Some think it is disgusting, but turns out it is actually helpful and planet friendly
The 5 second rule, doggy kisses, shower in the morning or evening….all of these habits generate healthy debates about the pros and cons. Another habit is the source of debates, declarations of “ick” and more – but turns out this habit is both healthy and planet friendly. It’s a question sparking debate in households and locker rooms alike: is urinating in the shower a harmless shortcut or a bad habit best avoided? The answer, it turns out, lies somewhere between hygiene science and water conservation math.
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Toilets are thirsty machines. A standard flush uses about 1.6 gallons of water, and older models can send three to five gallons down the drain. Advocates for “eco-peeing” point out a single person who chooses to relieve themselves in the shower once a day could save more than 500 gallons of water each year. This is roughly the same as skipping two weeks’ worth of laundry.
When students at the University of East Anglia in the U.K. ran the numbers as part of their “Go With the Flow” campaign, they found if all 15,000 students participated, the water saved annually could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool more than two dozen times.
But is it safe? Fresh urine from healthy individuals is mostly water with trace amounts of urea and salts. For decades it was assumed to be sterile. Newer research, however, shows urine carries small amounts of bacteria, even in people without infections. This means the old “clean as water” claim doesn’t hold up.
Still, doctors generally agree peeing in your own shower poses little risk, especially when water is running and the drain is clear. The Cleveland Clinic notes for most healthy people, the practice is not unhygienic as long as showers are cleaned regularly.
The bigger concern isn’t shower urination but new fads spreading online. Social media has amplified so-called “urine therapy” trends, where some users claim drinking urine or applying it to skin can boost immunity or act as a natural cleanser. Health professionals warn these practices are unsafe and unproven, potentially exposing people to harmful bacteria and toxins the body has intentionally excreted. Far from being a health booster, using urine this way can actually raise the risk of infection and skin irritation.
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So is it eco-friendly? Yes, in a small but real way. Is it unhygienic? Generally no, assuming you’re healthy and the shower drains well. But is it worth making a daily habit? It depends on your comfort level and your doctor’s advice.
In the end, the shower-pee debate illustrates the trade-offs of modern sustainability: saving water may mean breaking taboos, but even small personal choices can add up when millions of people are involved.
