San Francisco is using pee-repellant paint on walls to combat public urinators
San Francisco is adding pee-repelling paint to walls in order to keep streets clean, similar to what's been used in Hamburg's St. Pauli district in Germany.
Be careful where you pee in San Francisco because it might splash right back at you.
San Francisco's Department of Public Works recently announced that it is coating nine walls around the city with hydrophobic paint to help combat public urinators.
The Ultra-Ever Dry paint is a waterproof paint that works as a repellant of liquids. It can coat any surface and it has been used before on paper and other fabrics.
The Department of Public Works coated walls located around the Mission and SOMA districts, but is looking to expand the paint job if the pilot program is a success. However, each coated wall costs several hundred dollars, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"The team that did the testing (were) excited because the liquid bounces back more than we thought it would," Public Works chief Mohammed Nuru told the Chronicle. "We will send people to see, visually, if there are any wet signs to indicate urination has happened."
"Based on Hamburg, we know this pilot program is going to work," Nuru said. "It will reduce the number of people using the walls. I really think it will deter them."
Aside from the wall coating, the city is also introducing Pit Stop stations to offer public, portable toilets and sinks during certain hours.
San Francisco is adding pee-repelling paint to walls in order to keep streets clean, similar to what's been used in Hamburg's St. Pauli district in Germany.
Be careful where you pee in San Francisco because it might splash right back at you.
San Francisco's Department of Public Works recently announced that it is coating nine walls around the city with hydrophobic paint to help combat public urinators.
The Ultra-Ever Dry paint is a waterproof paint that works as a repellant of liquids. It can coat any surface and it has been used before on paper and other fabrics.
The Department of Public Works coated walls located around the Mission and SOMA districts, but is looking to expand the paint job if the pilot program is a success. However, each coated wall costs several hundred dollars, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"The team that did the testing (were) excited because the liquid bounces back more than we thought it would," Public Works chief Mohammed Nuru told the Chronicle. "We will send people to see, visually, if there are any wet signs to indicate urination has happened."
San Francisco is not the first city to implement urine-repelling paint. The city of Hamburg, Germany has also used the paint and saw a decrease in people who use the streets as a bathroom.
"Based on Hamburg, we know this pilot program is going to work," Nuru said. "It will reduce the number of people using the walls. I really think it will deter them."
Aside from the wall coating, the city is also introducing Pit Stop stations to offer public, portable toilets and sinks during certain hours.