Problem: A 28-story Midwestern apartment building with 644 units borrowed $20 million to replace aging risers, i.e. the vertical plumbing stacks hidden within walls that deliver water and remove waste from the apartments. While these systems typically last 30 to 40 years, the building managers just addressed repairs as problems emerged. Eventually, these temporary fixes failed, necessitating complete replacement. When costs exceeded the budget, the bank offered an additional $1 million loan with one condition: Find ways to reduce construction expenses. Part of the project included redesigning the building’s locker room. This required relocating four water-using urinals from one side of the wall to another. While drainage plumbing was available at the new location, there was no water supply. The contractor estimated this single issue would cost over $150,000 and delay the project by more than a week.
Solution: Looking for alternatives, building management decided to install no-water urinals from Waterless Co. These fixtures only need to connect to existing drainpipes, eliminating the need for water supply lines.
Result: This decision saved $150,000 in plumbing costs and prevented project delays. The accelerated timeline allowed workers to proceed with other renovations, saving the building $300,000. Furthermore, once installed, the association found the waterless urinals to be affordable, dependable and reliable. 800-244-6364; www.waterless.com
