Ecoprod’s involvement

In early 2024 the council trialled URIMAT waterless urinals, supplied and supported by Ecoprod, as part of a wider refresh programme. The refurbishment also included Classic Cell Cubicles and Duct Panels provided by Kemmlit UK.

Several factors influenced the decision to go with waterless urinals and to select URIMAT in particular:

• Proven performance in high footfall environments
  The council was reassured by the fact that URIMAT urinals are already in use at major venues such as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and McDonald’s restaurants, where they cope with very high usage over short periods. This gave confidence that the system could handle the demands of central London public toilets.
• Elimination of cisterns and reduction in working at height
  Removing the need for cisterns and associated pipework above head height significantly reduces the requirement for staff to work at height, improving health and safety.
• No dependency on a service contract
  A key reason for choosing URIMAT was that there is no requirement for an external service contract to change cartridges or perform routine maintenance. Carlisle’s toilet attendants and maintenance staff are used to working with toilets and were happy to take on the simple cartridge changes themselves. This gives Westminster far more flexibility and control.
• Training and support from Ecoprod
  Ecoprod provided on-site training for Carlisle’s teams, showing them how to clean and maintain the urinals correctly and how to replace cartridges when needed. When some of the first installations, carried out by third-party contractors, suffered from minor issues, Ecoprod stepped in to help diagnose and resolve them, including sending engineers to site when necessary.
• 10 year guarantee on cartridge production
  When investing, WCC had to be sure of getting value for money, as it was spending public funds, so knowing that the cartridges would remain available into the future was a significant benefit.

Following the success of the initial installations, URIMAT waterless urinals have since been specified on additional refurbished sites, including high profile locations such as the Embankment and Parliament area toilets. In total, 11 Westminster sites with urinals now use the URIMAT system.

Outcomes and future benefits

Since installing URIMAT waterless urinals, Westminster City Council and Carlisle Support Services have seen a range of benefits.

Significant water and cost savings

At the time of installation, the council calculated that the capital cost of the urinals would be repaid through water savings in around 14 months. With current water prices, the payback period is likely to be even shorter. After that point, ongoing cartridge costs remain lower than the equivalent water and wastewater charges that would have been incurred with traditional flushing systems. For a council managing a large and heavily used public toilet estate, these savings are substantial and ongoing, freeing up budget that can be invested in other improvements.

Reduced carbon footprint and improved sustainability

By removing the need for flushing water, the council has reduced both water consumption and the associated carbon emissions from treatment and pumping. While the water savings have not been set against a formal water target, they contribute towards Westminster’s broader net zero ambitions and demonstrate practical action on environmental performance at an operational level.

Improved odour control and user experience

One of the most noticeable changes has been the improvement in odour, particularly at older sites that had long-standing smell issues. Staff report that locations such as the Embankment and Parliament toilets, which previously had a persistent “after smell”, are now free from that odour, even under heavy usage. At high footfall locations like Paddington Street Gardens, where the urinals are heavily used, the council has received compliments from users at sites that previously attracted negative feedback.

Simpler maintenance and better working conditions for staff

The URIMAT system has reduced blockages caused by uric scale and solids in pipework, cutting the amount of unpleasant and labour-intensive work needed from maintenance teams.

Because there are no cisterns to mount or maintain at height, risks associated with working at height have been reduced. Toilet attendants and maintenance staff are able to change cartridges themselves when needed, without having to wait for a third-party service provider.

Reliable partnership and responsive aftercare

Both Westminster Council and Carlisle Support Services highlight the ease of working with Ecoprod and the URIMAT team. From initial training through to resolving installation issues and ongoing advice, support has been quick, personal and practical. Knowing that knowledgeable people are available at the end of the phone, and willing to attend site when necessary, has given the council and Carlisle confidence in the long-term sustainability of the solution.

Looking ahead, Westminster and Carlisle are already exploring further opportunities to reduce environmental impact and running costs across the public toilet estate, including the possible adoption of water-saving spray taps that can also cut energy use by reducing demand for hot water.

What the clients say

“Sometimes different people at the council are impressed by different things. Some are impressed by the environmental aspect, some by the financial savings. With the waterless urinals I felt it was quite an easy way to keep everybody happy. When we installed them I worked out it would take around 14 months to pay off the units. With current water prices it’s probably far less than that, so there’s a huge financial benefit as well as the environmental one. Waterless urinals are an easy win for any organisation, especially ones with high footfall urinals like train stations. You get good financial savings and if you’ve got environmental targets to hit, you’re going to hit those as well”

Jamie Hill, Contract Manager (Cleansing Services), Westminster City Council

“These were older sites that had a natural smell of waste. Now we go in there and there’s no after-smell at all. People have seen that it’s an improvement with the smells and everything else.”

Stewart Smith, Regional Contract Manager, Carlisle Support Services

“For us it works because we can maintain the urinals ourselves when it’s needed straight away. We know we can contact Ecoprod, place an order and get products within a couple of days, or collect them to save on carriage costs. That flexibility and the aftercare service mean a lot.”

Stewart Smith, Regional Contract Manager, Carlisle Support Services