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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pee-proof: San Francisco trials paint that repels urine | Pee-proof: San Francisco trials paint that repels urine |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Be warned: If you pee on a wall in San Francisco it may come straight back. | Be warned: If you pee on a wall in San Francisco it may come straight back. |
| The city's public works agency says it is testing a new urine-repellent paint in areas popular with people looking to relieve themselves. | The city's public works agency says it is testing a new urine-repellent paint in areas popular with people looking to relieve themselves. |
| Anyone choosing to use the treated walls as a toilet will see their urine "bounce back", according to a spokeswoman for the agency. | Anyone choosing to use the treated walls as a toilet will see their urine "bounce back", according to a spokeswoman for the agency. |
| The agency's director got the idea after reading about the paint's use in a nightclub district in Germany. | The agency's director got the idea after reading about the paint's use in a nightclub district in Germany. |
| Hamburg's IG St Pauli community group turned to the paint to cope with a problem brought by the 20 million tourists that visit the district every year. | Hamburg's IG St Pauli community group turned to the paint to cope with a problem brought by the 20 million tourists that visit the district every year. |
| In March, they told BBC Newsbeat that the paint seemed to be working and the problem was finally getting "the attention it deserves". | In March, they told BBC Newsbeat that the paint seemed to be working and the problem was finally getting "the attention it deserves". |
| The paint, called Ultra-Ever Dry, creates a barrier of air in front of the surface that will "completely repel almost any liquid," according to its makers. | The paint, called Ultra-Ever Dry, creates a barrier of air in front of the surface that will "completely repel almost any liquid," according to its makers. |
| 'Hold it!' | 'Hold it!' |
| In a trial project, San Francisco authorities have painted nine walls in areas close to bars and in neighbourhoods with large homeless populations. | In a trial project, San Francisco authorities have painted nine walls in areas close to bars and in neighbourhoods with large homeless populations. |
| Signs posted on the walls, written in English, Chinese and Spanish, say: "Hold it! ... seek relief in an appropriate place". | Signs posted on the walls, written in English, Chinese and Spanish, say: "Hold it! ... seek relief in an appropriate place". |
| "The idea is they will think twice next time about urinating in public," said Rachel Gordon, a spokeswoman for the city's Public Works Department. | "The idea is they will think twice next time about urinating in public," said Rachel Gordon, a spokeswoman for the city's Public Works Department. |
| "We've gotten many, many calls from people who wanted it done in their alley or on their buildings," Gordon said. | "We've gotten many, many calls from people who wanted it done in their alley or on their buildings," Gordon said. |
| She said the cost of painting the walls is much lower than sending out workers to clean areas saturated with urine. | She said the cost of painting the walls is much lower than sending out workers to clean areas saturated with urine. |
| More public toilets were also planned across the city, she added. | More public toilets were also planned across the city, she added. |