Quality plumbing makes sound business sense

/ MEDIA STATEMENT / This content was not written by Creamer Media and is a provided media statement.

Commercial premises are significant consumers of municipal water. Despite representing only 10% of the municipalities’ total customer base, offices use almost half of the water provided by the municipality. In a water-scarce country like South Africa, it is imperative that businesses continue to focus on reducing the water footprint of commercial buildings. This also saves them water costs, which shows that high-quality plumbing makes economic sense. Encouragement enough for companies to use water sensibly.

To help conserve water, many entrepreneurial companies tap into the wealth of knowledge that exists within the professional plumbing industry, from plumbers to manufacturers and suppliers of innovative plumbing systems.

“Professional plumbers are at the forefront of water efficiency. Considering the high demand for “green” and “smart” plumbing solutions in the country, which is also driven by rising water and electricity costs in some cities, many installers have chosen to specialize in this field. They continue to keep up with new sanitation technologies that are proving very effective in reducing water and energy consumption. These range from simple systems that have a major positive impact on water usage, to sophisticated digital technologies that can even alert homeowners to leaking hidden pipes on their property so they can take timely remedial action. Not to mention manufacturers’ focus on designing and developing sanitary materials that last significantly longer to reduce potential leaks and maintenance costs for property owners, as well as the carbon footprint of their products. Qualified plumbers know when to recommend the use of these materials and how to properly install them,” says Brendan Reynolds, executive director of the Institute of Plumbing of South Africa.

Fixing leaking plumbing is always a good place to start when working towards reducing a commercial building’s water footprint. Remember that up to 30 liters of water per hour can be wasted due to a leaking tap in the office kitchen or in the bathroom or toilet, for example. A qualified plumber is able to correctly repair leaks and locate hidden faulty pipes in a commercial building which can also lead to exorbitant costs if left unchecked.

The next focus is usually the washrooms of a commercial property. Flushing toilets and urinals alone consumes at least 43% and 20% of office water, respectively. In combination with sinks, washing systems can account for up to 90% of the total water consumption in the office.

Potential solutions include installing low-flush toilets that use just six liters per flush. This is in contrast to older toilets which use between 7.5L and even 13L per flush. In some cases it is only possible to install water saving devices in existing cisterns as accessories

short to medium term solution. However, these interventions alone can save between one and three liters of water per flush.

Monitoring devices can now reduce urine water consumption by up to 70%. They may include timers set to correspond to the hours that urinals are used by staff. There are also more advanced solutions available for commercial property owners to help them reduce their water needs. Qualified installers can advise owners on which of these are best suited to their sites, as well as installing and maintaining them correctly. These include systems with infrared or ultrasonic sensors that detect the presence of people and only then begin to supply water. Others are triggered by fluctuations in water pressure or flow when faucets are opened in office washrooms.

Waterless urinals are also an option for some commercial premises. Such a system, replacing a traditional urinal that uses 3.7 liters per flush, can save around 150,000 liters of water per year. All waterless urinals work similarly. Urine is gravity fed from the basin through a seal in a cartridge and into a drainage system. The seal prevents odors and sewage gases from traveling up the pipe and into the washer.

Reynolds notes that another benefit of these technologies is that they help reduce the amount of wastewater that enters the municipal system. This relieves already loaded sewage treatment plants and reduces pollution. As a result, the savings in network and wastewater treatment costs can be better used to maintain infrastructure, thereby helping to address the serious sanitation challenges that the country also faces.

Meanwhile, the office canteen can account for about 9% of the total water consumption in the office. One of the factors that contribute to high water consumption in the kitchen is inefficient faucets. Faucets and washing equipment used in these applications for washing purposes can account for up to a third of the office’s water consumption. By attaching dispensing devices such as sprays and aerators to faucets, water consumption in these applications can be reduced by up to 80%. There are two such systems, namely atomizers and aerators. Atomizers atomize water into tiny droplets to cover larger surfaces with less water. Aerators, on the other hand, control the straightness and diameter of the jet flow, eliminating splashes that waste water. However, some commercial property owners prefer more sophisticated solutions to conserve water used in basins and sinks. Again, qualified plumbers can provide important advice on which of these offer the best savings in water usage. These systems include electronic sensors and timed faucets that, when properly installed and maintained by a professional plumber, prevent waste and flooding from faucets that stay in service.

After water requirements have been reduced through the implementation of these interventions, many commercial property owners will increase water supply by collecting rainwater. This ‘green plumbing’ system has grown in popularity over the years, making it a major focus area for many qualified installers across the country.

Rainwater harvesting collects and filters precipitation from the roofs of buildings. Many offices, large shopping centers, factories and warehouses offer ideal areas for rainwater harvesting due to their size. This water is stored in tanks and used for applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation and cleaning, which accounts for about 1% of total office water use. Another side effect of these systems is that they divert rainwater runoff, thereby relieving heavily loaded municipal sewer systems. Rainwater harvesting remains an attractive proposition due to the system’s simple design and components, and low running costs.

“The South African sanitation industry can play an even greater role in assisting South Africa in reducing its water needs, as stated in the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Model Water Services Bylaws. Unfortunately, many municipalities still have to implement them. Enforcement has been lacking in the few jurisdictions where they have been enacted. This has led to increased use of inferior plumbing products and workmanship, which has significantly exacerbated our water and sanitation problems,” concludes Reynolds.

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