The next time you visit a public urinal, you will no longer be greeted with foul odour.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is starting a ‘Waterless Urinal system’ at Gateway Plaza near the Gateway of India.
The urinals are fitted with a special soap cartridge through which the urine passes. Hence, there is no need to flush with water.
R.A. Rajeev, additional municipal commissioner said: “It is difficult to flush in case of urinals which are used by large number of people as water tends to spill on the floor. The new toilets would be hygienically maintained.”
Two litres of water is used for every use and BMC estimates to save 10,000 litres in the Gateway plaza urinal per month. Each soap cartridge would be used 10,000 times and can be refilled again.
This is a pilot project, which would be implemented throughout the city depending on the outcome.
Citizens have welcomed the move. “The current toilets are in bad shape and I tend to avoid it. At least now we have an option,” said Surubhi Shankar (24), who works in public sector firm.