All Comes Out in the Washroom

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21 April 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The UK’s largest water company has cut water use by an impressive amount at its Clearwater Court office in Reading following a trial of three new technologies in two of its washrooms.
Thames Water replaced the existing urinal sensors in the washrooms with Cistermiser’s Direct Flush with the result that they collectively reduced the amount of water used during the trial period by 90.7%.

At the same time the company also replaced the existing non-concussive taps with its sensor-controlled Vectataps that cut water usage from the taps by 59%.

When the gains achieved by these two sensor technologies were added to the savings from new toilets provided by another supplier it showed that the two washrooms now save over 11,500 litres a week and are on course to reduce water use by 500,000 litres over the next 12 months.
Direct Flush uses infrared sensors to detect visitors to the urinal, automatically flushing 2 seconds after use to ensure a high level of hygiene from what should be the minimum volume of water. It removes the need for auto-flush cisterns which flush all urinals intermittently even if they have not all been used. The average water saving per urinal using Direct Flush at Clearwater has been calculated as 1,315 litres per person per annum. Meanwhile the newly installed Vectataps basin spouts with inbuilt infrared control turn the water on whenever a visitor to the basin places their hands in front of the sensor.

“We have been delighted with the look and performance of the two devices and have achieved an average water saving of more than 80% compared with the previous efficient fittings and we are now looking to roll out further improvements to our other buildings,” explained Andrew Tucker, Water Efficiency Manager, Thames Water.
Cistermiser believes that if the same combined technology was installed in all 16 washrooms at Clearwater Court it could lower annual water use by 4.8 million litres and save Thames Water approximately £10,000 per year. 
Picture: A trial installation at Clearwater Court office in Reading  of Cistermiser products shows a saving of over 90% in water used

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 21 April 2016

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