Water guzzling WC’s, maybe as many as 300 million across Europe are wasting around 4 billion litres of water per year, says the UWLA on World Toilet Day.

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “World Toilet Day is held every year on 19 November and has been an annual United Nations Observance since 2013. Whilst World Toilet Day aims to raise awareness of the 3.6 billion people living without access to safely managed sanitation, it is a good time to highlight, that in the UK alone, we waste at least 35 million litres of water every year, and as much as 4 billion litres across Europe by using old and inefficient flush systems.

“We know from research undertaken in the UK into the merits of a bathroom scrappage scheme that updating homes with a modern WC could immediately make this huge saving in water usage.

“Toilet flushing accounts for 1/4 of water used in the home today, and with modern dual flush models using as little as 2.6 and 4 litres per flush, it is one of the easiest ways to save water in the home.

“Dual-flush cisterns let the user choose how much water to use when flushing the toilet, so with better education, there is potential to influence behaviour and save even more.

“These modern WC’s are readily available, there are more than 3,000 WC’s that carry the Unified Water Label listed on the UWLA website.

“We want to raise awareness on this World Toilet Day to encourage people to look at their old WC and consider replacing it. By using a lower volume of water to flush the toilet we can dramatically reduce annual water consumption, and contribute to the protection of this valuable natural resource.”

More information about the Unified Water Label can be found by visiting the website www.uwla.eu

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In response to living costs and energy bills increasing and many regions are now recognised as being in permanent water-stressed areas, Methven, global designer and manufacturer, has introduced an interactive online water calculator. The new calculator will support installers and architects in helping customers to achieve water and energy efficient shower installations. 

As part of Methven’s commitment to making water-saving, possible for all, the online calculator enables users to select the shower head they wish to use and tailor calculations according to household water usage.   

The recommended shower heads are optimised to operate at just eight litres per minute whilst providing customers with an invigorating shower that doesn’t compromise on performance, compared to shower heads that use an unrestricted 15 litres per minute. By using the calculator, Methven aims to help customers benefit from reduced water and energy use, and in turn, lower household energy and water bills by over £250 a year.  

Whilst the water saving calculator can be used by homeowners to help reduce their water usage, installers, retailers, and specifiers can also benefit from the tool by using it to recommend the best shower heads to customers who desire energy and water efficient showering solutions.

Featuring a savings breakdown where customers can view the payback period for their chosen showerhead, the interactive calculator also provides tradespeople with an opportunity to recommend Methven shower heads as a worthwhile investment. Additionally, to assist new homeowners, specifiers can confidently position the interactive calculator as a means to reduce ongoing costs.  

Chris Billingham, head of marketing, and innovation for Methven said: “In the present economic climate, homeowners across the UK are looking for ways to save money on their household bills and cutting back on water consumption is a key part of this.  

“As customers strive to be more sustainable our online water saving interactive calculator will support industry professionals in helping customers choose water-efficient and cost-effective products, without compromising the overall showering experience.” 

The water-saving calculator is now available to use on Methven’s website.

For more information, visit: https://uk.methven.com/interactive-calculator. 

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill has urged the industry to respond to the government consultation on introducing compulsory water labelling, which closes in one weeks’ time on 25 November.

Yvonne says, “We must not miss this opportunity to make our views known or we risk having a mandatory label.

“Those that already support the Unified Water Label and know that it is robust, already established and growing, can reinforce our message to Government that a mandatory label is not the best solution. 

“Our message to those that are new to the Unified Water Label, is please take a look at the website to find out more and understand why leading international retailers such as IKEA, Globus and merchant group PHG  are supporting the label.

“We welcome the government’s commitment to reducing water waste but do not consider it necessary or cost effective to develop a new labelling system when one is already in place.

“The Unified Water Label that has been identified within the ISO Standard 31600:2022 as best practice, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (DEFRA), has stated in the consultation document that their approach is based on this standard.

“The Unified Water Label is the only label worldwide that covers 14 differing product categories.  The database includes 14,000 individual products, which is regularly accessed by 10,000 architects and specifiers. The label has also been used on 150,000 building or refurbishment projects internationally.

“We believe that a mandatory label will be significantly more expensive for the industry than a voluntary one and that a mandatory system will take away the flexibility that the industry now has to operate a system that meets their needs.  They will also be exposed to an enforcement body that will have the power to impose sanctions, under the proposed mandatory scheme.

“We are asking the members and supporters to work with us for the benefit of the industry, and respond before the consultation closes on 25 November.

“The consultation policy document can be found here.”