- Schools cannot function properly without water.
- Local and national laws are expected to restrict flow rates from taps and shower spouts.
- Going ‘low flow’ is becoming cool at school.
Climate change events are a regular occurrence in South Africa. Ongoing droughts across the country have a debilitating effect on the functioning of our schools. No water at school means things don’t get cleaned, toilets don’t get flushed and pupils don’t get to drink water which has a direct effect on concentration levels. A school simply cannot function properly without water.
A good way to start saving water at schools is at the point of use. Flow restriction in taps and shower heads will prevent excessive water use and wastage plus also have a positive impact on the water bill. The flow of water in schools will also soon be regulated by local or national laws.
The municipality of Cape Town is leading the way by implementing by-laws that stipulate the maximum flow rate from any tap installed in a wash hand basin may not exceed 6 litres per minute. Similarly the flow of water from a shower head may not exceed 10 litres per minute. Both public and private schools will be bound and responsible for ensuring compliance.
Restricting the flow of water can be extended to all school buildings including hostels and gyms. Low-flow or flow regulated tap mixers and shower heads are readily available in the South African market, however, very few are authentic and deliver in terms of water savings performance. Stick to quality household brands like Hansgrohe who put a lot of investment and research into the performance of their tap mixers.
The majority of Hansgrohe tap mixers are available in EcoSmart versions. The EcoSmart models more than comply with anticipated law changes by limiting flow to 5 litres a minute or less. Their shower range also performs well below anticipated bylaw regulation at around 7 litres per minute. This is done without compromising on water pressure and the overall shower experience.
The upfront costs of retrofitting your schools taps and shower heads with low flow options are far outweighed by the benefits. The energy and water savings speak for themselves but the initiative also means pupils are educated in the form of a practical everyday use example. Saving water has become a national priority. That’s why going ‘low flow’ has become cool at school.
Author : Bryan Groenendaal
