Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is the new landmark building to install water-free urinals to save megalitres of water, as part of its conservation and recycling program. The prestigious centre at Darling Harbour has installed 60 of the urinals, which work without flushing.
Centre management estimates that these new urinals will save more than four megalitres of water a year, compared with flushing urinals.
The conservation program also includes the installation of touch-sensor taps, water meters, controlled lighting, colour-coded recycle bins for general waste and a refrigerated compactor for food waste.
New toilets are part of an extensive refurbishment, which includes four new cafés within the exhibition halls and a waterfront lounge in the conference building.
The management has set up an environment committee to help cope with waste generated by events at the centre and the 800,000 or so people who attend them each year. Watersave Australia is supplying the Uridan water-free urinals and Waterguard smart water meters.
According to Watersave, the original urinal troughs at the centre were flushed automatically with sensors, and would have dispensed between eight and 15 litres of water per visit. Many of them leaked continuously.
The innovative replacement urinals work hygienically without flushing. Urine drains through a stainless steel cover and into a water lock, which acts like an S bend, then into the sewer pipe. A floating layer of biodegradable vegetable oil in the water lock covers the urine and eliminates odours.
Another landmark building which has installed Uridan water-free urinals is the luxurious Aurora Place 44-storey office building at 88 Phillip Street in Sydney, which has installed 117 of them.
According to Watersave, many high-profile buildings in are being managed with conservation and the environment firmly in mind.
Building owners and managers have become aware in recent years of the increasing need to save water and electricity, and to recycle waste efficiently. They understand that conservation is an important cost saving exercise which also improves their public image.
Other prominent buildings which have installed Uridan water-free urinals include a Green Star-rated office building at 8 Brindabella Circuit beside Canberra International Airport, Parliament House in Canberra and Melbourne Aquatic Centre.