ONE BIG IDEA — Washroom Go Green!

Because of the growing concerns about the environment and sustainability within our community, we have to set out some energy savings goals. We should be taking care of every aspect around the school. Every effort counts to making a green grade, even the washrooms.

When composting toilets are chosen as a water conservation strategy, the environmentally destructive consequences of conventional waste treatment systems can be completely voided. However, not much work had been done in restraining the use of water in the facility. I want to introduce the water-free urinals; I realized that if they work, they could help us reduce our water usage tremendously.

Although water-free urinals have been around for many years in Europe, the technology is still relatively new in North America. Most common use of the water-free urinals are on airplanes and tour buses.

How They Work:

Water-free urinals are made from a nonstick china or acrylic with a funnel-shaped cartridge installed at the bottom of the urinal, which is connected to a drainpipe. They look just like any other standard urinal except they just don’t use water. The secret to the device is in the cartridge. A biodegradable liquid sealant floats in the top of the cartridge, which allows urine to pass through to the drain line. The sealant assures an airtight barrier between the washroom environment and the sewer line to prevent odors from escaping into the washroom. The best part is that it only requires maintenance for routine cleaning and a change of the cartridge approximately three to four times per year for most facilities.

Going Water-free:

Water-free urinals are cleaned much the same way, as traditional urinals except there is no need to add water.

Successful installation of the water-free urinals would result to:

- Significant save water and reduce disposal
- Cut back on plumbing repair and maintenance costs
- Safe, odor free, and hygienic

The water-free urinal installation is a new ways to cut costs and go green!