ASSOCIATIONS 7
A 6-litre flush .
toilets and flushing mechanisms . One such flush mechanism can save households about 5 000l of water a month and large premises that are occupied by many people , such as schools , as much as 16 000l of water a month . “ Older toilets use between as much as 13l of water per flush and regular toilets now use around 6l per flush . Toilets remain the biggest user of water in homes . Flushing accounts for almost 30 % of an average home ’ s indoor water consumption , hence the intense focus on this aspect of plumbing by many international manufacturers to help reduce water demand ,” he says .
Another major innovation in the field of efficient plumbing is low-flow showerhead technology . These plumbing fixtures consume about 10l per minute compared to the 15l of water used a minute by conventional shower heads . They work by either restricting water flow and forcing it through small apertures on the shower head or by mixing air into the flow . The latter , which is the most popular of the two types of low-flow showerheads , works like tap aerators . Although simple devices that can been easily installed , tap aerators make a marked impact on water consumption in households and property assets by reducing the flow of water from faucets .
Meanwhile , efficiency taps , and mixers can further reduce the amount of water used in bathroom and kitchen sinks . A conventional bathroom and kitchen mixer dispenses about 8.3l of water per minute compared to the 5.6l of water per minute from new water efficient taps .
A further benefit of these technologies is the role that they play in minimising wear and tear on pipes and fixtures by reducing flows – if correctly installed and maintained by qualified plumbers .
IOPSA continues to work closely with many of the country ’ s municipalities to promote the efficient use of water in their jurisdictions . This is by ensuring that homeowners and businesses always use the services of qualified plumbers to install , maintain and repair plumbing systems that have been certified by relevant quality standards authorities .
“ The Department of Water and Sanitation has long recognised the role that plumbing plays in reducing water demand . It has , therefore , developed model water services by-laws to help municipalities ensure the efficient use of water in their jurisdictions . These model services by-laws are clear about the duties that may be undertaken by qualified plumbers . IOPSA is helping some municipalities implement these model water services by-laws to ensure the highest standard of plumbing workmanship so that our precious water resources are used responsibly by constituents ,” Reynolds concludes . PA
“ These ( DWS ) model services by-laws are clear about the duties that may be undertaken by qualified plumbers .”
February 2022 Volume 27 I Number 12 www . plumbingafrica . co . za