Water conservation and product payback have become two of the greatest concerns for owners who are renovating or building new commercial spaces and selecting plumbing fixtures. The urinal has become one of the most common fixtures used in water conservation and there are several different options from which to choose. Some urinals are even available with a waterless feature or in various flush valve applications ranging from 0.13 gallons per flush to 1.5 gallons per flush.
Ideally, the water free urinal application is the best approach for conservation of water and product payback. No water is used and savings in water/ sewer usage can, in some cases, have payback periods of less than three years, depending upon frequency of use.
There are also some negatives with selecting a waterless urinal. Complaints include odors, issues with cartridge replacement, and the high cost of the cartridges. We have found that these drawbacks have swayed many of our customers away from using this type of fixture and caused them to gravitate to a low water, manual flush urinal.
The 0.13 gallon per flush urinal system dramatically improves water consumption when compared to older systems which can use up to 2.3 gallons per flush. Over longer periods of time, you could see a product payback when replacing a system that uses a larger volume of water per flush. However, the hi-efficiency urinal still requires a flush valve which needs routine maintenance and can have a significant replacement cost from wear and tear. Maintenance or replacement of this flush valve should be performed by a licensed plumber which contributes to the annual cost for fixture use. This system also has cost for water usage, making the payback slower than that of the waterless urinal.
The waterless urinal and the hi-efficiency low flushing urinal both contribute to water conservation and yield product payback. Ultimately, the consumer will have to weigh the pros and cons of each before making the selection that best fits their needs. Either of the two fixtures are a great choice for water conservation as well as renovating or constructing a commercial bathroom that will meet your project’s needs.
Contact a member of our BCH Mechanical Estimation team to learn more.
BCH Mechanical has been a trusted name in Florida construction since 1976, delivering innovative design, high quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service. BCH capabilities include HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, piping, sheet metal, LEED, Design/Build, 3D-CAD/BIM coordination, and HVAC service. Visit BCH on the web: www.bchmechanical.com.