VISTA, CALIF.—Facility managers may now take advantage of a free evaluation sheet to determine if waterless urinal systems will help them save money and water. Developed by Waterless Co., makers of Waterless No-Flush urinals, Vista, Calif., the evaluation sheet asks facility managers a series of simple questions, such as:
• How many males populate the facility?
• Number of urinals in the facility?
• Hours of operation?
• Amount of water used per urinal, per flush?
• Local water and sewer rates per 1,000 gallons?
Most urinals use between one and three gallons of water, depending on whether they were manufactured before or after 1992. Studies also indicate that each male in a facility uses a urinal about three times per day.
“The facility’s total cost of water is on the water bill,” says Klaus Reichardt, managing partner of Waterless Co. “This evaluation sheet lets facility managers know approximately how much they are spending just to provide potable water for urinals.”
Maintenance Costs Evaluated
According to Reichardt, the evaluation sheet, which is available in either manual or electronic spreadsheet form, also allows facility managers, who have already installed waterless urinal systems, to compare their maintenance costs to a conventional urinal.
“These costs do not apply to cleaning the urinal,” Reichardt says, “because cleaning a conventional and waterless urinal are very similar. What it compares is the typical annual repair and plumbing costs of a conventional urinal and the annual costs for trap cylinders and other products necessary to maintain a waterless system.”
Although some assumptions must be made, Reichardt says most facility managers find the evaluation sheet provides a workable picture of how much money conventional urinals are costing them.
“In some facilities, they may find a waterless system will not save them enough money to warrant their installation,” he says, “but others may find that waterless systems will save them considerable sums annually.”
For more information on the evaluation sheet or to receive a free copy, contact watersavings@waterless.com.
