Urban gardens / community gardens – Portuguese urban and community gardens – are a rapidly growing format. Lisbon (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa) manages around twenty municipal garden parks (parques hortícolas municipais), including Quinta da Granja. In Porto, gardens operate within the Horta à Porta network (LIPOR). Cascais, Oeiras, Coimbra, Almada, and other municipalities have their own programs. Each gardener receives a plot (typically 25–50 m²) with minimal infrastructure. The most common household issue is the toilet: public ones are far away, and connecting water and sewage to the plot is not allowed. Below is how to install a waterless urinal so that it complies with garden rules.
What the rules allow
Municipal garden rules provide a general framework: the plot is allocated for personal consumption, without commercial exploitation; common facilities – a watering tap, a tool shed – are managed by the governing organization, and any installations on the plot are allowed only with their permission. Before installing a urinal, coordinate the installation with the garden’s governing organization or the municipality. A waterless urinal, dry toilet, and separating toilet (urine and feces) do not require network connections.
Water scarcity as an argument
Portugal is one of the driest countries in the EU. Droughts and water stress have been the context in recent years: in 2024, the government imposed water consumption restrictions in the Algarve due to drought. In this logic, a waterless urinal is a natural choice: it does not need water for flushing.
Why separating collection
A separating toilet divides the streams: urine goes into one container, feces with sawdust or rice husks into another. Pi-Pi is a wall-mounted urinal for standing use, which is added to a dry toilet.
What you need for installation
Minimum set: Pi-Pi urinal, wall mounting for the shed, a 10–20 liter canister or barrel, a piece of hose for connection to the stepped fitting Ø24/32/40 mm. A hose with an internal diameter of 24, 32, or 40 mm fits onto the fitting without adapters. Installation takes 5–7 minutes, no plumber needed. Weighing 1.4–1.5 kg, it’s convenient for older gardeners: heavy ceramic urinals are not an option here.
Where to dispose of collected urine
Keep collected urine in a closed canister or barrel and dispose of it as directed by the garden’s governing organization or municipality – for example, removal according to garden rules. If garden rules allow its use as fertilizer, follow WHO recommendations for the safe use of excreta (‘Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater,’ volume 4, 2006): urine from shared toilets should be stored before application. Discharge into soil or storm drains is not recommended.
The municipal government as a customer
When it comes to a garden park with 100–300 plots, individual purchases do not make sense – the municipality purchases equipment centrally for all sheds at once. For such a scenario, a unified specification (LLDPE, stepped fitting 24/32/40 mm), stable batch sizes, delivery in one shipment, and dispatch from Estonia within the EU are important. Standard and Standard+ (the latter has a 70 mm ventilation port) are suitable for both scenarios: single shed and group dry toilet.
Winter and summer storage
Portugal’s climate is mild: in winter, temperatures rarely drop below 0 °C even in the mainland (Bragança is an exception), and in summer, Alentejo can reach +35 °C. Pi-Pi made of LLDPE is designed for a range of −40 to +60 °C. Seasonal dismantling is not necessary; if desired, the urinal can be removed from the wall.
What not to do
Do not connect water to the urinal – Pi-Pi operates waterlessly. Do not direct drainage into open soil. Do not pour chemical disinfectants into the barrel: they complicate subsequent disposal.
Conclusion
A waterless urinal in urban gardens is a solution that does not require water and sewage; installation must be coordinated with the garden’s governing organization. Pi-Pi is a wall-mounted urinal for standing use. Standard and Standard+ (the latter has a 70 mm ventilation port), delivery to Portugal takes 8–14 days; for municipalities – request a unified batch specification and delivery terms.
