Waterless urinals get dry run at City Hall (Chicago)

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 5-13-2005 | GARY WISBY

[Cagey]

No touch, no flush. No water, even.

Waterless urinals are being tested at City Hall.

But although they are saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of precious water in 29 states -- and in high-profile venues like Disney World and the Rose Bowl -- the devices are illegal in Illinois.

Waterless urinals use a replaceable, biodegradable cylindrical filter containing a floating layer of liquid sealant. Urine penetrates the sealant, which closes to seal off odors, and goes down the drain.

"It's as benign as a sink when it's kept up," said Jim Allen of the Sloan Valve Co., based in Franklin Park. Sloan installed the five City Hall urinals in a fifth-floor men's room without charge. Each unit has a counter and an LED sensor that signals when to change the cartridge.

Plumbers unions don't like the device. Tom Sherlock, business representative for Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Local 130, noted that standard urinals are made of vitreous china. "The reason [waterless urinals] are being thrown out is the jury's out about all the kinds of germs that grow on plastic," he said.

City Hall's test urinals also are vitreous china, Allen said, adding that the only plastic is in the disposable cartridge.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is monitoring the trial and will "make a determination" after six months, said spokeswoman Tammy Leonard. She said if someone dumps a cup of coffee in a urinal, it could break the seal. She also said uric acid builds up on "connections" because there is no water to wash it off: "Urine can just dry on them."

But both statements are misconceptions, Allen said, pointing to third-party studies "which clearly show that water-free urinals are actually cleaner than flush urinals from a germ and bacteria standpoint."

City Hall got an exemption from the state code for the 60-day test. Selling for $300 each -- about the same as a standard flush urinal -- the units should save about 40,000 gallons of water a year, Allen said.

Savings pile up

The International Plumbing Code, law in 29 states, permits waterless devices. Illinois is under the Uniform Plumbing Code, which does not.

Under IPC rules as a federal facility, the regional Social Security Administration offices at 600 W. Madison started putting in waterless urinals two years ago and now have 85 on 12 floors.

"Initially, some of the male employees were a little apprehensive, like, 'Shouldn't we be flushing?'" said building manager Larry Smith. "But they got used to it, and we sent out an e-mail explaining how it works. It's cut way down on our water usage and sewage cost."

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., has 259 of the urinals and saves about 130,000 gallons of water on New Year's Day alone. Pro Player stadium in Miami has the units, as do the San Diego Zoo and London's Heathrow Airport. Arizona requires them in all public facilities. They're legal in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa.

Lois Vitt Sale, vice chairwoman of the U.S. Green Building Council's Chicago chapter, asked, "If all the states that ring us allow this, and the Rose Bowl and Pro Player stadium are using it successfully, what do we know that they don't know?"

[Cagey]

Article written by Gary Wisby.

Perfect!

[Born Conservative]

"The reason [waterless urinals] are being thrown out is the jury's out about all the kinds of germs that grow on plastic," he said.

So are we to assume that germs won't grow on vitreous china?

[discostu]

I hate those waterless urinals. If I've been holding it for a while (like at the movies) I pre-flush and listen to the water running for "inspiration", can't do that at those waterless ones, which can be a rather painful experience.

[Corin Stormhands]

Waterless urinals are being tested at City Hall.

In Virginia, we call 'em trees...

[jtminton]

We call them fenceposts in Texas.

[Cagey]

We call em tires in Jersey.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

The whole concept of a waterless urinal is confusing me. I mean... what do you do with it? Stand there and look at it?

[Sonny M]

We call them fire hydrants in New York.

[sittnick]

they are saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of precious water in 29 states

...ummmm, Lake Michigan provides more water than Chicago can use. Water is not so precious around here. I also wonder what happens when the filter manufacturer goes out of business or decides to hike the price of the filters AFTER you commit to this approach.

Don't tell anybody, but after I build my new house, I am going to rip out the toilets after inspection and install 5 gallon flushers smuggled in from Canada.

[dirtboy]

We call them subway entrances in Philly.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I hate those waterless urinals. If I've been holding it for a while (like at the movies) I pre-flush and listen to the water running for "inspiration", can't do that at those waterless ones, which can be a rather painful experience.

LOL!! I am on a CPAP with a humidifier. Every night I take care of business they try and go to sleep. After about fifteen minutes of the swishing sound, I am up again. Get back in bed and sleep great the rest of the night.

[Old Professer]

If you need inspiration, might want to see that guy with the rubber glove.

[Obadiah]

They call 'em "partners" in San Fransisco.

[Sgt_Schultze]

About 30 years ago, when it was fashionable to wear camo painter's pants, a youthful coworker chose to wear them to work at a local hardware store. The young assistant-manager informed the employee that such attire was inappropriate and later found himself standing next to the youth at the floor-length urinal upstairs. As both stood there performing the requisite task, the assistant manager turned and started using the leg of the young, camo-clad employee as his target.

The young employee was startled and loudly protested. The assistant-manager casually stated that he hadn't seen the employee standing there, properly camouflaged after all.

