “drought-driven hunger.” Madagascar is an island country in the Indian ocean. After three years of drought conditions, food production and agriculture have come to a standstill, leaving about 1.5 million people with little food.

What are the stages of drought?

Typically, if an area of the world is experiencing arid conditions, a drought “warning” or “watch” is called. If conditions worsen, the next stage is called a drought “emergency.” A drought “disaster” or “critical” drought conditions may be called from here. It is at these last stages that mandatory water rationing programs are usually implemented.

What are the main problems caused by drought?

Initially, when a drought begins, it is viewed as an inconvenience. People are asked not to irrigate vegetation as often. Food-service outlets may only provide water if requested, and we may be asked to take shorter showers.

From here, things can deteriorate very quickly.  Some of the more severe problems caused by drought include the following:

•      Crop failure or significant yield reductions.

•      Unemployment because so many jobs are tied to agriculture and food distribution.

•      Landscape degradation.

•      Waterways go dry, resulting in the death of marine life.

•      Lack of water for hydroelectric plants; the result is utilities must purchase costly oil and gas, leading to rising utility costs and adding to greenhouse gasses.

•      Wildfires.

•      Insect infestation.

•      Loss of livestock and free-running animals.

•      Hunger, especially in poorer countries.

•      Increased poverty, again in poorer countries, and increased tensions between rich and developing countries.

•      Social unrest.

Droughts are going to happen; we know that. So, the only option we have is to use water much more responsibly and efficiently. Fortunately, we have many more options available to us to accomplish this. But view this as a journey. We must always be seeking new ways to reduce water consumption.

Where the Water Goes

A few years back, the City of San Jose's Environmental Services Department conducted a study to determine where water is most frequently used in public and private buildings in the city. This covered usage in office skyscrapers as well as schools, small office buildings, medical centers including hospitals, retail outlets, and more. 

Studies like this have been conducted in other municipalities, but they all tend to be slightly different. One of the key reasons for this is climate. 

For instance, San Jose has a relatively mild climate. While it does get cold and it does get hot, compared to other parts of the country, the cool temperatures and the hot temperatures are relatively mild.

But this does impact how much water is used in facilities. In San Jose, specifically because of the mild climate:

· A larger amount of water goes for cooling facilities year-round than it does in other parts of the country.

· Because many facilities in San Jose are landscaped, with vegetation growing year-round, San Jose facilities use more water for landscaping than comparable facilities in a cold winter climate.

However, even when these climate issues are factored in, the study found that San Jose buildings consume water in many of the same ways as other comparable buildings around the country.  

Here is what they also uncovered:

• In most office buildings in San Jose, and around the country, most of the water consumed in the facility, approximately 40 percent, is used in restrooms.

• About a third is used for cooling.

• Twenty percent for landscaping, and the rest was listed as "other."

• In hospitals, 40 percent of the water is used in patient bathrooms and public restrooms, 13 percent for cooling and heating, and the rest is evenly divided for laundry use, landscaping, kitchen, and medical uses. (Note: Water used for cleaning was not factored into the water-consumption in the study.)

• In hotels and motels, 30 percent of water is used in guest rooms and public restrooms, once again the most significant area of water consumption. Kitchens, laundries, and landscaping follow. Interestingly, cooling and heating came in at about 15 percent each. This percentage was expected to be higher.

So, what does this tell us?

Very simply, if a facility is looking for ways to reduce water consumption, the first place to look – and what may be the only place they need to look – is in the restrooms. With that said, by now most of us know the two big steps that need to be taken:

1.   Install aerators. Very inexpensive, yet amazingly effective at reducing water consumption.

2.   Fix leaks.

Leaks are one of the number one ways water is wasted in virtually all facilities. But here are two more ways you may not be aware of that have the potential to reduce water consumption significantly:

Create a Restroom Fixture Replacement Program. Instead of taking a reactive stance, and replacing restroom fixtures when they wear out, take a proactive stance, and replace them before they wear out. This saves water, is a cost-savings, especially now, because many communities offer tax rebates to upgrade restroom fixtures,  and prevents emergency water situations.

Select fixtures based on water consumption. Let's face it. Most restroom fixtures look pretty much the same. Further, most are made well.  However, unless décor is a paramount issue, the deciding factor when selecting restroom fixtures should be how much water the fixture consumes. 

