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 demands by Ofwat to achieve water neutrality.
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.
NRv2 LoFlo®
A simple way to minimise this 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.
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 aim was to help water companies balance delivery of service and water pressure across the network and help individual households reduce their water consumption. A key project requirement was to develop an affordable product that could be installed on existing infrastructure to ensure the costs of installation were minimised.
The aim of the project was to be truly sustainable:
- Economically – through low capital, installation and maintenance costs,
- Environmentally –
- • by using a small standalone product that minimises the use of resources in fabrication and installation,
- • by helping reduce water consumption.
- Societally – by making a small change, barely noticeable to the individual, spread across a wide area that adds up to a much larger benefit at a national level.
Groundbreaker Systems worked with several water companies across the UK to confirm the requirements and based the LoFlo® on the long established and patented NRv2 product.
In September 2020 the NRv2 LoFlo® gained a patent and started manufacturing.
Constructed from virgin acetal plastic, NRv2 LoFlo® is a compact fitting that sits between a water manifold and a concentric water meter. It houses both a high specification check valve to guard against potentially dangerous backflow issues and a NEOPERL® flow regulator – truly unique in its design and delivery.
Field Trials prove concept
As part of larger scale projects NRv2 LoFlo® were installed in small scale trials. Presented at the Waterwise Conferences of 2023 and 2024, both trials showed savings in excess of the theoretical savings calculate by WRc in a desktop study.
By all measures, Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo® has been shown to produce a significant reduction in PCC. Whilst larger data sets collected over a full year’s usage would provide a more accurate annual saving, rolling out this simple technology must be a high priority.
Water and Nutrient Neutrality
The use of water management facilities such as the NRv2 LoFlo® is proven to deliver savings in water consumption and by saving water, there can be added benefits in delivering nutrient neutrality – something that is now becoming an important and demanded factor within any planning consent for development across the UK.
Further benefits
By saving water, it has been computed that consumers could also save money as heating water is by far the greatest use of domestic water with over £100.00 a year being stated in some areas where water management systems have been installed.
The simple solution
With a unit cost of £20 and a zero-installation cost (when combined with new or replacement meter installation or a lead pipe replacement) the NRv2 LoFlo® must be one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing PCC currently available.
For more details, please visit
www.groundbreaker.co.uk
