There are a number of different water saving appliances and technologies available for both households and businesses. There are water efficient industrial cleaning equipment, rainwater harvesting equipment, water meters, leak detection equipment and efficient tap, toilets, showers and washing machines. When choosing the appropriate appliances be sure they carry a ‘WaterSense label’ so you know they are guaranteed to be water efficient, perform well, save you money on bills and encourage innovation in manufacturing [1]. Here are a few of the popular water efficient products that are available:
- Water free urinals. These are cheaper to install than regular flush units, as you do not need flush valves and the associated piping, and can save you up to 40,000 gallons of water per unit each year. Money is also saved on sewer, maintenance and repair costs and the waterless urinals are odour free! [2].
- Dual-flush toilets. When you are ready for a new toilet buy a dual-flush as they can save up to 68% more water than conventional low flush toilets. Lifting the handle up initiates reduced flush for liquid waste; and pushing the handle down initiates full flush eliminating solid waste. These dual flush toilets also have larger trapways that do not clog as often as a conventional toilet. Furthermore, the antimicrobial coating on the handle protects users against germs [3]. Alternatively, there are cistern displacement devices which are easy to install into toilets that also save money with every flush.
- Water efficient shower heads. By installing a WaterSense shower head, the average household could save more than 2,300 gallons of water per year and also save money on energy bills (up to 300 kilowatt hours of electricity per year).
- Flow Restrictors. Install flow-restrictors on all taps so that the stream of water is never too heavy. This can reduce a sink’s water flow by 50%. For example, with a dual flow tap, opening the tap a little gives a strong but water saving spray for hand washing or cleaning teeth and opening the tap further bypasses the spray mode to fill the basin quickly [4]. There are also solenoid (motion) sensors/infra red controls on taps which ensure they stop running when not in use.
- Water Switch. Install a Water Switch so you can easily control the water supply in your home. In the event of an emergency (leaking water) the water supply can be easily shut down to limit any water damage. In addition, when you leave home you can switch off the water to protect your home from burst pipes. A water switch not only saves you the potentially enormous expense of repairing damage caused by leaks, it saves you trying to find the stopcock during an emergency which is often hidden in very inaccessible places. Stopcocks are also difficult to operate as they seize up. The water switch is connected to the water supply and is powered by water and therefore does not need electricity or batteries [5].
- Drip irrigation system. For the garden, use a drip irrigation system rather than conventional sprinklers. These use between 20 and 50% less water and they are much more efficient as no water is lost to wind, evaporation or run-off.
Hire a specialist water consultant who will use state of the art equipment to help you save water and money in your home or business. They can detect and fix leaks and suggest a range of products that would save you money off your water bills.
[2] www.positive-energy.com/water/water_saving.html
