Trouble locating disinfectant? Find out how the City of Austin is producing a healthcare-grade cleaner onsite

by Brianna Crandall — May 6, 2020 — With the coronavirus spreading around the country and the world and supply shortages challenging many localities, the City of Austin, Texas, has taken charge to defend its community.

Austin’s Building Services Department has implemented a game-changing technology from San Marcos, Texas-based R-Water. This technology enables Building Services to produce a powerful, hypoallergenic, healthcare-grade disinfectant and a hypoallergenic all-purpose cleaner on-site. The company says the disinfectant kills the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (which causes COVID-19) and other harmful pathogens lightning fast, without posing a threat to the workers using it.

“It’s amazing what a little change, like these solutions, can do for morale,” said Eric Herman, public services manager for The City of Austin.

In addition to providing protection against the coronavirus, the program is saving taxpayer dollars to boot: a 54% reduction in chemical expenses over three years. The program has already been implemented in several city facilities, including Human Health Services, Austin Animal Center, Austin Police Department, Austin Municipal Court, Downtown Austin Community Court, and One Texas Center. The city is aggressively expanding throughout additional buildings.

While green products in general aren’t known for performing well or being financially advantageous, Herman says he has had a different experience with R-Water: “R-Water’s technology works better and faster than anything we’ve ever used before.”

R-Water technology

R-Water manufactures and distributes a computerized, wall-mounted device that gives hospitals, hotels, cruise ships, office buildings, restaurants, schools, and other facilities the power to produce cutting-edge cleaning and disinfecting solutions on-site. The device attaches directly to a facility’s water supply and creates on-site solutions through a patented electrolysis process: TK60 disinfectant and multisurface cleaner FC+.

R-Water points out that the on-site, on-demand production eliminates the need for chemical transport, storage, mixing, and the disposal of toxic chemical containers.

According to the company, TK60 requires only a 60-second contact time to kill the coronavirus and other pathogens such as MRSA and C. Diff. — reportedly 10 times faster than most products, and complies with FDA code for use on food contact surfaces with no rinse required. FC+ is said to be safe for use on hard surfaces, carpets, upholstery, and most materials.

Both solutions are free of toxins, color, and added fragrance; and eliminate the need for multiple disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, degreasers, and surface-specific cleaners. TK60 and FC+ are conveniently dispensed “ready-to- use” from R-Water’s compact device.

For a news report about the technology and a healthcare-focused fact sheet, visit the R-Water website.