News

NHS Sustainable Development Unit

Water

Water will be considered and managed as a precious resource, the design of all new health care facilities will include the most efficient technology. Reporting on water use will provide an important part of each NSH organisations own sustainability reporting.

In 2007 – 2008 the NHS in England consumed an estimated 38.8 million cubic metres of water and generated approximately 26.3 million cubic metres of sewerage at a cost of approximately £ 145 million.

Whilst many people think that England has an abundance of water there is actually less water available per person here than in many other European countries. Poor management of water costs the NHS money that could be used for direct patient care and the management, distribution and disposal of water produces carbon which contributes to the overall carbon footprint of the NHS. Using water generates carbon mainly through heating for hot water but also through the energy required to pump water to get it to our taps.

NHS organisations should refer to the Department of Health guidance in HTM 07-04 ‘Water management and water efficiency’ in managing water within the exiting operational estate or commissioning new build or refurbishments of sites.

There are four main aspects of water use that NHS organisations should address: –

1) Measuring, monitoring and reporting on water consumption.

2) Improving efficiency of use.

3) Reducing leakages.

4) Avoiding the use of bottled water.

Low carbon building developments must include the best possible efficiency of water use in the design stage, well before a building is constructed. Potential water use needs to be considered as part of improved building energy use and measured effectively, like all resources it should be valued and used wisely. Water is a contributor to the carbon footprint of the NHS and currently is not metered or measured consistently.

Hot water production is carbon intensive, the DH Estates and Facilities Division and DEFRA are in the process of developing water efficiency measured for the NHS, this include specific studies to investigate how hot water use can be reduced without compromising the standard of health care delivered.

NHS organisation should adopt a policy of using only bottled tap water for meetings or gathering on their sites rather than buying in bottled spring water, it takes energy, transport and many litres of water to produce a half litre bottle of sping water.

leakages always need urgent attention as they can often remain undetected for long periods wasting huge volumes of water and therefore money, across the country over 10% of all water is lost through leakages once it has left the water suppliers infrastructure.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN REDUCING YOUR WATER CHARGES CONTACT H2O BUILDING SERVICES ON 01924 387873  graham.mann@h2obuildingservices.co.uk WE WORK NATIONALLY.