Did you know that boosting water pressure could be the answer to saving both water and energy in the household? It may sound strange and counter-intuitive, but hear me out because there’s some fascinating science behind the concept.
Imagine this: You’re in the shower and the water pressure feels like a mere trickle. Dissatisfied you crank the tap up, hoping for more substantial flow. However all you get is a weak dribble. So, what do you do? You stay in the shower that bit longer trying to rinse off shampoo or soap, using more water and energy than necessary. Believe it or not, this scenario is far more common than you may think. Low water pressure can lead to inefficient water usage, longer showers and increased energy consumption.
Now there is a solution: increasing minimum water pressure in households. Advancements in shower technology, like boost functions and hyper efficient shower heads, operate optimally at a pressure of 2-3 bar. However, in many homes with poor mains or gravity pressure, these innovations can’t effectively perform. The Guaranteed Service Standard (GSS) mandates a minimum pressure of 0.7 bar within the property’s curtilage. However, the pressure could drop even lower for showers located on higher floors, aggravating the problem.
So why the low pressure? It’s primarily due to under-investment and ageing infrastructure in the water sector. Water companies may hesitate to increase network pressure due to concerns about leakage, and we all know how unpopular their record is on the matter. This is why the Bathrooms Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) calls on the next government to intervene to establish a minimum pressure of ideally 2-3 bar to all households. With adequate pressure, we can mandate the use of lower-flow terminal fittings, further enhancing water and energy savings. Until then, any attempts to ban higher-flow fittings are unlikely to succeed.
