A normal urinal wastes over 150 000 ℓ of water every year – however, an Australian innovation recently introduced into the South African market has the ability to reduce this “wasteful” water use by up to 98% simply through the use of a small blue cube, according to Titima Group Business Development manager, Lincoln Phakisi. According to him, the technology is a first in the country and is entirely bacteria-based, with no chemicals added.

Aimed primarily at high pedestrian volume facilities, such as office parks and malls, the Desert Cube’s potential water savings really depend on how many people use the urinal in which it is being utilised. It is already being used and tested at the OR Tambo airport, the Department of Trade & Industry Campus, certain Growthpoint retail properties, namely Woodmead Retail Centre in Gauteng and The Bridge Mall in the Eastern Cape, as well as certain Old Mutual Properties, namely the Eastgate Galleria Mall and Hyde Park Mall. However, Phakisi notes that it is also “big in Europe.”

Urinal Challenges

Surprisingly, when assessing the challenges related to the use of “wet” urinals on a large scale, the urine itself is not the major cause of the problem because it is almost 98% water-based and usually sterile and largely odourless, maintains Phakisi.

“The problem is the faecal bacteria that bind with the urine solids and ultimately digest the uric proteins, which results in the release of toxic ammonia-based gases, the outcome of which is the offensive ammonia smell – and bathrooms are covered with bacteria originating from faecal matter,” explains Phakisi. Excessive flushing also creates almost permanently damp surfaces on which bacterial colonies thrive.

Desert Cubes work through the use of microbial technology, which interferes with the bacterial digestion that produces these unpleasant odours. In addition, by eliminating the need to flush after use, it also substantially reduces the need to touch the urinal and related mechanisms, thereby greatly enhancing personal hygiene and reducing the opportunity for bacteria transfer.

Savings summed up

The potential savings are easily calculated, according to Phakisi, when considering that most urinal flush tanks contain between 11 and 20 ℓ of water, and therefore, use on average 10 ℓ per flush. “If each person uses the urinal 4 times a day that is 40 ℓ per day per person,” highlights Phakisi. Extrapolated, that figure suggests that if 10 people use the urinal for 220 working days per year this averages 88 000 ℓ per year.

In an office building with approximately 100 male members on the staff, this is potentially 880 000 ℓof water a year wasted.

Product specifics

The Desert Cubes themselves not only save water, but reportedly also eliminate odours which results in improved hygiene. The cubes, which are 100% biodegradable and septic and sewerage safe, can also, according to Phakisi, reduce maintenance costs to urinal valves and water storage tanks. “The Desert Cube System is ideal for septic tanks because it adds beneficial microbes and, therefore, allows the septic tank users to further reduce water consumption and wastewater, which results in fewer blockages and reduced pumping,” explains Phakisi. The cubes also have a shelf life of up to two years when correctly sealed and stored.

Although the water usage is potentially drastically reduced, this does not mean that flushing is taken out of the equation completely. When utilising the entire desert system the urinal is also connected to the Desert Smart Flush Timer which contains a small sensor that detects movement, and when activated, delivers a pre-programmed rotation of flushes that ensure the continued system efficiency.

Additionally the cubes can be used in conjunction with the Desert No Flush Urinal, which incorporates a removable and reusable trap, as well as the use of high quality porcelain made with silver nano technology that makes cleaning and maintenance easier. The urinals’ wide footprint also makes retrofitting of the product into existing urinals substantially easier as it lessens the need to re-tile the facility to maintain pleasing aesthetics.

Apart from the above advantages there is also no product in the market that compares, both cost and concept wise, making this an international technology well worth investigating, concludes Phakisi.