A 27-year-old innovator from Pune develops a technology for odorless and waterless public urinals

Public urinals pose a significant challenge for urban sanitation, as they are often associated with unpleasant odours, unhygienic conditions and wastage of water. According to a report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India has about 1.5 lakh public toilets, out of which 94,000 are urinals. These urinals consume about 13 billion litres of water every year, which is equivalent to the annual water requirement of 65 lakh people.

In order to address this problem, a biotechnology graduate from Pune, Kedar Kulkarni (27), has developed a technology that not only reduces the odour but also saves water. He co-founded Rutu Biosystems — a startup that provides odour control, sanitation and water conservation solutions using biologicals.

The benefits of using waterless urinals are manifold.

- Water Savings: Waterless urinals can save up to 35,000 gallons of water per year per urinal. This can help conserve water resources and reduce water bills.

- Low Maintenance: Waterless urinals do not have flush valves or pipes that need repairs or replacements. They also do not clog or overflow, which can cause damage and inconvenience.

- More Hygienic: Waterless urinals remain dry and do not mix urine with water. This prevents the growth and spread of germs, bacteria and viruses that can cause infections and diseases. Waterless urinals also reduce splatter and aerosolization of pathogens.

- Odor Control: Waterless urinals prevent the formation of ammonia and other foul-smelling compounds that result from urine-water interaction. They also use odour controllers that neutralise any residual smell and leave a pleasant fragrance.

- Sustainability: Waterless urinals contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing water consumption, sewage generation, energy use and carbon emissions. They also use biodegradable products that do not harm the environment.

- Energy Reduction: Waterless urinals reduce the energy use associated with pumping, treating and heating water for flushing urinals. They also reduce the energy use associated with treating and disposing of sewage.

- Retrofits: Waterless urinals can be easily installed in existing bathrooms without any major changes or modifications. They can fit into any standard plumbing system.

"Our technology consists of three products that work together — a washroom cleaner, a urinal screen and bio block, and an odour controller. The basic components of these products are bacteria and enzymes. The bacteria degrade the organic matter present in urine and prevent the formation of ammonia, which is the main cause of odour. The enzymes break down the uric acid crystals that clog the pipes and cause stains. The odour controller is a spray that neutralises any residual smell and leaves a pleasant fragrance," Kulkarni explains.

The startup claims that its technology can save up to 95% of water used in flushing urinals, as well as reduce the maintenance cost and frequency. The products are easy to use and do not require any retrofitting or plumbing changes. They are also eco-friendly and biodegradable .

Kulkarni says that he got the inspiration for his innovation while working as a project consultant at Mattel, Inc., where he applied lean principles to improve the efficiency of toy production. He realised that the same principles could be applied to sanitation as well.

"I was always interested in biotechnology and its applications in various fields. I did my graduation from Fergusson College and then pursued my PGDM in operations management from Welingkar Institute of Management. During my stint at Mattel, I learned about lean sigma and how it can help reduce waste and optimise processes. I thought why not use this approach to solve the problem of odour and water wastage in public urinals," he says.

He then teamed up with his friend Pranav Joshi, who had experience in marketing and sales, and founded Rutu Biosystems in January 2021. The startup has received support from various organisations such as Startup India, Maharashtra State Innovation Society, Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd., TiE Pune, etc .

The startup has already installed its technology in over 500 public urinals across Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc., and has received positive feedback from the users and authorities. The startup aims to reach 10,000 urinals by the end of this year and save up to 55 crore litres of water annually.

Kulkarni says that his vision is to make public urinals odourless and hygienic for everyone and contribute to a greener world.

"We want to create a social impact by providing a sustainable solution for sanitation and water conservation. We believe that everyone deserves a clean and comfortable washroom experience. Our motto is 'Paving the way to a greener world'," he says.