Navy’s Waterless Urinal Program Could Get Flushed

Money down the pee-hole: Here’s something to go with those infamous $150 toilet seats — $2 million for waterless urinals. As part of a growing trend of tacking earmarks onto appropriations bills, the money would be diverted from the Navy’s fiscal operations budget into a study of flushless urinals for use on ships and at military installations. The technology could save the armed forces hundeds of thousands of dollars annually in water and sewage costs.

The main congressional backer for the urinal earmark is Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., a self-described environmentalist. Of course, the study might be conducted by Falcon Waterfree Technologies, which is located — surprise — in Ehlers’ district.

“They are not the only company doing this,” Ehlers said in a brief interview outside the men’s restroom near the House floor, reported CongressDaily.

Ehlers, who said he has used waterfree urinals “six or seven times” in the last several months, said he became interested in the issue after learning that the military plans to install new bathrooms at several installations.

The technology, he added, could come in handy particularly in Iraq, where troops “don’t have the water to flush a thing.”

But waterfree urinals might remain just a pipe dream for Ehlers, as House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman C.W. (Bill) Young, R-Fla., said conferees on the Defense spending bill will be looking hard at any area they could slash funding — including earmarks — when they begin work next week.

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