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The Green cleaning movement in the jan/san industry started many years ago with a focus on reducing the impact of cleaning chemicals on people's health and the environment. Over time, it has spread to developing vacuum cleaners with high-filtration air-filtering systems as well as floor machines with built-in passive vacuum systems.

It now appears that Green cleaning is broadening its reach once again. According to Steven Ashkin, president of the Ashkin Group, LLC, "another key environmental issue is the growing importance of water consumption."

The Situation

While Britney Spears has millions of discussion groups on the Web, a few months back, one of the most popular "blogged" topics in Atlanta, Ga., was not Spears - it was water. The city faced the most extreme drought since the 1920s, complicated by the fact that metropolitan Atlanta has added more new residents than any other U.S. city since 2000.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in 85 counties; ordered utilities, businesses and water systems to reduce consumption by 10 percent; and urged Georgians to keep their cars dirty as a badge of honor. Even though the crisis was eventually averted, it is believed the water shortage may have repercussions for years to come.

And Georgia is not alone. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S. think-tank, water is a growing concern that is set to become the world economy's single most pressing resource crisis. That's right; it is not oil, not food, but water.

This means that facility managers will likely turn more to jan/san distributors to find ways to reduce water use in cleaning. Additionally, distributors will find many more of their clients installing low-water and no-water restroom fixtures. An understanding of these technologies and, more importantly, how to clean them, will be necessary.

Water-reducing fixtures

"Already many jan/san distributors have clients that have installed waterless urinal systems," says Klaus Reichardt, managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC. "It is only in the past couple of years that their acceptance has become significant, mostly because they are recognized as an important component of a Green facility."

Waterless urinals can significantly reduce water use - by up to 40,000 gal. of water per urinal per year. However, they carry with them their own cleaning needs.

"A trap/cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid sealant that sits atop the drain area of the urinal," adds Reichardt. "It helps keep sewer odors from being released into the restroom. Cleaning professionals should not use harsh chemicals to clean the urinal because it can harm the trap/cylinder."

Sloan, another manufacturer of no-water urinals, even has a list of recommended cleaners posted on their website. "Proper installation and cleaning are the two most important processes to keeping no-water urinals operating correctly and to take full advantage of their water-saving benefits," says Don Yurkovich, Central regional sales manager.

Along with avoiding harsh chemicals, both manufacturers advise custodial workers against pouring mop water down urinals so as not to flush out the sealant or using course brushes or scouring pads for cleaning. "As with any fixture, harsh cleaning or brushing should be avoided to keep the surfaces smooth," adds Reichardt.

Another fixture that jan/san distributors are likely to see in their clients' facilities are "65-second toilets." These systems, developed by Sloan, use electronic sensors to determine how long the toilet has been used. The appropriate amount of water (1.6 gal. for over 65 seconds and 1.1 for under) is then flushed. Similarly, other water-reducing toilet technologies are being developed, and new regulations in California and other states are set to take effect by 2010. Although their cleaning needs will likely be similar to those of conventional toilets, because less water is used they may need a more thorough cleaning of the actual bowl.

Cleaning strategies

Along with introducing water-saving toilets and urinals, jan/san distributors can advise their clients about other ways to reduce water when cleaning. For instance, it is still common to find commercial kitchen floors cleaned by hosing them down. "Mopping or using floor machines to scrub floor surfaces will reduce water usage significantly," says Reichardt.

Other suggestions for reducing water use when cleaning include:

• Auto-dilution systems that regulate not only chemical use but water use as well. With these systems, neither water nor chemicals are wasted.
• Some cleaning equipment, such as no-touch cleaning machines, use metering systems to regulate (and conserve) chemical and water usage.
• Microfiber mop heads and cleaning cloths use less water than traditional string mops or terry cloth towels.
• Steam vapor systems, although dependent on water, can be effective in melting away grease and grime and cleaning a variety of surfaces. These systems tend to use water more responsibly and eliminate the need for chemicals.

Why the fuss?

The bottom line is that water is a finite resource that must be protected now. Steps we take today to conserve water help ensure our needs for today and tomorrow.

Robert Kravitz is with AlturaSolutions Communications.