German Activists Coat Walls With a Superhydrophobic Substance to Splash Pee Back on Public Urinators

Residents of the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg, Germany took matters into their own hands by declaring “peeback time” after the frequent urination on walls by a steady stream of partygoers stunk up their businesses, playground, and alleys. St. Pauli’s Community of Interest organized a project to apply a superhydrophobic coating to walls in the area–some marked with warning signs, some not–that causes urine or any other fluid sprayed on the wall to splash right back at the perpetrators. The group hopes this deters people from peeing outside, though they don’t mean to be unfriendly to tourists.

Julia Staron of the Community of Interest recently spoke with Spiegel about their project, saying that while the message is “St. Pauli can defend themselves,” tourists are welcome, but must follow their rules, including the one stating “Do not piss on walls!” The project has already had more than a wee effect on the area, as the campaign has gone beyond St. Pauli as it whizzes around the Internet.

The group also plans to roll out a program in which people using the restroom at bars can get a stamp on a special card that can be redeemed for a shot on the house after the sixth restroom trip. One thing is for certain: if you pee in public in St. Pauli, “urine” trouble.

image via IG St. Pauli

via Spiegel, CityLab