Installing a waterless urinal during new construction costs about the same as or less than installing a water-using system. It’s less because none of the flush-urinal plumbing is required.

However, some building owners wonder if it is worth installing a waterless system in an existing building to replace a water-using system. One answer lies in the costs to maintain the two types of systems. Studies indicate that the maintenance of a waterless urinal is about one dollar per 1,000 uses. This compares with two dollars for a water-using system.

Although this may not seem like a large amount, it adds up, especially in a larger facility. In fact, it is now widely accepted that retrofitting a restroom with a waterless system pays for itself in one to three years. When you consider the urinal is designed to last for ten years or more, it becomes clear that the lowered maintenance costs of a waterless system make it a wise long-term investment.

Klaus Reichardt

Waterless Co., Inc