Drainage, Plumbing & Water Management Feature
Groundworks
The changing climate of water conservation
In the UK, water conservation has been on the agenda for years. However, Steve Leigh of Groundbreaker Systems explains why our growing population and increased demand will result in critical water situations more regularly, especially in the driest parts of the country.
C
oinciding with COP26, there was a wide range of projects, public education events and even TV series telling us how to improve our ‘lifestyle’ to minimise our impact on the environment. Although
extreme weather has been highlighted, the general day to day use of water is rarely mentioned. In the UK, water services are relatively cheap – both environmentally and
financially – especially when compared to energy costs. However, for those on a limited budget water bills can be one of the many straws that eventually breaks the camel’s back. Tere are two main options for reducing water consumption: usage awareness and supply modification. Both can help residents reduce their water bills.
WATER METERS ‘Smart metering’ has been shown to have some impact on domestic consumption, in the same way as it has in the energy market. However, many properties have architectural or water supply structures that make traditional metering options impractical. One option is an insulated, surface mounted
enclosure for a secure water management system and smart water meter. Tis point of entry location makes it the perfect solution for installation in existing properties with a shared supply or challenging architecture. Its location on the building also means no street furniture or liability in the highway. Te main advantages of the surface mounted system are the single joint free
connection and the above ground location of the meter housing. Compliance with no joint policies has been shown to contribute to minimising leakage, in particular customer side leakage, which can cause issues to both the landlord and water provider.
CONTROLLED FLOW ‘Time controlled’ usage e.g. cleaning teeth, taking a shower or running a hose pipe, can use excessive water. Te simple measure of regulating the flow and pressure of the water supply to a particular outlet has been shown to significantly impact household usage. Single outlet flow restrictors can impact on this use, and low flow shower heads or aerators for taps are widely available. However, not all householders are
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMMFebruary/March 2022 | 51
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