India's water crisis is no longer limited to households or agriculture. Commercial buildings, educational institutions, transport hubs, offices and industrial facilities also face increasing pressure to reduce freshwater consumption without compromising hygiene or operational efficiency. One often-overlooked opportunity lies in something used every day: the urinal.

Zerodor, an Indian sanitation technology brand associated with innovation from the IIT Delhi startup ecosystem, is addressing this challenge through waterless urinal technology. By rethinking conventional restroom infrastructure, the company aims to help organisations reduce water consumption while making sanitation more resource-efficient.
Turning an Everyday Facility into a Water-Saving Opportunity
Traditional urinals can consume significant quantities of water over thousands of daily uses. In high-footfall locations such as railway stations, corporate offices, factories, shopping centres and institutional campuses, this demand can add up quickly.

Waterless urinals offer an alternative by eliminating the need for routine flushing water at the urinal itself. Depending on usage, installation conditions and maintenance practices, this can help facilities reduce freshwater consumption and associated operating costs.

For businesses evaluating sustainable infrastructure, Zerodor waterless technology presents an opportunity to integrate water conservation into everyday facility management. Rather than relying exclusively on large-scale infrastructure changes, organisations can also explore practical interventions that deliver savings at the point of use.
From IIT Delhi Research to Real-World Impact
Founded in 2013, Ekam Eco Solutions emerged from research into sustainable sanitation, with Zerodor becoming its flagship waterless urinal innovation. The patented technology uses a mechanical one-way valve designed to allow urine to drain while helping prevent sewer gases and unpleasant odours from returning to the restroom. The system does not require flushing water, electricity or regular cartridge replacement.

The innovation's growing adoption reflects a broader shift in how organisations approach sustainability: moving beyond policy commitments towards practical, measurable improvements in everyday operations.
3.5 Billion Litres Saved: A Milestone in Water Conservation
According to Ekam Eco Solutions' published impact reporting, Zerodor has crossed 3.5 billion litres of cumulative water savings, supported by more than 85,000 installations. The company also reports adoption across more than 800 organisations and brands. These figures demonstrate the potential impact of addressing water consumption at scale, although actual savings vary with usage patterns and the conventional fixtures replaced.

For facility managers, the business case extends beyond water conservation. Reduced flushing-water demand can also help lower water-pumping requirements, wastewater volumes and certain maintenance costs. For organisations pursuing sustainability targets and green-building standards, waterless urinals can be a practical addition to wider resource-efficiency initiatives.
Supporting India's Commercial and Public Infrastructure
Zerodor's adoption spans corporate workplaces, educational institutions, government organisations and public infrastructure. Indian Railways is among the organisations identified in Ekam's published customer and deployment information.

For large corporate campuses, including facilities operated by major multinational and Fortune 500 businesses, water-efficient sanitation can form part of a broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. Specific Fortune 500 deployments should be confirmed with the company before naming individual customers in a published release.

The technology is particularly relevant for high-footfall environments where repeated flushing creates substantial cumulative water demand. By addressing this everyday source of consumption, organisations can make progress towards sustainability objectives without necessarily undertaking a complete restroom renovation.
A Timely Opportunity for Businesses Before Diwali
As businesses prepare for the festive season, Diwali offers a timely opportunity to review infrastructure efficiency, operating expenditure and sustainability priorities before the next planning cycle. Facility managers, procurement teams, architects and corporate sustainability leaders can evaluate waterless urinals as part of their upcoming upgrades and resource-conservation programmes.

With its roots in IIT Delhi research and a growing reported installation base, Zerodor illustrates how focused Indian innovation can address a challenge with implications for commercial facilities nationwide.