Reducing water wastage while maintaining hygiene levels

Lee Thompson,technical manager of Cistermiser discusses why saving water in a healthcare environment doesn't need to mean a compromise in hygiene levels

Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in England are estimated to cost the NHS a staggering £1 billion annually and, according to a report by the National Audit Office, improved hand hygiene is the primary action needed to reduce these infections.While hand washing is a vital process within healthcare, the result is high levels of water usage, which can be wasteful, costly and have a negative impact on the environment.

When considering options to reduce water wastage from taps in washrooms of both patient and visitor areas in healthcare environments, it is important to ensure that the specification is not only correct in terms of reducing water wastage and maintaining hygiene levels but also in order to meet the various healthcare guidelines.

Within patient and visitor washrooms, it is required that, for hygiene reasons, basins should be plugless and the Water Regulations require that the flow rate of a tap does not exceed 3.6 litres per minute where basins have no plug.What's more, it is also important to get the specification right in order to gain BREEAM credit ratings under the water category and to offer additional health, safety and maintenance benefits.

The installation of an infrared (IR) controlled, touch-free basin tap, such as Cistermiser's Novatap or Novaspout, which are available in both 3.5 and 5 litre per minute models, present a host of benefits to a healthcare establishment.

The IR taps,which are easy to fit in both new installation and retrofits,work by the users presenting their hands to an infrared sensor.This turns on the tap and stimulates the flow of water; no contact is required.When the user's hands are moved away, the flow of water stops after a two second delay.

Since the flow of water stops after a two second delay, once the hand is removed, wasted water from excessive run-on, such as with percussion (push) or traditional taps, is eliminated. For healthcare in particular, the 3.5 per litre model meets the need of not exceeding 3.6 litres per minute where basins have no plug.

Hygiene rinse option In relation to pathogen control, the no-touch solution reduces the risk of spreading infection or cross-contamination. Furthermore, to help prevent legionella bacteria growth from the build up of stagnant water, Cistermiser's tap incorporates a hygiene rinse option, which operates 12 hours after the last use of the tap.This prevents warm, mixed water from stagnating.The 3.5 litre per minute models are also available non-aerated, which further reduces the risk of spreading infection.

In terms of gaining BREEAM, Cistermiser's IR range, including the Novatap and Novaspout, meet the requirements of Wat 1, which requires demonstration that the product uses less consumable water in use than the standard specifications for the same type of fitting.

This need is met with the taps' regulated flow of either 5 or 3.5 litres per minute. In addition, the IR taps also meet the requirements under Hea 12, which require that hot and cold water systems have been designed or actions have been taken to minimise the risks of microbial contamination.This need is met with the use of the periodic hygiene rinse function. Furthermore, in the case where a 3.5 litre per minute model is installed within a total washroom control system,Wat 4 can be met.

IR taps within healthcare provide the ideal solution. They reduce water wastage and lower costs, which, for a healthcare facility, can result in a reduction in carbon footprint.What's more, the touch-free taps also help to create environments less prone to the spread of infection and, for the less-abled, they are ideal as they are easier to operate the a conventional tap.