FEMP Designated Product: Urinals
Legal Authorities
Executive Order 13123 requires federal agencies to reduce water consumption and its associated energy use in their facilities. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 23.2 requires that agencies acquire water saving products designated by FEMP as being among the highest 25 percent for equivalent products.
Information about water-saving replacement urinals in this section includes the following:
Also provided is a portable document format version of Purchasing Specifications for Urinals (PDF 190 KB, 2 pp). Download Adobe Reader.
| Performance Requirement for Federal Purchases | |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Flow Ratea |
| Urinals | 1.0 gallons per flush or less |
a Based on ASME test procedure A112.19.6-1990.
Buying Water-Saving Urinals
This Specification is issued to promote early replacement of urinals with high flow rates (up to 3 gallons per flush or gpf). The Flow Rate shown in the Performance Requirements table above is exactly that required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Early replacement of high flow rate urinals with fixtures meeting these requirements can produce cost savings of several hundred dollars, as shown in the cost-effectiveness example below. When waterless urinals are used, the savings are even greater.
Agencies must use FEMP-designated performance requirements for all water-consuming product and system procurements including guide and project specifications, and construction, renovation and service contracts. They should also be used in evaluating responses to solicitations.
The federal supply sources for urinals are the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and, for waterless models, the General Services Administration (GSA). Purchase models that meet the flow rate shown in the Performance Requirement table above.
Buyer Tips
Infrared or ultrasound sensors can help avoid water waste from double flushing. Siphonic jet and blowout urinals, which flush automatically at given intervals, can be configured with timers or sensors that avoid automatic flushing during unoccupied hours. Retrofitting an existing urinal with a water-conserving valve can save substantially on water use at little cost.
Technology Options
Waterless urinals may offer enormous water cost savings. A waterless urinal uses a chemical trap with a low specific gravity chemical. This allows waste to flow down the discharge pipe without permitting sewer gases to escape. Daily maintenance of these urinals is important for odor control. Costs of chemicals and traps need to be compared with water cost savings.
Certain facilities like prisons or hospitals may need nonceramic or metal urinals which have straight drain lines and a 0.5 gpf rate. Replacing an existing 3.0 gps with a 0.5 gpf urinal can produce very large lifetime water savings, especially where water costs are high.
| Cost-Effectiveness Example – Average Water Costs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Base Model | Requireda | Waterlessb |
| Flow Rate | 3.0 gpf | 1.0 gpf | 0.0 gpf |
| Annual Water Use | 23,400 gallons | 7,800 gallons | 0 gallons |
| Annual Water Cost | $95 | $35 | $0 |
| 10-year Water Costc | $800 | $300 | $0 |
| Lifetime Water Cost Savingsd | — | $500 | $800 |
a The flow rate of the Required model just meets the current federal standards for urinals.
b Performance data for the Best Available model was obtained from the January 2006 California Energy Commission Appliance Database (see For More Information).
c The 10-year Water Cost is the sum of the discounted value of water costs, based on average usage and an assumption that early replacement of the urinal occurs at the midpoint of a 20-year useful life. A discount rate of 3.0% is based on federal guidelines (effective from April, 2005 to March, 2006). Future water and waste water costs are conservatively assumed to increase only at the rate of inflation.
d Does not include added costs for waterless urinals (i.e., chemicals and maintenance).
Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
Savings estimates are based on the flow rate of 3.0 gpf for the existing unit and 1.0 gpf for the replacement. Urinal use is assumed to be 30 flushes per day, 260 days per year. The combined water and wastewater price is assumed to be $4.00 per 1,000 gallons.
Using the Cost-Effectiveness Example
In the example shown above, early replacement of an existing urinal with a new unit at the Required flow rate of 1.0 gpf will save $500 in water costs over a 10-year period (the time before the old fixture will be replaced). Likewise, the Best Available model, a waterless urinal, will save $800 in water costs over a 10-year period. The example does not include any additional costs for maintenance or chemicals for the waterless urinal.
What if my Flow Rate or Water Price is different?
FEMP provides cost calculator for urinals. Input the conditions (i.e., gpf, water rate) at your facility. The output section will automatically display results that better reflect your situation.
Water rates in some parts of the US are substantially higher than $4.00/1000 gallons. The table below shows the savings when water costs are $10/1000 gallons.
| Cost-Effectiveness Example – High Water Costs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Base Model | Required | Waterless |
| Flow Rate | 3.0 gpf | 1.0 gpf | 0.0 gpf |
| Annual Water Use | 23,400 gallons | 7,800 gallons | 0 gallons |
| Annual Water Cost | $234 | $78 | $0 |
| 10-year Water Cost | $2,000 | $665 | $0 |
| Lifetime Water Cost Savings | — | $1,335 | $2,000 |
For More Information
- DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Information Center
Phone: 1-877-EERE-INF or 1-877-337-3463 - General Services Administration: Federal Supply Service and GSA Advantage!
Phone: (816) 926-6760 - Defense Logistics Agency: Emall
- Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
Phone: (800) DLA-BULB or (215) 737-7950 - American Water Works Association
Phone: (800) 926-7337 - California Energy Commission (CEC) has a list of certified plumbing fixtures online.
- Contact your local water utility for details about conservation programs and incentives in your area.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided market research and life cycle cost analysis in support of this energy efficiency purchasing specification.
Phone: (202) 646-7950