[discostu]

Only need inspiration if I've been holding it a couple of hours. Tell the old bladder "no not yet" for too long and it has a hard time believing "yes now", a little running water fixes that right up.

[trebb]

I have several acres and woods surround the property - it really keeps the house clean when I'm doing dirty work and don't have to track through to take a leak.

[TheForceOfOne]

One more reason I never crap in public urinals.

[kenth]

You win.

echhhh...

[Obadiah]

Sorry. It was a little crass.

[Gary - Peters]

We call em homeless in Pittsburgh.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Don't tell anybody, but after I build my new house, I am going to rip out the toilets after inspection and install 5 gallon flushers smuggled in from Canada.

---

A $250 Toto will leave you wanting for nothing else. Flushes like a champ, quiet, and a large water surface "target" area. And will swallow up anything that would fit in the Holland Tunnel.

[telebob]

I'm a man. The world is my toilet...

[tet68]

We call them MARTA elevators here in Atlanta,
the home of the origional Waterless/Flushless toilet.

[righttackle44]

"Don't tell anybody, but after I build my new house, I am going to rip out the toilets after inspection and install 5 gallon flushers smuggled in from Canada."

I'll help cover for you, man. But doesn't Canada have a socialist toilet policy?

[toddlintown]

"...after I build my new house, I am going to rip out the toilets after inspection and install 5 gallon flushers smuggled in from Canada."

Try the Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height 4340. If you don't stand up quick enough after you flush, it'll suck you down the drain! About $400, but I got tired of sticking a plunger down the crapper.

BTW, 1.6 gal per flush.

[Lazamataz]

In Virginia, we call 'em trees...

We call them fenceposts in Texas.

We call em tires in Jersey.

In Atlanta, we call 'em homeless people.

[Lazamataz]

HEY!

Stop speaking for Atlanta when I'm busy speaking for Atlanta.

[HairOfTheDog]

~snort~

[FreedomCalls]

"It's as benign as a sink when it's kept up,"

Key phrase: "when it's kept up." As it usually isn't, it ends up being very stinky and dirty.

[tet68]

Thank goodness I moved out to the hinterlands of
Villa Rica. It's Soooooooooo nice and peaceful out here.

You have my sincere sympathies.

[Lazamataz]

We call em homeless in Pittsburgh.

I hate anyone who comes up with my joke before I do.

[MediaMole]

Men never flush urinals. Our company had to install automatic flush valves because the men's rooms smelled like unmaintained outhouses in August.

[Lazamataz]

Hotlanta ain't so bad.

Not to a former Noo Yawka.

[johnny7]

Lye worrks good for the tough jobs.

[Corin Stormhands]

you win

[jimt]

Men never flush urinals.

Correction: uncivilized, slovenly men never flush urinals.

Here in Houston, there's a larger problem with Mexican toilet habits.

After going number two and performing the requisite cleanup, many of the guys refuse to flush the paper. Either it goes into a wastebasket beside the toilet, or it goes on the floor beside the toilet.

Either way - eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww !

[tet68]

Welcome South Brother.
Try to get out to the country.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Dave Mathews Band: "We don't need no stinking urinals."

[Lazamataz]

Try to get out to the country.

I was, for a while. Winder, GA.

Man, them country gals sure ...... entertain a guy.

[sittnick]

BTW, 1.6 gal per flush. I don't WANT new technology! We will be installing a well. We do not CARE about water usage from toilets. This part of the country has more water than we know what to do with.

I don't WANT a loud pressure-based toilet. (That'll scare my 1 year old from toilet training for good!)
I don't WANT a 1.6 g./flush

I just want a simple commode that uses good ol' H2O to get the job done. If I cannot find a 5 gallon flusher, I might settle for a 3.5er.

I want the government out of my bathroom!!

[sittnick]

"Don't tell anybody, but after I build my new house, I am going to rip out the toilets after inspection and install 5 gallon flushers smuggled in from Canada."

I'll help cover for you, man. But doesn't Canada have a socialist toilet policy?

Oddly, while the Canucks are more socialist on almost everything else, we are winning the race with them for a socialist toilet policy. In fact, new toilets in America have been dumbed-down to 1.6 gal ever since 1992!

[toddlintown]

You obviously missed the point. Sh*t in a bucket for all I care.

[FlJoePa]

These new urinals don't seem to have the charm of the ones I'm used to using...

[oceanperch]

What is a CPAP with humidifier is it anything like o2 with mist?

[oceanperch]

That's a good one.

Here on the Oregon Coast Range it is we just call them Trees.

Dogs use 'em and men use 'em.

One just has a higher aim.

[oceanperch]

Spot on though.

[oceanperch]

LOL OMG I just visualized that you flush then rise.

I just assumed that everyone rised turned and flushed.

Must have some good articles to finish.

[oceanperch]

When did you move to Alanta?

[mewzilla]

Does this mean no more Hanoi Jane urinal cakes?

[Blue Scourge]

I hate these things....they alwasy stink...

In SC we call'em liberals