Thousands of gallons of ill-aimed pee could be spared from lavatory floors thanks to a new urinal design, scientists say.
Around 1 million liters (264,172 gallons) of urine are spilled onto the floor and walls of public restrooms each day in the U.S. thanks to current urinal shapes, creating hygiene issues and unpleasant smells.
There are now around 56 million public restrooms across the U.S. alone, the scientists said in the study.
"Urinals are a staple of public spaces yet their designs have remained essentially stagnant for over a century,” the researchers wrote in the study.
"The use of urinals often results in significant splatter (splashback) as urine splashes upon impact with the urinal generating droplets which travel back onto the floor and user.".
Some bathrooms attempt to reduce splashback using urinal screens, mats, or even stickers to tell people where to aim their urine.
The researchers' Cornucopia and Nautilus designs both achieved a significant reduction in urine splashing, with the Cornucopia performing best. »
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