San Francisco is testing a creative way to fight back against the city’s rampant public urination problem: they’re coating outside walls in certain neighborhoods with a paint that will repel urine right back onto the offender.
Mohammed Nuru, the head of the Department of Public Works, got the idea from a similar initiative in Hamburg, Germany. As Mashable reports:
“Based on Hamburg, we know this pilot program is going to work,” Nuru told SF Gate. “It will reduce the number of people using the walls. I really think it will deter them.”
The paint contains Ultra Ever-Dry, a substance that essentially coats an object to create a surface chemistry that causes a repellent force. The object doesn’t have to be a wall — it also works on paper and fabric.
The paint is being tested in the Tenderloin, Mission and South Market districts. They’re also introducing public restrooms called “Pit Stops.” As of right now, these portable restrooms are only open during weekday afternoons and evenings.
A 2002 ordinance fining public urinators $50-$200 has not been successful. Soon, the city will see if their pee-repelling paint makes a dent in this problem, or if even a creative solution like this will fail.
(Via Mashable)