South African managers and executives by and large accept that the problems facing the planet as a result of global warming and rapid population growth are serious – but unless they are actually in the conservation field, they tend to remain vague about what remedial measures could now be taken.

This was said recently by Mike Mayne, CEO of Sannitree, the Cape headquartered company – which along with many innovations in the use of enzymes and bacteria for effluent control, has developed and patented the Free Flowing Waterless Urinal Valve.  This highly successful piece of technology, says Mayne, can save up to 100% on water usage in urinals in big buildings such as hospitals, restaurants, office complexes, gymnasia, sports clubs and the like.

“When one explains the need for decreased water usage, all too often those listening glaze over,” says Mayne.  “However, the matter is serious:  John Yeld, the respected environment and science journalist, has recently reported that by 2025-2030 South Africa’s water needs will have outstripped its available supplies – and he has said pollution of the available water resources is already serious and could grow worse.”

Yeld, said Mayne, has drawn attention to Water Affairs’ departmental statistics which indicate that, although 97% of SA’s drinking water now conforms to minimum standards, only 71% of waste water meets the required standards, with acid mine water in particular now a major problem requiring billions of rands. 

“Obviously,” said Mayne, “drastic steps will now be necessary to curb usage – and the waterless urinal is only one relatively small contributor to the solution.”

Nevertheless, he said, the savings in both water and running costs that waterless urinals bring about are highly significant.

“If one takes a typical large gymnasium with, say, 3 000 members visiting each day, of whom 1 800 are men (this is an actual case) and if one assumes that while there most of the men will have to relieve themselves at an urinal, the water saving introduced by waterless urinals is in the region of 2 700 litres per day, i.e. roughly one million litres per annum which equates to a cost of approximately R14 700.” 

Two myths regarding waterless urinals, said Mayne, need to be dispelled.  The first is that waterless urinals will eventually become blocked because they are not flushed.  However, if no water is used, no lime scale (the prime cause of blockages), can form in the waste pipes, as it does in conventional water-flushed urinals.

The second myth is that waterless urinals smell.  The Free Flowing Waterless Urinal Valve prevents the escape of foul odours from the waste pipe by means of a silicone one-way valve.  This valve is in fact the barrier between the waste pipe and the restroom – the foul odours associated with urinals are prevented from escaping by the silicone flap which effectively seals off the waste pipes.

Sannitree’s waterless valves, marketed for the last 18 months, have already been installed at such major complexes such as Kirstenbsoch Botanical Gardens, Engen Head Office, Growthpoint buildings, schools, clubs, office blocks and hotels and have been exported to numerous countries.