Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, looks at how a new sense of ambition is driving change.
One of the few positives to emerge from the pandemic has been a greater sense of cooperation and collaboration, clearly visible in health, retail and construction sectors. In our industry, I’m seeing the same sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ resulting in a greater willingness to unite to address collective challenges.
This has been especially evident at the recent Waterwise conference, where the theme of the first day of talks was ‘Mainstreaming water efficiency – Ambition’. There were many voices from different organisations speaking about a vast range of water saving education activities taking place to tackle the water crisis.
By 2050 there will be a structural deficit of 8.2 billion litres of water per day, equivalent to the daily consumption of Wales. If we do nothing, within 20 years water shortages will be a routine part of life in the UK.
At BMA, this collective focus is galvanising our members, most notably on one of the persistent issues for the sector – leaky loos. When a toilet is wasting water, it can trickle down the back of the pan, often unnoticed, with hundreds of litres of clean water running away. In reality, ‘leaky loos’ is a bit of a misnomer, as the water isn’t actually escaping from the toilet, it is simply running down the pan.
We have seen most valve failures on old products which are no longer on the market. Materials, design, and reliability have improved, and this is a very positive step. Continuous improvement of products is part of the industry’s lifeblood and will be ongoing.
Furthermore, industry tests have shown that many leaks can be caused by grime and limescale buildup and just need a little attention to put right. With some simple and inexpensive maintenance, the problem can be solved. That is why we have launched the #GetLavvySavvy campaign to show people how to check their toilets.
Like any piece of functional equipment, toilet mechanisms require correct installation and occasional maintenance. We are working with partners to get the message across that repairing a leaky loo can be very straightforward and that preventative maintenance is a simple job that can save lots of water.
It’s an ambitious endeavour. Many people have already told us the public will never look inside their own cisterns and check the seal on an outlet valve. But when the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency describes the UK’s looming water scarcity problem as ‘the jaws of death’ it’s fair to say action is needed.
By 2050 there will be a structural deficit of 8.2 billion litres of water per day, equivalent to the daily consumption of Wales. If we do nothing, within 20 years water shortages will be a routine part of life in the UK.
The bathroom sector is making strides to engineer out the problem working in partnership with the water industry, and raising the profile of the simple steps homeowners can take to spot, repair and prevent leaky loos. It is our collective response to mainstreaming water efficiency.
To find out more about the campaign visit www.GetLavvySavvy.co.uk
