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| Combined basin/cistern really saves water |
From the smallest village pub to the headquarters of a multinational corporation, businesses could be wasting thousands of litres of water every year.
Yet some remarkably simple innovations could help put an end to this unnecessary expense.
Take a look at the photograph accompanying this article.
At first glance, it appears to show a rather unusual, compact handwashing basin with a soap dispenser mounted above it.
But look more closely.
This isn't an ordinary washbasin. It's actually part of an ingenious water-saving toilet system that uses the same water twice!
Wash Your Hands, Then Flush the Toilet!
The principle is beautifully simple.
Instead of having a separate washbasin connected directly to the drainage system, this arrangement incorporates a small basin into the top of the toilet cistern.
When the toilet is flushed, fresh water flows through the basin's tap, allowing users to wash their hands.
Rather than disappearing down the drain, the handwashing water flows into the toilet cistern, ready to be used for the next flush.
The result? Water that would ordinarily be discarded after handwashing gets a second, perfectly practical use.
It's important to emphasise that users wash their hands with fresh, clean water. Only afterwards is that water collected for flushing.
For pubs, restaurants, offices, shops and other commercial premises, particularly those with frequently used toilets, this could represent a worthwhile reduction in water consumption.
The compact design can also be useful where washroom space is limited.
Waterless Urinals: Another Clever Solution
Another innovation deserving serious consideration is the waterless urinal.
Traditional urinals can consume considerable quantities of water, particularly older systems that flush automatically at regular intervals day and night, even when the building isn't used.
Waterless urinals eliminate flushing water altogether.
Instead, specially designed traps or cartridges allow urine to drain away while preventing unpleasant sewer gases from entering the washroom.
Some systems use replaceable cartridges, while others employ different sealing technologies.
For businesses with busy male washrooms, the potential water savings can be substantial.
However, proper installation, regular cleaning and appropriate maintenance are essential to prevent odours and drainage problems.
Think About the Bigger Picture
Water-saving toilets and urinals are only part of the solution.
Businesses should also consider:
Installing tap aerators and flow restrictors.
Repairing dripping taps and leaking toilets promptly.
Introducing dual-flush toilets where appropriate.
Using water-efficient commercial dishwashers.
Monitoring water meters to identify unusual consumption.
Training employees to recognise and report water wastage.
Larger organisations could benefit from comprehensive water audits to identify opportunities for improvement.
Saving Water Makes Good Business Sense
With commercial water and wastewater charges representing an ongoing operating expense, reducing consumption can deliver financial as well as environmental benefits.
Of course, any new plumbing installations must comply with relevant water regulations and hygiene requirements.
Businesses should also consider installation costs, maintenance requirements and likely usage before investing.
Nevertheless, innovations such as the combined handwashing basin and toilet cistern pictured here demonstrate that sustainability doesn't always require complicated technology.
Sometimes the cleverest solutions are also the simplest.
So, whether you're running a village pub with two toilets or managing a corporate headquarters with dozens of washrooms, perhaps it's time to ask a very important question:
Is your business quite literally flushing money down the toilet?
That's Business – Helping Businesses Work Smarter.
