Landscape Architect Articles

"Hold It," Says San Francisco07-29-15 | News

"Hold It," Says San Francisco

'Ultra Ever-Dry' is a spray coating that repels water-based and some oil-based liquids. The concrete block at left is absorbing water, while the coated surface (right) beads water, which then runs off.

A distinct memory of my first visit to Chicago (ASLA 2009) was the strong reek of urine emanating from the concrete walls bordering the Chicago River, along the pedestrian path to the downtown hotel district.

This memory came to mind when I read that San Francisco is experiencing the same problem. San Francisco, at least the last time I was there, has a lot of homeless people on the streets, and when you need to go, you go. I don't recall seeing public toilets there, but perhaps the city now has a few porta-potties on the streets.

The San Francisco Public Works Department (SFPWD) is now testing a spray product (Ultra-Ever Dry) on nine walls downtown in an area with large homeless populations and numerous bars. The product repels water-based and some oil-based liquids. Signs are posted on those walls in English, Chinese and Spanish that say, "Hold it! ... seek relief in an appropriate place." SFPWD reportedly is planning for more public toilets citywide.

San Francisco got the idea for spraying the walls from another city"?uHamburg, which is using the spray in its red-light district, a popular tourist destination, and, parenthetically, the early musical training ground for the Beatles. The manufacturer describes the product as a super hydro and hydrocarbon phobic coating. The application of this on various surfaces and materials (boots, gloves) is worth viewing www.spillcontainment.com/ever-dry.

Uses for this product include coating tools, equipment (e.g., electric motors) and nearly anything that needs to be kept dry, corrosion free, de-iced, uncontaminated or clean. While uses for the coating are broad, you would not use it on a car or truck body, nor windows/windshields, as the spray would leave a matte finish. Unfortunately, it will not prevent oil-based spry paints from being applied, due to the solvents in the paints, although it has been shown to be somewhat effective on water-based paints.