Water Free Urinal

Water free urinals look and work like conventional urinals, except there is no flush. Water free urinals do not require water to flush, and flush valves or other control hardware to operate are eliminated. No-flush urinals can be installed anywhere the conventional type would be used.

Water free urinals are plumbed to a standard drain line; however, they do not use a water-filled trap; instead, they use replaceable cartridges that contain a liquid sealant. The liquids are lighter than water and urine passes through this liquid and goes down the drain.

No-flush urinals are suitable for both new construction and retrofits. Applications include airports, schools, colleges and universities, offices, hospitals, stadiums, convention centers, libraries, parks, and rest areas.

What are the advantages?

The benefit of water free urinals is their lack of water use. Water savings based on replacing a 1.0 gallon per flush urinal with an average 37.5 flushes per day, saves 13,688 gallons per year.

Water piping is not connected to the unit, which keeps down installation and maintenance costs, as well as water and sewer bills. Because no water is required, flush controls, sensors to adjust flow, battery replacement and other maintenance, such as repairing leaks, also go away.

Because water free urinals are flushless and touchless, they tend to be more sanitary than traditional units. Germs tend to multiply in damp or wet conditions but die in dry conditions. Also, flushing turbulence created by water-using units creates an invisible mist of germs that can become airborne.

Advantages:

• easier to keep clean
• no flush valve maintenance costs
• touch-free operation
• saving water saves energy
• saves water

What are the disadvantages?

People are reluctant to accept the water free urinals at first. Studies have reported that knowledge about how they work and why they were installed seem to increase acceptance. Similarly, some maintenance personnel are hesitant to perform maintenance on the no-flush fixtures.

Some remodeling may be required when retrofitting conventional urinals with the new water free type. Flush valves will need to be removed and the water suppply will require capping, and drain lines may require moving to mount the new water free urinals to the proper mounting height.

Water free urinals have less maintenance; however, training of maintenance staffe is required for cleaning and drain trap maintenance requirements, which vary by manufacturer.

Disadvantages:

• user acceptance
• retrofits
• when cartridges need changing, more odors than flush-type urinals
• additional training for maintenance staff
• old piping

How to claim your rebate

To claim your rebate you will need to:

• be a water customer of Sangre de Cristo with an account in your name
• install the rebated item at the service address
• read and accept the terms and conditions
• complete the water free urinal rebate application form
• attach the original receipt for the urinal(s) (please note, photocopies are not accepted)
• send your completed application form and original receipt within 90 days of purchase to:

Sangre de Cristo Water Division
Water Free Urinal Rebate
PO Box 909
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909