ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
27
<< Continued from page 25
Everyone who selects water-efficient products should
ensure these product(s) have:
• complete functionality
• proper design
• a water-efficiency rating.
The functionality of all water-efficient products is very
important since each product must provide the same
performance (or better without sacrificing quality) as
expected from conventional non-water-efficient products.
More specifically, all of the aforementioned water-
efficient products need to deliver the same water rinsing
and scouring performance that is normally expected
from conventional non-water-efficient products. For
example, a water-efficient tap needs to deliver as equally
good supply of aerated water as any other conventional
non-water-efficient tap so one will be able to thoroughly
wash, scour, and rinse their hands with the same ease
and in the same time period (or less) as normally is made
using a conventional water tap.
More importantly, the manner by which any product’s
functionality and quality is confirmed is best ensured
by a certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17065
to the product’s national performance standard ((and
also to the product’s respective code(s), such as
those from IAPMO India’s Uniform Illustrated Plumbing
Code-India (UIPC-I) and the Green Plumbing Code
Supplement–India (GPCS-I)), as well as certification to
a water-efficiency rating specification, such as IAPMO
India’s WEP-I.
The rating of water-efficient products is the third
important selection parameter that defines the true
‘green’ benefit of such products. This rating helps
identify the level of a product’s water efficiency in terms
of the product’s measured water consumption, such
as quantified by the total number of stars (as in IAPMO
India’s WEP-I specification) or by the total number of
points (as in GRIHA, IGBC, or LEED specifications). In
any case, the more stars or points that a water-efficient
product is awarded in its certification, the greater its
water efficiency.
Numerous leading manufacturers throughout India are
now certified and showcasing their water-efficiency
rating. HSIL Limited (Hindware Brand) was the first to
lead the charge about four years ago, and all applicable
Hindware products now showcase their respective water-
efficiency rating, followed by CERA Sanitaryware Limited,
Kohler India Corp. Pvt. Ltd., ROCA Bathroom Products
Pvt. Ltd., Ariston Sanitaryware Pvt. Ltd., and Somany
Ceramics Limited.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Numerous leading
manufacturers throughout
India are now certified
and showcasing their
water-efficiency rating.
We did a quick study and found that by simply
retrofitting a building with WEP-I-rated products, one
can achieve up to 40% water savings by replacing
the water closets alone, more than 70% savings with
urinals, and up to 43% with shower heads. One can
quickly extrapolate the savings potential by replacing
the water closets in a building with WEP-I-rated
fixtures. A simple calculation of water savings in an
area of 100 000 dwelling units implementing 3-star-
rated appliances is shown below.
Saving water through IAPMO India’s star-rated
products
• Owner of residential structure replaces 1-star-rated
water closet with 3-star-rated water closet, saving
20 litres per day.
• Consumers within a region of one million dwellings
replace water-wasting toilets, saving 20 million
litres of water per day.
• More than seven billion litres of water per year
is saved.
Also, as part of the Green Plumbing Code Supplement
– India (GPCS-I), a free download of a water-savings
calculator program (in Excel format) can be obtained for
the design/selection of water-efficient products and/or
the evaluation of water savings when installing water-
efficient products over conventional non-water-efficient
products. This water-savings calculator is available
for download from www.iapmogreen.org, and details
of its water-savings calculation method can be found
within Appendix A of the GPCS-I, which is available
for ordering at http://www.iapmoindia.org/Pages/
publications.aspx. The use of these sustainable certified
products will help to promote and heighten efficient
water conservation efforts and measures throughout
India and around the world. Because of IAPMO India’s
certification programmes, many architects, consumers,
contractors, engineers, plumbing instructors, plumbing
designers, and inspectors continue to be assured that
these certified products comply with every standard
and code governing their use throughout India. PA
January 2019 Volume 25 I Number 1