Taking this a step further, no-water fixtures, such as waterless urinals, should always be considered because they are the ultimate water savers. In fact, many building owners and manager find the most significant step they can take in reducing water consumption is accomplished by simply installing waterless urinals.

Fix a Leak Week Begins March 15

Calling all Sleuths: Fix a Leak Week Begins March 15

The average household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water annually,
enough water for 300 loads of laundry.

Did you know more than one trillion gallons of water are wasted every year in the U.S. due to water leaks?

Further, the average household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water annually, enough water for 300 loads of laundry.

And there's more. Leaks increase our water bills by at least ten percent each month.

That's why we all should welcome Fix a Leak Week, launched by the EPA, which begins March 15 and runs through March 21. 

When it comes to saving water, we need every Sherlock Holmes available to find water leaks and put an end to them.

According to Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc., here are some leaky places often overlooked:

Under the sink pipes.  Feel the pipes under sinks. If they feel damp or wet, it means there is a leak somewhere along the line.

Pooling water heaters.  Small pools of water under water heaters means a leak is developing.  Look for signs of rust. That's likely where the leak is occurring.

Diversions in the diverter. Bathtub/shower combinations have diverters that divert water to the shower when pulled. Diverters can wear out, leaking water behind the bathtub wall. Here's a quick test. Pull the diverter. If water is still coming out of the tub's spout, there likely is a leak.

Home urinal leaks.  Because home urinals are becoming more popular, this is a new place to look for leaks. Urinal leaks are often caused by the flush handle wearing out. "Urinal leaks are particularly irksome to fix and [can] waste a lot of water. This is not a problem, however, with waterless urinals."

On and Off. When the toilet fill valve keeps cycling on and off, it usually means there's a leak. Feel under the tank or exposed pipes.  If damp, you found the problem.

"Finally, know when to replace fixtures," adds Reichardt. "They last for years, but they do not last forever. The older they are, the more likely they leak and wastewater."

About Waterless

Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems.  Based in Vista, Ca, the company was started in 1991 and is the oldest manufacturer of waterless urinals in North America.  The company’ manufacturers a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning liquids, and cost saving restroom accessories. For more info, email us at info@waterless.com or visit: www.waterless.com 

The Nudge, the Nobel Prize, and the Urinal Fly

When it was announced that Richard Thaler, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, it stirred a few feathers. First, he was not very well known in the world of economics.

Further, what little was known about him, outside of being a professor at Booth, was a column he wrote in the 1980s in a respected economic journal. He titled his column “Anomalies.”

In his column, Thaler brought in a bit of psychology and the human element into economics, which did not always sit well with many traditional economists. Those economists focused on numbers, black and white, and little else. For instance, the following story is one that raised some eyebrows:

On New Year’s Day, Thaler won $300 by betting on the Orange Bowl winning team. When he got home, he asked his family how they wanted to spend the winnings. His idea was to get a case of champagne, invite some friends over, and celebrate. Or they could go to a fancy restaurant and then see a play.

However, then his son intervened.

“No, Dad, you’ve got to invest that money.” The son pulled out his calculator and determined that if he invested that $300 now, he would have $20 per year he would be able to spend in thirty years.

Obviously, the son was a serious economist in the making.

While some economists found this story humorous, others viewed it as a slap in the face. These economists had spent years calculating how people, organizations, and governments could earn big returns by saving and investing money.

As to the Nobel Prize, Thaler won it for his book, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness. It became a New York Times bestseller and focuses on the choices each of us must make each day. According to one review:

The book introduces the concept of choice architecture, arguing that people need structure to make decisions, and therein lies the opportunity to create structures that lead people to make better decisions.

However, for this “choice architecture” or “structure” to be successful, people often need a little nudging, and that’s where urinals come in.

Apparently, in the early 1990s, the cleaning manager at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was frustrated by what he called “spillage” around the hundreds of urinals in the building. This spillage, primarily on to floors and also walls, increased his janitorial staff’s workload, caused malodors, and was unsightly.

To address the problem, the manager took it upon himself to etch small images of flies in some of the urinals. The etched flies would be right next to the urinal drains.

Voila, as they say in France. Walla, as the rest of us say.

The spillage was curtailed significantly in all the urinals with etched flies. Men were now nudged to aim right and not make a mess.

Well, Thaler calls the urinal flies “his favorite illustration of a nudge.”

