home

Three Eastern Suburbs Councils will consider a motion by Greens councillors next week to save millions of litres of water each year by installing waterless urinals in their public amenities.

"Toilets use more water than any other bathroom fixture. A trial of this technology would show that water use can be reduced by more than 90 per cent." Woollahra Greens Councillor Tanya Excell said.

"A further benefit is that the urinals would no longer be the worst smelling places in the world."

Councillor Excell will be joined by Mora Main, Waverly Council, and Murray Matson, Mayor of Randwick, in proposing a trial of the latest technology in waterless urinals when each council meets next week.

"South Australia's Parliament House has used this new waterless urinal technology for the last six months, and Westfield Shopping Centre and Star City Casino have used it for the last two years. It is also used at ten pin bowling venues, schools and TAFEs," Clr Excell said.

"The average urinal uses between 70,000 - 100,000 litres a year. In Woollahra alone, this technology has the potential to save more than one million litres of water per year, or the equivalent of an Olympic swimming pool of water."

The waterless urinal technology requires no expensive retro-fitting of plumbing, instead relying on microbial action to address any smell. It is the water swilling around in the trough of a urinal that allows smelly bacteria to proliferate. Market research has found that men, while initially dubious, were pleasantly surprised how well the technology worked.

"A waterless system would not only address concerns about escalating water usage and smell, but also reduce the use of harsh chemicals to clean the urinals which will reduce pollutants ending up in the creeks and the ocean. This is a major benefit for keeping Waverley¹s beautiful beaches clean. Says Clr Mora Main of Waverley Council.