SUSTAINABILITY
maintenance costs may offset water saving costs. Also, although some cartridges are made from recyclable plastic, and contain fully biodegradable chemicals, it is still too early to assess their long-term environmental impact.
Not entirely water-free By definition waterless urinals should reduce the volume of water required to flush; however, they are not entirely water- free. The sidewalls of the urinal pan should be rinsed to prevent the build-up of urine, and the trap and evacuation pipes require flushing to prevent blockages. Manufacturers recommend pouring water down the urinal regularly (recommendations vary from 2 litres of warm water once a week to 3 litres every 6 hours).6
The HTM 07-04
guidance recognises that waterless technology may raise concerns, and that medical and cleaning staff should be involved in the decision to install waterless technology to ensure good hygiene.
‘Intelligent’ urinals
As with WCs, a user-activated flush – either a voluntary manual flush or by infrared presence detection – will reduce consumption significantly and remove the need for continuous flushing. However, manual flushing relies on the user to actively flush, whereas sensor-controlled urinals guarantee an automated flush. Infrared detection ensures that the valve flushes automatically when the user departs, reducing water consumption by up to 60% according to HTM 07-04.4 Delabie’s Tempomatic 4 intelligent urinal can also be programmed to flush according to the urinal type and usage patterns, taking into account busy periods, and reducing unnecessary pre- and post- use flushes (See Fig 1). Delabie’s electronic urinals also feature anti-blocking to prevent misuse and minimise waste, and the flow rate can be adjusted to suit the installation.
Sustainable taps
According to HTM 07-04, the typical water consumption rate attributed to taps is 400 litres per day in healthcare, and the
0 15 20 25 30 Number of users in 15 minutes
Fig 1: Urinal water consumption comparison – the Tempomatic urinal valve has three rinsing programmes according to the type of urinal.
guidance estimates that a leaking tap may consume around 15 litres per day.4 Healthcare facilities place multiple demands on tapware, yet managing consumption can be achieved by following the mantra of reducing waste, improving efficiency, and encouraging correct behaviour. The strategy suggested by HTM 07-04 recommends monitoring taps to identify, report and, ultimately, repair leaks. This is reinforced by NHS Property Services, who recommend ‘reporting leaks, dripping taps, or low water efficiency equipment that could be upgraded’.1
Durable mechanisms will withstand more intensive use and experience less component fatigue; this minimises leaks and prevents water wastage. Solid brass taps, with robust mechanisms, require less servicing, and will tolerate intensive and even heavy-handed use. However, even the most durable mechanisms require maintenance when used intensively. Timely maintenance extends the life of the tap and reduces the risk of leaks.
Maintaining water flow
Water plays an essential role in hygiene, and maintaining a healthy water distribution system is essential, particularly when it comes to managing infection control. Maintaining water flow in the system to prevent biofilm build up and bacterial development is vital for Legionella control. However, efficiency can be improved by judicious use of the appropriate technology for the area of use. Taps with smooth interiors and low water volumes will minimise biofilm development, and taps that can be easily removed for cleaning or disinfection also contribute to water hygiene. Restricting flow rates on taps will not prove efficient in certain areas. For example, in catering or service areas, flow rate limiters will only cause delay, and won’t reduce consumption. Regulators are more effective, as they adapt to the system pressure, and deliver a constant flow rate despite any fluctuations. The regulator should be suitable for the intended use, ensuring that consumption is controlled, and that the user receives the appropriate flow rate.
35 40 25 Competitor product 20 Tempomatic 3 15
10 Tempomatic 4 with high-frequency mode 5
Save up to 89% over 10 yea based on the critical components of an EL syst
s
October 2021 Health Estate Journal 49
Volume of water (L)
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