An efficient solution to efficiencies
May 28th 2010 Lutz Johnen, Managing Director of Aquality Trading & Consulting Ltd and Chairman of the UK’s Rainwater Harvesting Association, discusses how the latest developments in Rainwater harvesting can increase water efficiencies and reduce carbon footprints in the home
Efficiency seems to be a popular word at the moment, whether it is politicians talking about reducing the national debt, businesses aiming to save money post recession or consumers looking at ways in which they can reduce their imprint on the world’s natural resources. The common element to all these improvement programmes is that when the position is unsustainable – efficiencies need to be achieved.
One area that seems to evade people’s attention is water – probably because there is a perception that in the UK there is too much of it.
This could not be further from the truth. Admittedly some parts of the country receive plenty of rainfall, but places of higher water use such as urban areas and the South East are stretched to breaking point receiving less than 700mm of water per year.
There is no simple answer to the UK’s water supply issues. But as part of a solution, the government and water companies (using tools such as the Code For Sustainable Homes, Planning pre-requisites and the new Part G Building Regulations) have already begun to look at ways to realise a reduction on the average amount of piped water used down from 150litres per person per day, to less than 100litres per person per day.
But can this be achieved? Will we have to compromise on our creature comforts and hygienic lifestyles? Not if we take a more holistic approach to water management, look at what is available and how can it be most effectively used.
Using simple measures to harvest the rain that lands on a property can bring savings of around 50% to a typical household’s use of mains water. These figures can increase to 90% in commercial properties if untreated rainwater is used in toilets,washing machines and for other non-drinking requirements.
Improvements to the scope and range of products are also continuing. On large scale commercial developments rainwater harvesting is being incorporated into systems to help manage the issue of water run-off and flooding, fire management systems as well as more traditional uses such as for toilets and other non drinking requirements.
New eco rainwater system
On a smaller scale, just last month the new Rainmanager Aqua Control Eco was launched to principally target domestic dwellings. The system considerably reduces the amount of CO2 used to deliver water and gives a sufficient flow rate and pressure to supply a house with enough water for two toilets, washing machine and a small garden.
To further enhance its environmental credentials,the unit only needs 24v for power and can be linked to either solar panel or wind turbine power sources. The compact system, small enough to fit under a kitchen sink, has an automatic mains water back-up system which complies with the BS 8515 and is easy to install as well as energy and cost efficient.
Code for sustainable homes
The UK’s Housing Associations are a good indicator of things to come. They have been very much at the forefront of sustainable development in the domestic sector for the last few years due to both the demand from environmentally conscious tenants as well as the need to comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes – which looks at both Surface Water Disposal and Reduced Consumption.
The new Rainmanager Aqua Control Eco has been well received by Housing Associations, and their construction partners, as an ideal tool in helping deliver a reduction in domestic mains water consumption and a reduction in surface water run-off – all with low energy costs.
As the industry continues to evolve and deliver such innovations there is a real possibility that our standard of living and relationship with water can be maintained, while still delivering efficiencies to the amount of energy and mains water used. More articles from Aquality Trading & Consulting Ltd: | 
