First off, no, I don’t do it.
But I am a Savinly reader, and this recent fuss might persuade me to rethink my habits.
In the interest of conserving resources,IFLSciencerecommends we pee while showering.It could translate to saving 579 gallons of water per person each year.
Figures are circulating online about how many people relieve themselves in the shower. Based on a BuzzFeed reader poll where over 80% of participants admitted to shower-peeing, I suspect some people are eager to embrace studies that justify their divisive hygiene habits.
Since conservation usually ties into cost savings, I wanted to dig a bit deeper.
How Peeing in the Shower Can Save You Money
The premise is simple: If you pee while showering, you can skip flushing the toilet. The running shower water will rinse away the urine.
If you shower once a day, that’s one fewer flush, which conserves between 1.3 and 3.5 gallons of water per person per day.
A household of four could conserve more than 5,000 gallons annually — and save up to 42 cents per day or $153.30 per year.
That’s not insignificant. (We’ll cover proper sneezing etiquette another time :mask face emoji:.)
You can trim toilet paper costs as well. A slight twist and a little maneuvering turns your shower into a makeshift bidet — no installation necessary.
If you already pee in the shower, do those savings vindicate your habit? And if you don’t, would you alter your routine to cut down on your water and paper expenses?
Let’s tackle the concerns.
Is It Unsanitary? Kind Of
In 2014, research from the University of Chicago challenged the idea that urine is completely sterile.
“Urine is not sterile, even before it leaves your body and gets exposed to skin. Bacteria exist at low levels in the urine of healthy individuals, Evann Hilt of Loyola University of Chicago reported,” according to Science News.
Still, the study indicates these bacteria are unlikely to make you (or your household members) ill. Just avoid letting it contact any open cuts.
Will It Harm the Plumbing?
Toilets carry “black water,” which includes fecal matter, urine, toilet paper and other flushable waste.
Showers, tubs, sinks and washing machines, conversely, discharge “grey water,” which contains far fewer solids.
Could introducing urine into your shower’s grey water harm your pipes?
“Aside from it being not the most hygienic practice, [peeing in the shower] is generally not going to clog your shower drain,” said Sarah Green of Advanced Plumbing Commercial & Residential in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Green noted shower drain water flows into the same line as the toilet. If the drain operates normally, you likely won’t experience problems.
However, “you don’t want that sitting in your tub,” she cautions, since it could produce an unpleasant odor.
Regarding monetary savings, Green says the impact is minimal. She suggests those who follow the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow” philosophy are probably cutting costs more significantly.
I’ll add that such people also avoid ever standing in their — or someone else’s — urine.
Other Ways to Save
If neither choice appeals to you, here are additional strategies to reduce your toilet-related expenses this year.
And here’s how you can shave up to $250 annually off your household water bill.
For the 41% of you who admit to peeing in the pool, there’s still no justification for that behavior.
Your Turn: Would you pee in the shower to cut costs?
Daniela Reed (@daniareed) is a senior writer at Savinly. She’s contributed to multiple outlets, including Entrepreneur.com and Writer’s Digest, and sprinkles humor into her work whenever it’s permitted (and occasionally when it isn’t).
