The oddest urinals I've ever seen
Longtime readers of Midnight Sun know I've got something of a bathroom fetish.
Maybe "fetish" is too strong a word. Lemme try that again.
Longtime readers of Midnight Sun know I've got a keen interest in bathrooms and bathroom accessories.
The only hand dryers I'll use are the XLerators, which are so strong they almost blow the skin off your hand.
That said, I've never seen something quite like the urinals at The Reserve (1542 Light St.). They're oval-shaped and inset into the wall. But the oddest part is, they don't flush ...
In that respect, they're kind of like the troughs you see at American Legion halls. I assume there's some natural force -- gravity, perhaps? -- that takes care of that for you.
Either way, it kinda freaks me out.
Urinals should flush. That is a rule. Urinals that don't flush -- especially in bar bathrooms -- are asking for trouble.
Do these kind of urinals exist in other Baltimore joints? Is this a trend?
I certainly hope not. Nasty nasty.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
They are saving the world with those strange toilets :)
http://gizmodo.com/158228/flushless-urinals-receive-awards-save-water
http://www.falconwaterfree.com/how/
Posted by: Dave T | August 26, 2009 8:04 AM
Unless this is a horrible oversight, these are "water-less urinals" which function fine without the use of water. They have these at Mother's as well. It's the environmentally-friendly approach to conserve water and are used in many "green" buildings. I believe they work pretty much the same as normal urinals but instead of water occupying the p-trap, it's filled with a gel that allows liquid to pass, then stays in the trap to block sewer gases and odors. They initially got a bad rap for retaining odors, but the newer porcelain models fair much better than their earlier counterparts.
Posted by: FHT | August 26, 2009 8:11 AM
They recently installed these at my alma mater's new facilities and they operate on mineral oil or something. I took one look at one of them and was like "I DUN LAHK THESE FANCY TERLETS" and used the sink.
Posted by: Evan | August 26, 2009 8:42 AM
if these are in bars, it's gonna be a bad time in dixie, for anyone who decides to spew chunks in there. it looks like it'd just flow upward, and cream your head.
Posted by: Allan | August 26, 2009 9:14 AM
Those XLerator hand dryers are nothing compared to the Dyson Airblade. if you ever use the bathrooms in Harborplace they got them in there; it's like a squeegie for your hands
Posted by: AC | August 26, 2009 9:33 AM
AC -- Yes! The Dyson Airblade! I used one once, and it tore off one of my fingernails! It was like that scene in District 9.
Oh, and Allan, good call on blowing chunks. I thought about that too, but forgot to write it. Yes, I'll bet it gets pretty rank in there pretty quickly. Thankfully, there is a toilet bowl, though. But what if somebody is already vomiting into the toilet bowl? What happens then?
Posted by: Sam Sessa | August 26, 2009 10:00 AM
They have a similar type of turlit at Della Rose's in Canton
Posted by: Greg S | August 26, 2009 10:13 AM
I never recommend urinals at all. They are messy because everyone dribbles their [urine] on the floor. Who wants to stand in that? I'd be more worried about what you're walking in than what's going down the drain if I were you. Stall toilets almost never have that mess in front of them all over the floor. I'll choose the toilet please. Why is it so hard for guys to get it all in the urinal? I saw a female (well, she was mostly female I think) bend over and back herself up to a urinal once to use it, and she didn't spill a drop. If she could do it, I know a male can. By the way this reminds me of a great old joke... Q: "What's the last thing a guy wants to hear while he's standing at a urinal?" A: "Nice watch"
Posted by: johnnycat | August 26, 2009 1:05 PM
We don't tend to think through water consumption very much in Bay Country.
Go spend a month in high desert like central or northern Arizona. Go spend a month in a place where ALL the water comes from the windmill and a 600' well. You will come home with a whole new appreciation for low-water-consumption "appurtenances" and accessories like this.
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | August 26, 2009 9:20 PM
By the way, been to J. Patrick's or Bertha's? Those things should be in museums--maybe the Public Works Museum?
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | August 27, 2009 1:43 PM