What Is Urine-Repellent Paint? And Why Is San Francisco Breaking the Paint-Pot Seal?

San Francisco has breathed a sigh of relief as the city finally begins experimenting with urine-repellent paint. So what exactly is this innovative new product? According to the city’s director of public works Mohammed Nuru, anyone urinating on the specially treated walls will be met with an unpleasant ‘splashback’ thanks to the paint’s innovative water repellent properties.

The city has confirmed that it will be targeting walls in areas that are regularly soaked by inconsiderate citizens needing to empty their bladders. These include bar and nightclub districts, as well as homeless haunts.

Rachel Gordon, a spokeswoman for the public works department bluntly explains, “The urine will bounce back on the guy’s pants and shoes. The idea is they will think twice next time about urinating in public.”

Social media sparks public urination backlash

Interestingly, Nuru was first introduced to the idea when he read a social media post about Hamburg’s attempts to do the same thing. The city is one of Germany’s most popular nightclub districts yet unfortunately revellers have a tendency to drench street walls with urine.

Ultratech International Inc pioneers new paint

Developed by paint company Ultratech International Inc, the product is called Ultra-Ever Dry and is advertised as having super-hydrophobic qualities that repel most liquids. The super hard coating gives the walls an inbuilt shield that creates a ‘bounce back’ effect that will have offenders running for the nearest urinals!  

San Francisco kick-started the scheme with a pilot program that saw nine walls receive a lick of Ultra-Ever Dry. Of course, the city hasn’t left potential wrongdoers completely in the dark. Posted near the walls are signs in English, Chinese and Spanish that read, “Hold it! ... Seek relief in an appropriate place.” While the paint has only been in place for a matter of weeks the city is already receiving requests from home and business owners across the metropolis.

“We’ve gotten many, many calls from people who wanted it done in their alley or on their buildings,” says Gordon. “Some people are saying it’s just a gimmick, but other people hope it will combat some of the smelly areas of San Francisco that have been saturated with urine.”

For the city the paint represents an opportunity to create cleaner streets, as well as slash clean-up costs. Coating walls in Ultra-Ever Dry is far less expensive than sending steam clean workers to disinfect areas.

No doubt nanotechnology played an integral role in helping Ultratech International Inc develop the innovative paint. ‘Ultrafine Grinding with Laboratory Ball Mills’ looks at how manipulation of matter has revolutionised a myriad of industries, with a particular focus on the creation of nano-coated fabrics and paints that are water- and dirt-repellent.