Your Building’s Urinals Are a Carbon Problem :Climate Action Day

Your building may be working towards net zero while flushing thousands of litres of perfectly avoidable water down its urinals every single day.

That water has a footprint. It takes energy to extract, treat, pump and distribute fresh water. After flushing, the wastewater must be collected and treated again. Multiply this process across dozens of urinals and hundreds of users, and a seemingly small daily habit becomes an overlooked part of your building’s environmental impact. On Climate Action Day, October 24, it is time to look beyond the big-ticket sustainability investments and examine one of the most frequently overlooked sources of water consumption in commercial buildings the men's washroom.

The carbon cost hiding in your washroom

Consider a commercial building with 10 conventional urinals. Assume each urinal uses 1.5 litres per flush, receives 100 flushes per day, and operates throughout the year. Here is what that adds up to:

• Daily water consumption: 1,500 litres

• Annual water consumption: 547,500 litres

• Annual water consumption across 10 urinals: 5.475 lakh litres

That is more than half a million litres of treated water used every year just to flush urinals in one building. And the water bill is only part of the story. Water extraction, treatment, pumping and wastewater processing all consume energy and can generate greenhouse gas emissions. The precise carbon footprint depends on the local water supply, energy mix, pumping requirements and wastewater treatment system. To estimate your building's emissions, multiply its annual flushing water consumption in cubic metres by the relevant water-supply and wastewater emissions factor. Use local utility or treatment-plant data wherever available for a credible calculation. For sustainability teams, this is an opportunity to measure an overlooked operational impact rather than rely on broad assumptions about a building's carbon footprint.

The solution does not have to involve a major renovation

Reducing this footprint does not necessarily require a new plumbing network, expensive construction or a complicated technology upgrade. Zerodor waterless urinal technology from Ekam Eco Solutions eliminates flushing water at the urinal. Instead of using fresh water after every use, Zerodor uses a mechanical sealing valve that allows urine to pass into the drain while helping prevent sewer gases from travelling back into the washroom. The result is a practical change in how the washroom operates:

• Zero flushing water: No routine flushing water is needed at the urinal.

• No electricity: The mechanical system does not depend on powered sensors.

• No sealant oils or cartridges: The system avoids these recurring consumables.

• Retrofit-friendly installation: Existing compatible urinals can be upgraded using a valve kit, without major civil work.

• Odour control at the source: The mechanical valve helps prevent drain gases from entering the washroom when properly installed and maintained.

For suitable existing installations, the retrofit can take as little as 15 minutes, depending on the urinal configuration and site conditions. Explore Ekam Eco Solutions to learn more about its approach to water-saving sanitation.

What this means for ESG and BRSR teams

For businesses working towards measurable sustainability outcomes, water conservation is not separate from climate action. Reducing unnecessary water demand can reduce the energy associated with water supply and wastewater management. It can also help facilities reduce operating costs while strengthening their resource-efficiency initiatives. This connects with the broader environmental priorities addressed in India's SEBI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting framework, particularly resource efficiency, water management and environmental performance. For sustainability heads, ESG officers and facility managers, the practical next step is to identify water-intensive operations, establish a baseline and measure the savings after an intervention. Zerodor offers a starting point calculate the annual flushing water used across your building's men's urinals, assess the retrofit opportunity and track the reduction after installation.The carbon benefit should then be calculated using an appropriate local emissions factor, rather than assuming every litre saved translates into the same quantity of CO₂ avoided.

Climate action starts with everyday operations

Buildings do not become more sustainable through ambitious targets alone. They become more sustainable when everyday operating decisions change. A waterless urinal may not be the biggest investment in your building. But across multiple washrooms, floors and facilities, eliminating unnecessary flushing can deliver meaningful water savings without asking occupants to change their habits. And when the retrofit can be completed in as little as 15 minutes at a suitable site, it becomes easier to move from sustainability discussions to action. This Climate Action Day, give your building's washrooms the same attention as its lighting, cooling and energy systems.

Get a Zerodor quote from Ekam Eco Solutions. Start with water savings, calculate the carbon benefit, and make every washroom work smarter. Zero flush. Zero flushing water. A practical step towards lower-impact buildings.