Gadget Review: Desert Cube

Gadget: Desert Cube

What it is:

A small, blue, non-toxic, biodegradable cube that sits in the urinal and eliminates the need to flush.

Why you need it:

It saves water - loads of it. Once a Desert Cube is placed in a urinal bowl the water supply can be turned off - all it needs is four litres of water per urinal per day in order to flush away degraded matter and to activate the cubes. This translates to a big saving both material and environmental.

Although the idea takes a little to get used to, since most people are conditioned to flushing as a way to "clean" the urinal, once a few facts are considered it's a very logical option.

Bacteria are actually most suited to and breed the fastest in moist environments. Desert Cubes which dissolve over several weeks use their microbial properties to trigger a natural breakdown of organic matter and clear drains (and bacteria) which have built up. Further, since the Desert Cube is a waterless system it allows urinal surfaces to dry, which means that bacteria cannot form permanent colonies. This not only creates a more hygienic environment but also eliminates unpleasant odours and staining.

Key features:

• easy to use
• eliminate build up in drains
• prevents bacteria from breeding
• produce pleasant smell
• completely biodegradable and non-toxic

What's particularly cool about it:

The Desert Cube waterless system reduces water usage by up to 98% - which translates to some big water savings. Plus environmentally savvy brokers will also be happy to learn that the Cubes avoid the use of environmentally damaging chemicals.

What it will cost you:

While there is no conversion cost, as the cubes need only to be placed into existing urinals, there is an ongoing maintenance cost - the cubes need to be replaced every few weeks.

Businesses wishing to start have two options:
(1) To purchase 50 desert cubes for $390.50 (including GST)
(2) To purchase a "starter kit," which includes 50 cubes, Desert Cube in liquid form as well as cleaning equipment for $508.20 (including GST).
Once the waterless system is set up, the running costs vary according to use, however Desert estimate the rough cost for replacement cubes (and optional booster cleaner) as between $10 and $20 per month, per urinal bay. Further this cost is offset by savings in the water bill department.

Where you can get it:

Desert Cube distributors can be contacted at www.desert.com.au/distributor.htm

Water facts:

• The average urinal wastes 151,000 litres of water a year
  (see www.desert.com.au/water.htm)
• Only 3% of water on earth is fresh and only 1% (0.007%) of that is available to humans.
  (see www.waterdiverters.com.au/index.php?id=1503&start=10)
• While two thirds of all the people on earth use less than 60 litres of water a day, the average
  Australian uses more than twice that amount during a single shower.
  (see www.getgreen.com.au/2007/04/09/australian-water-crisis-facts)
• Australia is the driest populated continent on earth, but we are the greatest consumers of water per person.
  (see www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=42)
• The average annual rainfall in Australia is 469 mm/yr, well below the global average
  of 746mm/yr. 70% of our continent is classified as desert or semi-desert, with little or no precipitation.
  (see www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=42)