Why Don’t People Have Urinals in Their Homes?

That’s what Mark Leibowitz, one of our readers, wants to know:

“Public men’s rooms have a mix of urinals and toilets, but private homes only have toilets. At first I thought it was simply a matter of space, but even when there’s room for a second installation the second choice is always a bidet rather than a urinal. Urinals use less water than toilets. I don’t imagine they’d be particularly expensive. My best thought was that it would have to take a lot of saved water to pay for a toilet, but I’m not sure that’s the real explanation. Crazy topic I realize, but … any thoughts?”

Well, aside from the fact that girls and women can’t use the urinal — at least not as it’s intended — my first guess is that men are typically not involved in designing a house or planning a renovation as women are.

Also, there’s this: whereas some toilets are quite beautiful, most urinals — even Marcel Duchamp’s — are pretty ugly. These urinals are perhaps more attractive, but I don’t know if I’m ready to spend $7,000 on a urinal.

It would be different, of course, if the Department of Defense was footing the bill, or Dennis Kozlowski.