Simple Water Saving Specifications Offer Significant Impact

Simple Water Saving Specifications Offer Significant Impact

"Every day, over 50 million household and non-household consumers in England and Wales receive good quality water, sanitation and drainage services. These services are provided by 32 privately-owned companies in England and Wales.”

The water industry uses up to three per cent of total energy used in the UK and the sector is thought to be the fourth most energy intensive industry. For these reasons, creating efficiencies for water-related energy use across healthcare environments throughout the country will have substantial benefits in terms of reducing water consumption, lessening CO2 emissions and in turn reducing metered water bills and benefitting budgets.

It is well documented that water consumption per capita has risen exponentially in modern times, with UK residents now using over 142 litres of water per day each, according to findings from the Energy Saving Trust.

In a recent Department of Health publication, it was revealed that: ‘During 2002/2003, the NHS in England consumed 40.3 million cubic metres of water and produced 34.4 million cubic metres of sewage. This comes at a cost – not just financial, but at a cost to the environment. Financial savings of up to 20% may be achieved through water-efficiency measures, with little or no cost in investment. This translates to a possible saving of £9.5 million per year.’

Make Savings When Flushing AND Filling

So how can these water savings be made and equate to the cost savings estimated?

The water used for flushing and filling the toilet is the same high-quality water used for drinking and cooking. The typical percentage of total healthcare water consumption for WCs and urinals is 29%. Whilst increases in water consumption are putting a strain on their water resources and budgets, a series of small changes that can be made quickly and efficiently by specifiers, facilities management companies, developers, manufacturers and by healthcare employees and users, can considerably reduce water use with relatively little effort.

Thinking specifically about toilets, dual flush technology is a well-known option to cut water consumption significantly when flushing the toilet. Therefore, it goes without saying that high-quality dual flush options should be installed where possible. But what about filling the cistern? The recent development of toilet cistern fill valves has evolved new technology that can ensure less water is used during the cistern filling process; like the Fluidmaster AirGap™ 6000. By ‘delaying the fill’ and only commencing filling, when the toilet cistern has completely emptied, additional savings of up to one litre per flush can be made with every single use of the toilet. This kind of efficient new filling technology does not affect the effectiveness of the cistern’s flush or the fill and does not add any extra time to the flushing process. Considering that the typical percentage of total healthcare water consumption for the toilet is 24%, it makes sense that these reductions in water use for filling can substantially bolster savings.

When coupled with the opportunities to reduce toilet water consumption, through dual-flush options, it is clear to see that these simple swaps within a toilet cistern arrangement can make a vast difference in the high-use healthcare washroom environment.

The Value of Regular Maintenance

As an accountable and environmentally conscious UK manufacturer, Fluidmaster feel a responsibility to reinforce simple water saving messages, which offer eco-friendly and money saving options across the board.

Once a water saving toilet solution is in place, it is important to remember that regular servicing and maintenance of the system will play an important part in its ongoing efficiency, as would be the case with most other mechanical equipment.

The failure to provide routine maintenance can lead to considerable water losses, and primarily with a toilet, to what is generally known as a ‘leaky loo.’ A ‘leaky loo’ is a common term which refers to the leaking of clean water from the toilet cistern straight into the toilet bowl. Sometimes difficult to spot, according to Waterwise: ‘a leaking toilet wastes between 215 and 400 litres of clean drinking water on average every day.’ Waterwise estimates that between 5 and 8% of toilets are leaking. This equates to around a huge 400 million litres of water potentially leaking from UK toilets every single day; enough water to supply 2.8 million people.

Routine maintenance including cleaning the cistern to remove any accumulated debris and replacement of waring washers or valves, can ensure that leaky loos are identified and remedied.

Selecting Toilet Solutions

As Yvonne Orgill, MD at the Unified Water Label pointed out: ‘As an industry we have the technology to offer water efficient products without compromising the experience for the end user. Many manufacturers are also supporting the Unified Water Label, which identifies the water and energy consumption of products, helping consumers make more informed choices.’

As a UK manufacturer, they feel it is vital to reinforce the benefits of the installation of bathroom water-saving devices, whilst ensuring that they are properly installed and maintained.
The impact of water-saving toilet fill and flush technology can be hugely significant if adopted more readily in new build and retrofit situations. And, as part of a sustainable build scheme, the installation of the appropriate toilet system can also contribute towards the achievement of a BREEAM rating.

For the environmentally conscious specifier, there are significant benefits too, to sourcing products from a UK manufacturer. Primarily, in the reliability and quality of the products on offer, which are all subject to appropriate compliance testing, certification, and registration with applicable industry schemes.

Why Specify Touchless ‘Smart’ Flush Technology?

When specifying for healthcare washrooms, smart ‘touchless’ options have been a long-standing staple; from soap dispensers to taps, with the popular focal point for touchless use being the toilet flush. Of course, the hygiene benefits of a touchless flush are widely recognised. To further enhance touchless technology, modern ‘smart’ toilets can offer even more benefits which set touchless flushing apart from a regular manual flush.

