Running taps, leisurely showers and using hosepipes all contribute massively to the use of water within the home – usage that could use that could be significantly reduced to meet consumption targets.
For most water companies the focus has previously been on trying to achieve behavioural changes, but few customers are motivated to reduce consumption and do not understand the demands to conserve water services or the scale of future potential deficits.
Now major UK water companies are looking at how supply changes could better achieve consumption reduction targets.
A simple way to minimise excessive use is to look at how water is supplied. Most properties are now fitted with a 25mm supply pipe (compared to older 15mm copper or 1/2“ lead), combine this with the higher pressures that are required to maintain the minimum levels of supply on gravity fed systems and the flow rate could be up to 4 – 5 times higher than the minimum required standard within Water Regulations.
Back in January 2020 Groundbreaker Systems started a new project to develop a simple method to modulate the flow of water entering domestic and commercial properties regardless of the network pressure. The concept was that every property would receive just above the legal minimal supply, regardless of location or supply pipe. If this could be achieved, it was identified that it would help water companies balance delivery of service and water pressure across the network and would help individual households reduce their water consumption.
Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo® was a development of the existing patented NRv2. Designed to fit between the manifold and meter, installation was simple. The added benefits were that, being located at the meter it was tamper proof, and access to the property was not required for installation.
In 2022 field trials of the Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo® began as part of a Northumbrian Water’s Net Zero project, and shortly after a second trial ran as part of a Severn Trent’s Green Recovery programme. Although small scale, both trials registered significant reductions in consumption. The first trial with traditional meters showed a Per Capita Consumption (PCC) reduction of 8.2%, and the second with smart meters of 4.49%.
Now 3 major UK water companies have recognised that with a unit cost of under £20 and minimal installation cost (when combined with new or replacement meter installation or a lead pipe replacement) the Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo® must be one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing PCC currently available.
Roll out of large scale installations began earlier this year. At every new meter exchange a NRv2 LoFlo® is installed. Adding under 5 minutes to a standard meter exchange, installation costs are negliable.
So the real question is – why isn’t everyone doing it?
For further details please contact Groundbreaker Systems at
www.groundbreaker.co.uk