He went on to say, nudges like this “don't attempt to make it impossible to do the wrong thing, but rather they make it easier to do the right thing. This same principle can be applied to any number of other choices, big and small, that people make in the course of their lives.”

Today, there are many types of urinal screens installed in urinals. While many are used as air fresheners, they often are designed to give gentlemen a bit of a nudge, something to aim for, so the urine goes in the right place and not the floor.

Urinal My Thoughts

Is NEWater On the American Horizon?

For decades, Singapore has known that its growth is tied to the amount of water it can provide its citizens and businesses. Historically, they have gotten their water from neighboring Malaysia. But because of friction between the two countries, Singapore has sought to break this dependence.

Due to this situation, in the 1970s, the country started reclaiming water for reuse and developed some of the world's first desalination plants.

These steps worked well for a while, but by the late 1990s, public officials realized additional measures were needed. If viable, what they decided to do was take raw sewage water, reclaim it, filter it, and treat it so it could be used for human consumption, industry, and the many ways we use water every day.

A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of this process. Once leaders realized it was possible, they began to refer to this reclaimed water as NEWater. One of the initial steps they took did not have anything to do with water per say. Instead, it was all about "selling" NEWater to the public.

First, they had to convince people there was nothing wrong with "reclaimed" water. Many Singapore citizens did not realize the country had been reclaiming and treating this water for years.

Further, they stopped using the terms "wastewater and "sewage" water. These had negative connotations. Instead, they just called this NEWwater "used water." Over time, the term took hold, and NEWwater garnered public support.

How is NEWater produced?

For the most part, it is made through a three-step reclamation process:

1. Ultrafiltration filters are used to remove solids from the water. This process also removes most disease-causing bacteria, some viruses, salts, and other organic materials.

2. The second stage involves reverse osmosis. This step further filters out contaminants such as germs and bacteria along with metals, chlorides, sulfates, and pesticides. At this point, the water is potable and ready for human consumption. But just for safety, there is one more step.

3. Ultraviolet light (UV) is used to further disinfect the water and inactivate any remaining contaminants. UV has been used for decades to kill germ-causing pathogens.

Should we expect to see NEWater in the U.S.? 

Much of the potable water in our country is already made – in varying amounts – using methods similar to Singapore’s NEWwater.  A perfect example is a program in place in Orange County, California. Referred to as the Grown Water Replenishment System, this system is a virtual replica of the system now in place in Singapore. water is treated with microfiltration and reverse osmosis, followed.

However, in other parts of the country, not all the steps just described are in place. Instead, most of this water is just filtered and then treated with chemicals for purification to make it available for human consumption.

As more areas of the country experience water shortages, most likely we will have to take more steps to reuse water. This means NEWater may be right around the corner.

In fact, this may be an option that should be in place now in certain areas of the country.  While the topic does not get much media attention, parts of Appalachia and Indian reservations are having serious water shortages now. 

According to one woman who lives in a once-thriving West Virginia coal town, you never know if any water will come out when you turn on the tap.

In parts of the Navajo Nation, which occupies about 30,000 square miles in three western states, the situation is worse.  They know that no water will come out of the tap.

Public health depends on access to safe drinking water. These areas, and others, have extremely limited water supplies along with poor water infrastructure. Without ready-when-needed potable water, future economic growth in areas like these becomes unlikely.

Along with the installation of water reducing technologies, such as waterless urinals to reduce water consumption, Singapore’s success indicates that NEWater may be an economically feasible and reliable way to provide these and many more communities with the healthy water they need now and for the future.

Drains and SARS

Seven months into the COVID-19 crisis and we have begun hearing the same claims all the time:

·       The coronavirus "has changed everything."

·       We are living in a "new normal."

·       There will be more "new normals" in the future.

Accepting these statements as true, let us start this article a bit differently. Most of us remember that in high school and college we would read an article first and then answer questions about it later.

Let us turn things upside down. This time let's start with the questions and then read the article. If we are good readers, we may learn how SARS spread in Hong Kong 13 years ago and how this might apply today to COVID.

Here are some true/false questions to test your knowledge:

The SARS virus is like other flu viruses.

True

False

SARS and the coronavirus that causes COVID die very quickly when airborne.

True 

False

Plumbing problems played a crucial role in the 2003 SARS outbreak.

True

False

Plumbing problems could play a role in the 2020 COVID.

