WATER CONSERVATION IN INCLUSIVE BATHROOMS

Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, explores how to comply with water efficiency standards while delivering accessible bathrooms.

Revised details of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ water reduction delivery plan were published in July, setting out further information on the planned smart meter rollout, leakage commitments and measures linked to the Water White Paper.

For specifiers working on both general and inclusive bathrooms, the DEFRA Water Demand Delivery Plan has important implications. It sits alongside tighter Building Regulation Part G requirements, supports the introduction of mandatory water-efficiency labelling through secondary legislation, and encourages closer alignment between bathroom fittings and the Future Homes Standard.

Key proposals include tighter Part G limits for new homes, with mandatory minimum standards moving towards 105 litres per person per day, and the optional technical standard of 100 litres per person per day applying in water-stressed areas.

The proposed mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme would also introduce a clearer rating system for higher-consumption products such as WCs, taps and showers, making verified flow and flush rates more transparent at the point of specification.

There will also be greater scrutiny of individual fitting performance. As the industry moves towards more detailed Home Energy Model compliance, the hot water and flow outputs of taps and showerheads are expected to come under increasing focus.

Baths and toilets are likely to change too. Larger-volume baths and less efficient single- or dual-flush toilets are expected to give way to more compact products, aerated fittings and smarter flushing systems.

Which appliances should specifiers focus on?

As DEFRA’s proposals move closer to policy, the direction of travel is clear: water-efficient products are becoming an increasingly important part of bathroom specification. For new-build and refurbishment projects, there are several key product areas to consider.

Showers

Showers are the largest single user of water in many homes, accounting for around 25–30% of household consumption, with toilets close behind at approximately 20–25%.

For this reason, reduced-flow or variable-flow showers can make a significant difference. Over the lifetime of the product, the water savings can make these systems more cost-effective while still delivering a practical showering experience.

AKW’s WRAS-approved, flow-limited showers are designed to support water savings while maintaining safe and reliable performance.

The SmartCare Plus, SmartCare Lever and iTherm electric care showers all feature an eco-default setting, which can be overridden when required, limiting the flow rate to 6 litres per minute. The Arka TMV3 Mixer Shower water-saving model is fitted with a flow limiter providing a maximum flow rate of 8 litres per minute.

These products give specifiers and users a durable showering solution that combines practical performance with stronger environmental credentials.

Toilets

A standard modern toilet uses around 6 litres of water per flush. Newer dual-flush models offer improved efficiency and can deliver meaningful water savings over the life of the product.

AKW’s Livenza Plus close-coupled toilet, for example, offers a 3/6 litre flush option. Cistern displacement devices can also help reduce water use, with potential savings of up to 5,000 litres per toilet each year.

Wash basins

Basin design can also influence water consumption. Deeper basins may encourage users to fill them more fully, increasing unnecessary water use.

AKW’s Livenza Plus basins are smaller than standard wash basins and offer 62% less volume than AKW’s largest basin, creating further opportunities for water savings. They can also be specified with wheelchair-friendly semi-pedestals to support accessible bathroom design.

Bidets

Bidets may not always be associated with water-saving, but they can offer benefits. A bidet typically uses around 0.2 to 0.5 litres of water per use, compared with anything from around 3 litres to more than 13 litres for older toilet models.

They can also reduce reliance on toilet paper, the production of which requires both water and energy.

Water efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of bathroom specification, and there is now a wide range of products available that combine style, accessibility and reduced water use. As regulations continue to evolve, choosing efficient fittings will become an even more important part of creating bathrooms that are fit for the future.