Is water conservation something those involved in new builds should care about?

In a nutshell, yes! The use of water is a crucial resource for life, and water conservation should be a priority for all of us. Incorporating water conservation into building practices can have numerous benefits, ranging from regulatory compliance and cost savings to environmental protection and enhanced market appeal. It's a proactive approach that aligns with the broader goals of sustainability and responsible development.

What are some of the important reasons why water conservation is crucial to builders?

Resource Scarcity

Freshwater is a finite resource, and in many regions around the world, water scarcity is becoming a pressing issue. As water demand increases due to population growth and industrial development, the availability of freshwater for consumption and other uses becomes limited. By incorporating water-efficient practices, builders can contribute to reducing the strain on local water resources.

Regulatory Compliance

Many regions have implemented strict water usage regulations to manage water scarcity and protect local ecosystems. Builders need to adhere to these regulations to obtain necessary permits and approvals for construction. Failure to comply can lead to delays, fines, and other legal consequences.

Community Sustainability

Builders have a responsibility to contribute to the overall sustainability of the communities they operate in. Water conservation measures demonstrate a commitment to the long-term well-being of the community by ensuring that water resources are available for future generations.

Cost Savings

Implementing water-efficient technologies and practices can lead to significant cost savings for both builders and homeowners. These technologies, such as low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and efficient irrigation systems, can reduce water consumption and lower utility bills for homeowners. Builders can market these cost-saving features as selling points for their properties.

Environmental Impact

Excessive water usage can contribute to environmental degradation, including over-pumping of groundwater, damage to aquatic ecosystems, and increased energy consumption for water treatment and distribution. By reducing water usage through conservation measures, builders can help mitigate these negative impacts and contribute to environmental preservation.

Market Demand

With increasing awareness of environmental issues, there is a growing market demand for sustainable and eco-friendly homes. House builders that prioritize water conservation and other green building practices can attract environmentally conscious buyers and enhance their market reputation.

Innovation and Differentiation

Embracing water-efficient technologies and design practices can set builders apart as leaders in the industry. Innovation in water conservation can lead to more efficient construction methods, better designs, and improved overall building quality.

Long-Term Resilience

Water scarcity and unpredictable water availability due to climate change can impact the long-term viability of housing developments. Builders who consider these factors and design homes with water resilience in mind are better positioned to withstand future challenges.

How can a company like Thomas Dudley help?

The toilet accounts for over 20 percent of household water consumption and according to the ‘Leaky Loo’ report over 4% of UK toilets are leaking water. That is enough water to fill 158 Olympic sized swimming pools EVERY DAY or to put it another way, enough water is leaking from toilets in the UK to fill over 4 MILLION baths EVERY SINGLE DAY.

That is a HUGE amount of wasted water.

The majority of leaky loo’s leak from either the inlet or outlet valve so fitting water saving products to your toilets like our delay fill Dudley Hydroflo inlet valve or our market leading Dudley Turbo Edge toilet syphon will help to reduce the number of leaking toilets you have.

Toilet syphons have offered full and reduced flushing for some time. Popular models like the Dudley Turbo Edge deliver full flush when the lever is depressed and released. When the lever is held down, air interrupts the flush and delivers a reduced volume. These syphons can be fitted into new or retrofit applications and used to convert single flush toilets into dual flush.

Unreliable flush valves provide the greatest potential for saving water. The ‘Leaky Loo’ report by has confirmed that ‘in toilets that were identified as leaking, 81 percent contained flush valve mechanisms’

With syphons and flush valves operating differently, this statistic is unsurprising. Syphons do not have an underwater seal as such and are true water waste preventers. They flush using a syphonic action that lifts the water in the cistern and sends it down into the pan.

Flush valves work by pressing a button that lifts a sealing washer off the cistern outlet hole, rather like removing a plug from a bath allowing water to drain into the pan. The constant action of raising and lowering of the sealing washer is responsible for most flush valve leaks as debris or limescale builds underneath the washer to prevent it from sealing. When this happens, water trickles into the pan and on average, wastes a staggering 215 litres of water per toilet per day.

Delay fill inlet valves are another way to reduce water wastage. Previously, float valves began refilling a cistern whilst it was still flushing. Thomas Dudley’s own research has found that a 6-litre cistern can in fact flush up to 6.2 litres when fitted with a standard inlet valve. With a Dudley Hydroflo delay fill inlet valve, the float is prevented from lowering immediately after flushing. As such, water is only allowed to refill the cistern once flushing has finished. Here, the same cistern can consistently deliver flushing of six litres or less.

When planning your next building project remember that Thomas Dudley has an extensive portfolio of water-saving products under the Dudley brand. Vantage and Miniflo concealed cisterns offer flush volumes as low as 4/2.6 litres, whilst the market leading Turbo Edge syphon and Victoria flush valves provide proven solutions for the new installation and replacement markets. The Hydroflo inlet valves range meanwhile offers further water savings with its delay fill options.

For more information visit: www.thomasdudley.co.uk/tyde