So in the new student ministry offices there’s several new flushless toilets. Is this even sanitary? Inquiring minds want to know, and I turned to some TreeHuggers for help. Here’s a clip of the process:

For those not familiar with the fascinating world of urinal technology: “Conventional urinals use at least three liters of water per flush (about a gallon), whereas flushless urinals need neither water nor a flushing system

[…] Special glazes give sanitary-ware urinals a pore-free surface, while urinals made of synthetic material have a long-lasting gel coating that repels liquids. The urine flows off the smooth surface of the urinal into a siphon. […]

The siphon contains a liquid sealant that has a specific density that is lighter-than-water. This floats to the top, allowing the urine to flow through it and away, taking any odors with it. The liquid sealant remains in the siphon. Flushless urinals have no joints or cracks in which bacteria can colonize. The special surface repels most liquids and impurities. Cleaning therefore involves less cost and effort than with conventional systems, and strong toilet cleaners are unnecessary.”

JG