WATER-WISE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Bob Purdom, Douglas Controls, highlights the key issues of water efficiency and hygiene. He outlines product solutions for making the washroom environment a water efficient and safer place.

Douglas Controls is the specialist supplier of thermostatic control solutions and TMVs for the commercial market.

Each one of us uses 70% more water than 30 years ago ...

... if everyone turned-off the tap when brushing their teeth, collectively in one week we'd save enough water to fill the Millennium Dome.

Thames Water leakage due to London's Victorian-built sewer equates to 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools a day - and despite investment it's worsening.

These statements highlight the need that building designers/owners consider solutions that will enable us to use water resources, effectively and efficiently.

But also ...

Official statistics show that deaths caused by MRSA 'super bugs' doubled between 1999 and 2004.

Each year, 300 UK cases of (water environment related) Legionnaire's Disease are reported - 14% are fatal.

Water efficiency

This winter has seen water firms in the UK's most populated areas praying for rain - some reservoirs are 12 feet below their expected levels.

During what's been the worst drought in 85 years, many regions have had only 70% of their usual rainfall in a drought starting in October 2004.

Southern England has had its driest year since 1921.

With our underground water resources threatened by increasing consumption (water usage has doubled in the last 20 years), water supply is becoming an unpredictable, unevenly distributed resource.

Consumption habits must change. More effective water utilisation and waste reduction is essential. Water companies are investing in improving the necessary infrastructure and reducing the haemorrhage of mains water losses caused by catastrophic under-investment over decades.

We have seen measures such as reducing water pressures to stem mains water leaks, hosepipe/sprinkler bans after dry weather or in extreme cases standpipes in streets. Last autumn saw hosepipe / sprinkler bans still in force in four water company regions - even more consumers can face a similar situation this summer.

However, building design teams and installers must also address the key water related issues to health and well-being from poor hygiene control and associated risks of infection transfer by cross contamination, which impact on building users and washroom installations.

These are crucial considerations where the selected product must deliver performance, safety, and durability, but with minimum maintenance and acceptable life cycle costs.

Responsibility

In 1992, The Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainability was issued following an International Conference on water and the environment.

Experts saw 'the emerging global water resource picture as critical'.

They summarised: 'The problems highlighted are not speculative in nature: nor are they likely to affect our planet only in the distant future. They are here and they affect humanity now.'

During October 2005, Water UK which represents all UK water companies, have issued a press release adding its support to a recent Government initiative to increase efficient use of water.

It said: "The Water Savings Group, chaired by Water and Environment Minister Elliot Morley, has agreed an action plan to help reduce demand for water and strengthen security of supply in the face of climate change and potential water shortage." (more information from Water UK website www.water.org.uk)

The European Water Charter reminds us of our responsibility:

"Water is a common heritage and its value must be acknowledged by all of us. Everyone must save it and use it carefully."

It's an ethos our company has pursued over 20 years, underpinning the development of a range of thermostatic shower and water control solutions for commercial applications.

Simple solutions

Through a partnering agreement with French organisation Delabie, the market leader in automatic shut-off electronic valves and water savings devices, our products are designed to eliminate waste or abuse by automatic regulation of the quantity of water delivered.

The Douglas Total Control Range includes regulating controls for washbasin, shower, WC and urinals in all commercial applications.

In public buildings, sports and leisure facilities, motorway services and education establishments, which feature high water usage, the time flow or non-concussive taps offers after substantial water savings (over 50%).

Tempostop taps shut off automatically after a nominal time of 15 seconds. Factory-set with a preset flow rate of six litres per minute, they guarantee user comfort and deliver water savings. For fine-tuning, flow rates can be adjusted without de-mounting the tap or isolating the water supply.

The tap's self-closing function eliminates the risk of cross contamination with hygiene improved by avoiding any hand contact after washing. Durability is important, and the timing mechanism is endurance-tested to more than 500,000 operations - particularly suitable for hard water conditions.

A mixer tap version, Tempomix 2, combines time flow operation with user adjustment of the mixed water temperature between 'Cold' and a safe 'Hot' water temperature provided at the point of use by a Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV).

Leisure

In leisure applications, high performance showers can delight users but significantly increase water usage and associated energy costs. New generation thermostatic shower valves incorporate flow regulators where flow rates are controlled to a generous, but water efficient flow rate, typically 8 or 10 litres per minute.

Factory fabricated solutions are increasingly popular, as they can significantly reduce installation time and resolve the problem of concealing pipe work.

The latest shower panel solutions are designed to offer simple 'second fix' installation and include options with full thermostatic temperature control and 'water saving' time flow operation.

Urinal flushing systems can be a major water user, and infra-red controlled urinal flushing will significantly improve water efficiency and reduce hygiene risks.

Commercial

For commercial offices and shopping centres, and in healthcare applications, a new generation of electronic infra-red controls, offers the latest technology in non-touch operation of basin taps or mixers with water savings of up to 70%

The Tempomatic 3 is designed for ease of installation - single trade fix and incorporates sophisticated electronics and solenoid valves and long life lithium batteries (250,000 to 300,000 operations - normally 3 to 5 years), all integrated within the head works. No other power source is required.

On the basin mixer, the water temperature is user-adjustable with a manual selector lever. A TMV should always be used to provide a safe Hot water temperature and protect building users from scalding.

It's a 'total hygiene' solution - the non-touch operation prevents cross contamination, reducing the risk of transferring harmful - even life-threatening bacteria / viruses.

Action

It's not good enough to leave it the Government, to Water UK, water companies, the Environment Agency - to anyone else but us.

The issues of hygiene control, effective water utilisation and increasing water costs are real and need to be addressed.

The solutions are readily available, the technology proven.

Water companies, building owners, their professional design teams, and installers must deliver projects that are water wise - safe environments.

By ensuring the installation of the most cost-effective washroom solutions, we can all play a vital role - it's time we all made it happen!