True 

False

A U-trap prevents sewer gases from being released into a facility.

True

False

Today's U-traps are maintenance-free.

True

False

It is possible that the SARS pandemic was preventable.

True

False

Now, our discussion.

In March 2003, a 33-year-old doctor visited his brother, who lived in the Amoy Gardens complex in Hong Kong. This is a massive complex of 19 apartment buildings, all 33 stories high, housing approximately 15,000 residents.  

Shortly after visiting with his brother in Unit 7 on the 16th floor, the doctor developed flu-like symptoms that worsened. Soon after that, his brother and sister-in-law also developed these flu-like symptoms.

The health of all three people became increasingly worse. The doctor soon died with what was later named severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

SARS is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Along with causing classic—but much more severe—flu-like symptoms, it can also result in death. 

By April 2003, one month after the first known case, there were 321 cases of SARS in the Amoy Gardens. The virus dissipated a year later, mainly because China insisted on mask-wearing, social distancing, and forced quarantining. But in its wake, 8,098 people were infected, and 774 people died of the disease. 

SARS is caused by a coronavirus (CoV) similar in structure to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Another similarity: Both viruses initially occurred in animals and then spread to humans. And, of course, both are highly contagious. 

One reason they are so contagious is that pathogens from both viruses can become airborne, where they can remain for a few minutes to a few hours, allowing them to be inhaled.1 This is now considered the primary way that COVID-19 is spread. 

Taking a Closer Look at Risers

Every building has risers. These are supply lines, usually made of copper, metal, or plastic, that deliver water to and from water-using fixtures like sinks, toilets, urinals, and showers.  

Each fixture is fitted with a U-shaped water trap, commonly known as a U-trap or P-trap. The primary purpose of these traps is to prevent sewer gases from being released into the facility. 

They have not changed much for decades and are found in facilities around the globe. When filled with water, they function properly, blocking sewer and other gases from being released into the facility.  

However, in Block E of the Amoy Gardens apartments, the water in many of these traps had evaporated. This provided a direct opening to the sewer below. Sewer gases, including gases from infected stool in the waste pipe, were then released into the apartments.

It was later learned that the pathogen that causes SARS was in these gases. As they were inhaled, residents contracted the disease.

Why This Happened

Water frequently flows through toilets, sinks, and bathtub drains. As a result, the U-traps for these fixtures work properly because they remain filled with water.  

However, each bathroom in the Amoy apartments also had a floor drain installed. Residents told public health investigators that they regularly mopped the bathroom floors, but apparently the mopping did not generate enough water flow to fill the U-traps below.

It was also later uncovered that many residents stored items directly over these floor drains. This prevented any water from draining down the pipe and filling the U-trap.

The dry U-trap allowed the infected gases to be released into the apartments. Making matters worse, investigators reported the following:

"Amoy residents installed window-mounted exhaust fans in most bathrooms. The type and size of the exhaust fan were not, however, dictated by building management. The bathrooms were small (less than 50 square feet each) and, according to WHO, many residents had installed high-powered fans with capacities 6 to 10 times higher than the capacity that would be required for such a small space."2

What this tells us is that not only were sewer gases containing the pathogen that causes SARS being released into the air, but they were being pulled into the air by the fans.

Could This Happen With COVID?

In March 2020, professors from Montana State University's microbiology and immunology department were asked to test the wastewater in Bozeman, Montana, to see if there were traces of COVID-19 in the water. 

The professors doubted they would find any vestiges of the disease. However, to their unfortunate surprise, they did find evidence of the virus in four samples over the next 10 days. 

But how could this be? In Montana, there would be few cases of the virus for weeks, if not months, to come. The professors now believe that many people in the state were already carrying the disease, even in the sparsely populated sections, as early as March, but were asymptomatic.

Due to these findings, the university and state public health officials began testing other wastewater sites in the state. They understood that if fumes bearing the pathogen that causes COVID made their way to dried-out risers in state facilities, it would spread the disease. Fortunately, as this article is being written, this has not been reported.

A related concern is that these sewer gases contain other pathogens that can harm human health. We know that the water in U-traps frequently evaporates. We find this happening when schools close for the holidays and recently because many buildings have been closed due to the pandemic. This sets the scene for uncontrolled spread of disease.

