Save water at commercial premises

It is a common misconception that showers use less water than a bath. Modern power showers can use just as much, if not more than, a bath. There are several technologies that your business can use to reduce the amount of water that showers use.

Efficient shower technologies

An isolating ball valve enables you to control the flow of water through the valve. This adjustment could save up to six litres of water per minute. The valve is easy and cheap to fit. However, it does not regulate water pressure and may block as scale builds up.

A shower aerator is fitted between the shower hose and showerhead. The aerator allows air to mix with the water as it leaves the showerhead. This gives the impression of higher water pressure and flow. Water savings can be as high as six litres per minute.

Operating in the same way as a general shower aerator, an aerating showerhead fits into the showerhead itself. It mixes air with the water as it exits the showerhead to give the impression of higher water flow rates. Water savings are around six litres per minute. This technology is not normally suitable for electrically heated showers.

A thermostatic mixer valve within the shower detects the water pressure or temperature and expands the element within the showerhead. This alters the proportion of hot and cold water that is mixed within the shower. Long paybacks can be an issue with this technology, as it cannot be retrofitted to an existing shower.

Operating like push button light switches, the push button shower delivers its water over a set time period. Water savings vary as the button can be pushed multiple times without any cut-off. Maintenance is also required as the pinhole in the diaphragm that operates the push button can become blocked with scale.