wasserlose

Wasserlose, meaning "waterless" in German, is a broad term applied to systems, technologies, and products that operate without the use of water. In sanitation, it covers dry or non-flush approaches that separate, treat, or recycle human waste without a water flush, as well as related hygiene and cleaning technologies.

In sanitation, wasserlose technologies include dry toilets and composting toilets that rely on evaporation, ventilation, or biological processes to manage waste, and urine-diverting or waterless urinals that separate liquid waste for reuse or storage. These systems are designed to reduce freshwater use and avoid mixing waste with large volumes of water.

Beyond toilets, wasserlose concepts appear in cleaning and maintenance, such as waterless car wash products and certain industrial or cosmetic formulations that rely on solvents or mechanical action rather than water.

Environmental and resource considerations include water conservation, reduced wastewater treatment needs, and potential for nutrient recovery from urine or composted solids. Challenges include odor control, user acceptance, space requirements, maintenance needs, and regulatory barriers that vary by country and region.

Historically, dry sanitation practices have existed in various forms and remain prominent in remote or resource-constrained settings, as well as in eco-urban projects and some modern laboratories or space missions seeking water efficiency.