What can facility managers do to prevent this from happening? The long-term solution is not to refill floor and other drains with water. That is a short-term remedy. Instead, many are using inexpensive liquids known as primers or "ever prime." These liquids last for months without evaporating and are not impacted by climate extremes.

It is even possible that if residents in the Amoy apartments had poured a few ounces of Everprime in their floor drains two or three times per year, the SARS outbreak would never have reached epidemic proportions.

…

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. The company's main product, the waterless urinal, works entirely without water. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

1. Different studies have come out with different findings as to how long coronavirus is stagnant in the air. This is a range of those findings.

2. Kelly R. McKinney, Yu Yang Gong, and Thomas G. Lewis, "Environmental Transmission of SARS at Amoy Gardens," Journal of Environmental Health 68, no. 9 (2006).

Four Things to Consider When Selecting a Urinal

Although we are not out of the woods yet, signs are flickering that 2021 will be a much better year in North America. This means people will be going back to work and building owners and managers will revisit restroom renovation plans they postponed due to the pandemic.

If you are one of these building owners or managers planning on remodeling restrooms in your facility, you will likely find there are several things you need to consider when selecting urinals. Here are four points to bear in mind as you shop around.

Shapes and Sizes

Not all urinals look the same. Some are larger than others, and some are rounded, whereas others are the more standard square or rectangular. Before selecting urinals, measure the area where the urinals will be installed. Then consider how many urinals you want to install in that area. This will help eliminate some sizes and shapes immediately and help you determine which size and shape will fit most comfortably in the space allowed.

Costs

Urinals tend to cost about the same as toilets, ranging from $150 to more than $1,000 with lots of bells and whistles. Most of these bells and whistles are related to what types of flush mechanisms are installed, how water-efficient the urinal is, the urinal's design, and the brand. This last point needs a bit more explanation.
There are "designer brands" of urinals just as there are designer brands in any market category. These are often only better-known brands, and because of their name alone, they may command a higher price. That does not necessarily mean they are better or of higher quality. It just means the manufacturer is taking advantage of its brand recognition. Unless you are looking for a designer urinal, your best bet is to look for well-designed, practical urinals that get the job done.

Flush Options      

Believe it or not, you can still select urinals with flush handles. These tend to be attached to less costly urinals. However, in this age of COVID and with the greater emphasis on touch-free restrooms, selecting a urinal with a flush handle probably will not go over very well in a commercial facility. Instead, choose a urinal with automatic flush capabilities. The big difference in the different systems is whether they are sensor-controlled and release water after every use or are timer controlled, releasing water at set times throughout the day. These are most often found in locations like sports venues or convention centers. Also, look for a brand that has been making automatic flush systems for quite a while and that has a satisfactory performance record.

Water Efficiency

This is the most significant consideration. While commercial restrooms can begin to look dated over time, that is not necessarily the main reason they are updated. Instead, it's all about water efficiency. Using less water is a cost savings and also means that less water needs to go through the sewers, reducing disposal costs as well. Newer fixtures use less water or as will be explained, no water at all.

In most cases, your water consumption options will be the following:

· 1.0 Gallon Per Flush (GPF)

· 0.5 GPF

· 0.125 GFP

· 0.0 GPF

At one time, urinals used as much as three gallons of water per flush. Modern flush valves release between .125 and 1 gallon per flush. However, with the reduced flush volume, bowl drain openings have been reduced. This may increase blockages from the higher urine to water content, potentially creating limestone. More often, the result is that the urine collects at the base of the urinal, and mixed with moisture, can become a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause odors.

Urinals that use no water at all are specially designed to work effectively, trap urine, and block odors without water use. Further, because they use no water and require less servicing than flush urinals, they tend to pay for themselves relatively quickly due to reduced water costs, often making them a better long-term investment.

How an Architect Prevented a Client from Doing His “Business” Outside

Rachel Wray Thompson is an architect living and working in Chicago. A few years back, she was working with a client who “insisted on having a urinal in his home.” It was the first time she had ever received this request, and her client was adamant about it. “He said if he did not get a home urinal, he’d do his business outside just to avoid wasting water.”

Well, she did not want that. Further, it did not take long for her to realize she was working with a real “tree hugger.” So, Thompson said that going forward, everything she suggested for this client’s home, from the walls, floors, and appliances, would be as green and environmentally responsible as possible.

