It’s people like Debs Torr and Chris Dobson who make the world a better place. Mr.’s Torr and Dobson are students at the University of East Anglia (UEA) – a world-renowned research institution in Norwich, England. According to them, their plan will save about 720 million liters (187 gallons) of water every year. Their radical idea? Pee in the shower.
“We’ve done the math,” says Dobson, “and this project stands to have a phenomenal impact. With 15,000 students at UEA, over a year we would save enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 26 times over.”
The name of their movement? ‘Go with the Flow.’ Something that many people appear to be doing: according to a survey by Angie’s List, about 80 percent of us tinkle in the tub.
It’s understandable as to why 20 percent of us are reluctant. Peeing where you rinse and repeat doesn’t sound very hygienic (it is!). Others worry about urine staining their shower space.
An article published in Business Insider explains why it’s “a-ok” to let it flow (albeit, in the ocean):
“Human urine is 95 percent water. It also contains sodium (Na) and chloride ions – these are the same components that make up regular table salt (NaCl).”
(Note: According to the American Chemical Society, urinating in an enclosed area, e.g., a pool, is potentially dangerous. This is due to a chemical reaction that takes place between urine and pool cleaning liquids. Also, people with urinary tract infection [UTI] should refrain as well.)
Now that we know peeing in the shower helps the planet, let’s talk about some other benefits.
Here are 7 other reasons why you should pee in the shower:
1. Cleanliness
It’s cleaner – or at least as clean – to pee in the shower as it is the toilet. While a communal shower may be considered off-limits for many, your own shower serves as a hygienic second option. When it comes right down to it, your pee is going to backsplash anyways – might as well do it where you can rinse it off.
2. Saves Money
If you’re like most of us, you pay a water bill. While probably not the most expensive utility, you’ll probably save a few bucks by going in the shower going a while.
Most manufactured toilets use between 1.5 to 3 gallons of water with every flush. Older toilets are even worse, using 5 to 7 gallons every time. Thus, you save water.
3. Hygiene
Women have to use toilet paper every time they hit the john. By taking a tinkle in the shower, you don’t have to wipe, only rinse. Besides saving time and money, it’s more hygienic for females.
4. It prevents and kills fungus
The United States Army instructs soldiers to urinate on their feet when out in the field. Why? Because urine is a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal treatment. Urine is also a good antiseptic – and urinating on a wound can help disinfect it; a practice that goes back to ancient times.
5. It’s a time saver
Okay, so you’re probably not gonna save a whole lot of time – but in the morning, every minute counts. Not much else to say except you’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Who knows, maybe you’ll have enough time to down another cup of java (would that be defeating the purpose? Hmm … meh.)
6. It feels good
Oh, and peeing in the shower feels good. The warm water from the shower relaxes your bowels and urinary tract enough to make the experience pleasurable.
7. Because you can
Yeah! It’s your shower, after all (we hope.) Give that inner rebel of yours a reason to get fired up by doing something that “society” considers “unclean.” You can gain an extra bit of satisfaction knowing that the traitors who rail against shower pee are probably doing it too.
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