Safeguarding patients, simplifying maintenance

Fortunately, water delivery technology is constantly advancing, and, increasingly, solutions are available that ‘tick all these boxes’. Chris Tranter, senior product manager for specification at Bristan, discusses the options available to healthcare estate managers.

The importance of reducing water wastage is becoming more widely understood. Despite our famously rainy climate, the UK has less available water per person than most European countries, and this situation is only worsening. In fact, the Government’s Natural Capital Committee has predicted that our water usage could climb by an astonishing 35 per cent by 2050. From a financial perspective, the consequences of wasting water are equally significant. An Energy Savings Report found that UK consumers could save approximately £600 m on energy bills each year by cutting down on water wastage, a total which is almost certainly far higher when applied to public and private healthcare premises.

Take for example, NHS England. In 2007-2008 an estimated 38.8 million cubic metres of water was consumed by the NHS, at a cost of approximately £145 m. As a result, the government has, for a number of years, set a target of a 25 per cent reduction in water use in its office and non-office estates by 2020, relative to 2004/2005 levels. When it comes to choosing water delivery products, the task faced by healthcare estate managers is far from simple. Safety and performance must be balanced with long-term costs and environmental considerations in order to meet BREEAM requirements, while providing a high standard of facilities. So, how can the latest washroom technology help healthcare estates managers to secure the safety and efficiency they increasingly require?