As far as the urinal, she had to do a little research. Installing a water-using urinal would not work for the simple reason that it still used water. Even the low-flow models used more water than she believed her client would like.

So, she turned her focus to waterless urinals. “Most of these fixtures rely on a liquid that floats at the top of the trapway [cylinder] at the base of the urinal,” said Thompson. “This liquid is less dense than urine and therefore allows the urine to drain through, while the trapping liquid stays on top.”

The trapping liquid, she soon learned, provides a barrier that blocks odors from entering the bathroom and “keeps everything tidy and clean.” BlueSeal, marketed by Waterless CO., Inc, is an example of just such a “trapping liquid.”

Further, she found that because the urinal dries out between uses, “waterless urinals can actually be more sanitary than conventional urinals.”

So, if a waterless urinal uses no water, it passes that test, but how much water does it really save?

Thompson said she did a little research and discovered that if there are two males in a home, and each uses the urinal three times per day, “a waterless urinal will replace about 2,040 toilet flushes per year.”

Taking this a step further, that translates into an annual water savings of about 3,250 gallons of water, even more, if there are more males in the household.

With facts in hand, she presented the numbers to her client, who was extremely excited. This was genuine water savings, “something he could tell all his friends and write home about.”

Since then, Thompson says that while this was her first request for a home urinal, it certainly has not been her last.

“They’re getting kind of trendy. They [waterless urinals] really do not cost that much to purchase or install. I’m actually a bit surprised we don’t get more requests for them. They can put a real dent in the monthly water bill.”

The “Marriage Saver” in the Bathroom

While everything started OK, eventually a husband and wife in Indiana reached a roadblock when it came to remodeling their master bathroom.

Photo by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash

At first, the wife said she wanted everything white—white walls, countertops, floors, and fixtures—to which the husband, grudgingly, said OK.

As to those floors, the wife wanted them heated. A surprisingly inexpensive luxury, which the husband liked as well. So, the heated floors were agreed upon.

Finally, the wife said she did not want a bathtub. She said she could not even remember the last time she took a bath. Instead, she wanted a large walk-in shower, with a bench no less. The husband, who also could not remember the last time he took a bath, agreed to this as well.

Then the husband had a request. He wanted a home urinal installed in the master bath. It would be white, just like all the other fixtures, so it should fit the décor. However, the wife did not like this idea at all.

“I had to draw the line,” she said. “I’ve never even seen a home urinal before. And because we plan to move in a couple of years, I’m concerned it could make it harder to sell the house.”

This disagreement was going nowhere and was holding up the remodel of the bathroom. To help move things along, they turned to their plumber for answers, who by now assumed the role of marriage saver. Here’s what he had to say

First, he said he’s not taking any sides. “It's not my job to say who is right or wrong. I’m just going to tell you what I know based on my own experience.”

With this disclaimer, he agreed that home urinals were still a rarity, but “I have never heard of anyone saying they would not buy a house because it had a home urinal. I think many people might like a home with its own urinal, because it makes their house different from all the others on the block.”

He added that many “green” home builders are now installing urinals in their homes. “If it’s a waterless urinal, it’ll save thousands of gallons of water per year. That’s a big selling point for people that want an environmentally responsible home.”

The wife was still not enthusiastic. She wanted to know what a home urinal looked like. The marriage saver (aka plumber) said, “many have neutral colors to match just about any bathroom layout. As far as sticking out like a sore thumb, that won’t be an issue.”

Baja #2104 Waterless Touch-Free Urinals

Looking a bit more relaxed about the issue, she asked how much it would cost to install a home urinal. The wife figured if it were a significant added expense, that would be “end of discussion.” She would argue the added cost would make it prohibitive.

To her surprise, the marriage saver indicated the urinal would likely cost less than a toilet, and “if it's a waterless urinal, the installation and plumbing costs are negligible.”

She was almost sold, but then one more concern came up: “How do you clean it?” she asked.

Once again, the marriage saver had a quick answer. If a water-using urinal is installed, he said, it would be cleaned just like the toilet. “However, with a waterless urinal, other than changing the cylinder at the base of the urinal every few months, which is a relatively quick and easy thing to do, cleaning a waterless urinal is the same as cleaning a countertop, simply spray and wipe.”

His final comment: “Bottom line: I’m nicely suggesting that you ‘go with the flow’ and install a waterless urinal in your new bathroom.”

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WATERLESS is 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.