1) Enhanced Hygiene
A smart, or touchless flush has become an integral part of maintaining superior hygiene standards. No-touch technology allows the toilet flush to be triggered often by the movement of a hand, but what if the user forgets to flush? Manufacturers are introducing revolutionary flushing panels, which can be activated simply by the movement of the user walking away. Ideal for maintaining hygiene standards whilst preventing potential blockages.

A recent case study combining water efficiency, infection control and patient welfare was featured in a Department of Health publication. It explained that: ‘Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, has embarked on a programme to change all of its WC flush valves and taps to non-touch types. This is partly due to the water efficiency achieved, but mainly because there is mounting evidence that non-touch products offer significant benefits to improving hand hygiene. The same hospital had an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. There were no cases of the disease in areas where non-touch taps were used. While it may be coincidental to some extent, it demonstrated the potential of hand hygiene and the benefits of non-touch taps’

2) Smart Toilets Can Enhance Water Saving
Offering the most advanced form of modern flushing technology, a smart flush can offer water efficient flushing, saving money on metred water bills and making a difference to the environment by lessening the demand for water. With a smart dual flush, using either 3 or 6 litres, and a modern flushing system which activates only when needed; optimal water use is ensured whether installed in a busy hospital washroom or in a small GP surgery. A clean toilet, without any wasted water.

3) Ease of Use
‘Non-touch products not only offer water-saving and infection control benefits, but also convenience and ease of use for children and people with disabilities.’

4) Overflow Prevention
Touchless flushing technology can offer peace of mind from the issues associated with blocked and overflowing toilets. New, innovative sensor technology ensures that the toilet is flushed after every use. In addition, some toilets incorporate overflow prevention, meaning that even in the event of a blockage the toilet will not overspill or flood. Ideal for avoiding maintenance issues and sustaining the hygiene of the toilet area.

5) Vandalism Proof
Some touchless smart flushes are able to offer a vandalism proof or semi-vandalism proof solution, meaning that they are ideal for public washrooms. Look out for flush plates which feature a stainless steel, impact resistant control panel to ensure safety and security.

6) App controlled Settings
For maximum adjustability with minimum hassle, opting for a flushing system that can be controlled remotely by an App can increase hygiene and maintenance options whilst avoiding issues with blockages and overflowing.

Some modern flushing options allow wireless control of toilet or urinal flush settings using an Android or Apple app via a tablet or smartphone.

For example, their EOS flush plate incorporates a variety of app-controlled functionality options including setting or adjusting the interval time for flushing, or even changing the colour of the RGB LED lights within the sensor plate, which can be helpful in healthcare settings.

7) Stylish Design
In the case of smart flushing technology, the benefits of the intelligent flushing technology are concealed behind a sleek, modern, and attractive control panel. Offering a streamlined and contemporary design, ideal for a modern washroom schemes. In the case of their EOS flush plate, flushing is instigated by the infra-red no-touch technology. Many smart flushing solutions offer increased options for personalisation and enhance the surroundings or blend into the tiling, depending on the desired aesthetic.

In summary, toilet solutions are moving on quickly and offering many new functionalities which are valuable in a healthcare washroom setting. To enable considerable water saving, cut water use budgets and contribute toward significant lessening of CO2 emissions, look to the humble loo.

Visit: www.wisa-sanitair.com/en/products/smart-sanitary-ware/smart-toilet-solutions/ for further details on their smart sanitaryware.

Touchless flush technology is available with all of their IPEE toilet packs which are fully compliant with BREEAM guidelines. IPEE technology and EOS flush plates are manufactured for Fluidmaster by WISA, part of the Fluidmaster family of brands.

Sources
1. Water Sector Overview – OFWAT www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/ofwat-industry-overview/
2. Evidence; Renewable Energy Potential for the Water Industry, Environment Agency. Microsoft Word - SC070010 5 Report SCT.doc (publishing.service.gov.uk)
3. An Analysis of Electricity Consumption Patterns in the Water and Wastewater Sectors in South East England, UK. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/1/225/html
4. Environment and sustainability Health Technical Memorandum 07-04: Water management and water efficiency – best practice advice for the healthcare sector, The Department of Health. 2021. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM_07-04_Final.pdf
5. Environment and sustainability Health Technical Memorandum 07-04: Water management and water efficiency – best practice advice for the healthcare sector, The Department of Health. 2021. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM_07-04_Final.pdf
6. Leaky Loo Position Statement, Waterwise. 2020. www.waterwise.org.uk/knowledge-base/leaky-loo-position-statement-october-2020/
7. Environment and sustainability Health Technical Memorandum 07-04: Water management and water efficiency – best practice advice for the healthcare sector, The Department of Health. 2021. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM_07-04_Final.pdf
8. Environment and sustainability Health Technical Memorandum 07-04: Water management and water efficiency – best practice advice for the healthcare sector, The Department of Health. 2021. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM_07-04_Final.pdf

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