San Francisco is trying to battle public urination by developing pee-repellent paint.
The technology will hopefully solve the problem of treating the city’s “hot spots”.
Independent reported that the paint is called “Ultra-Ever Dry”, and has the ability to repel oil, water and wet concrete because of nanotechnology.
Urine will bounce back upon hitting the paint. The substance was developed by the firm Ultra Tech.
“The wall advises not to urinate there. It’s in three languages. If they happen to take that chance, they can get their feet or pants wet. It does work. Believe me,” director of Public Works Muhammad Nuru told the Los Angeles Times.
Telegraph revealed that for many years, the city of San Francisco had problems with public urination. In 2002, public urination was outlawed in the city and violators can be fined up to $500.
The Public Works agency of San Francisco has started the project of painting several walls to prevent people from urinating on them.
The pilot activity is expected to be just as successful as the one done in Hamburg, Germany.
In Germany, the local community had the problem caused by millions of tourists visiting every year, as well as the regular partygoers in the area. After they painted the usual places with the new paint, the issue has subsided.
Nuru was inspired by Germany’s bar district having much success with the pee-proof paint. He contacted the company to acquire some of the paint.
He and the city staff selected three neighborhoods, namely South of Market, Mission and the Tenderloin to test the paint. 10 private and public buildings were painted and the results will be monitored over six months.
Nuru said that he already noticed a difference and will request the City Council to expand the program if the results are good, according to Fox News.
The project will cost a few hundred dollars for the city, but Nuru stated that it is a smaller investment compared to cleaning after urine on the streets and walls.
The Public Works department has received over 7,500 requests to steam clean walls through the middle of July 2015, with 60 percent related to body fluids.
“Based on Hamburg, we know this pilot program is going to work. It will reduce the number of people using the walls. I really think it will deter them,” Nuru added.
He said that the program will hopefully improve the look and smell of San Francisco.