The Covid-19 pandemic has caused devastation to many essential areas of public service including the education sector. Close contact is intrinsic to providing support and participation in teaching rendering social distancing rules difficult to implement.
Due to population density, schools and other educational facilities potentially became hubs for spreading bacteria and viruses increasing the risk of transmission between students and staff who would then spread it to the wider community including those most vulnerable.
The challenge in managing the spread of the virus in the education sector led to the decision to close schools as experts deemed them too high risk to remain open.
As we emerge from what will hopefully be the final lockdown, it has never been more important to remain diligent to protect both staff, students and the wider community from the risks posed by bacterial and viral transmission.
The education sector has followed government guidance to the letter to ensure all safety protocols are applied to stem the spread of Covid-19 and other viruses and bacteria.
Safety measures have included the wearing of PPE, hand sanitising stations, social distancing (wherever possible) staggered admission and increased cleaning regimes. It seems that all that can be done to protect staff and students is being done.
However, there is another change that can significantly lower the risk of germ transmission…
Toilet facilities will always be high traffic, unhygienic areas despite the efforts of those charged with ensuring cleanliness due to a fundamental flaw in the engineering of flushing toilets. Often younger students and pupils lack hygiene awareness, adding to the challenge.
There is research that proves that a switch to waterless urinals reduces the aerosol spread of bacteria and viruses by up to 98%
It is a common misconception that water and cleanliness go hand in hand. Water is critical for our survival but it is also necessary for bacteria and viruses to reproduce; few realise flushing toilets and urinals provide the perfect breeding ground.
When traditional toilets or urinals are flushed an invisible cloud is dispersed into the air carrying with it all manner of germs, bacteria and viruses. They then contaminate surrounding surfaces including flush buttons, taps, door handles and clothing ready to be transferred to hands before spreading to other people and communal areas.
With a simple switch to waterless urinals this unnecessary spread of bacteria is completely removed ensuring a far safer environment for staff and students; with no water there is no breeding ground for germs and with no flushing there is no dispersal.
In addition to this extremely important benefit for health and wellbeing, waterless toilets have several other advantages:
- They save water! Educational facilities are hubs of forward thinking and environmental responsibility. Waterless toilets save on water costs and also increase green credentials and help eco-sustainability.
- Waterless toilets do not smell. It is the bacteria that causes odour and waterless toilets eliminate up to 98% of that from the equation.
- They only require cleaning with a simple eco-friendly spray twice a day reducing the impact on the environment.
- These waterless toilets are UK design and manufactured and support the UK economy.
- With the unique ‘pay as you save’ system there are no upfront costs and urinal instillation includes a free audit, fitting and all cleaning materials.
A switch to waterless urinals is an obvious choice, not only to better ensure the safety of your staff and student but to save money and protect the environment.