University of Nottingham
Background
University of Nottingham operate three large
campuses, plus a variety of buildings on external sites,
including three sports grounds, buildings at hospitals
in Nottingham and Derby, and a Further Education
complex in Nottingham city centre.Water services are
metered throughout the property portfolio. Estate
management became concerned at the cost of
metered water & sewerage, and instigated a project to
review water consumption with the aim of making
substantial reductions. An element of this project
focussed on urinal flushing; Estate Office staff were
aware that there were a variety of different makes and
models of flush control devices already in situ, but that
there were also a number of uncontrolled auto-flush
cisterns. However, there was no record of where all of
the Gents toilets were, which had urinals in them, and
which had what form of flush control, if any.
Of the control devices already in situ, it was apparent
that the most frequently used was the Cistermiser Infra
Red (IRC); from service records it was also clear that
these presented few service issues. Consequently,
Cistermiser were invited to discuss ways of reducing
water consumption across the property portfolio.
Solution
Initial discussion satisfied Estate Management that the first
priority was to fit controls to currently uncontrolled
cisterns, this would achieve a pay-back of less than a
year. If they did nothing,the metered bill for the next 12
months would be greater than the combined cost of
having controls fitted. To minimise cost and time
involved in installation, battery-power was preferred to
mains power.
Further objectives were agreed:
- to check all existing IRC's and service as necessary to
ensure uniformity of operation;
- to remove all other forms of existing devices and
replace with IRC's;
- to schedule a routine battery change for all IRC's
during Summer each year while students are not in
residence, thereby minimising any disruption;
- to standardise with IRC throughout the Estate for all
existing and any future buildings.
Outcome
A full survey, involving every building within the
University property portfolio, was conducted and all
Gents toilets with urinals were logged.
Recommendations were offered for each such toilet,
indicating number of IRC's required, positioning of
sensors, actions required re existing controls etc.
To complete the first phase, 100 IRC's were installed on
previously uncontrolled cisterns, during Summer 2005.
It is estimated that the resultant annual reduction in
metered charges will be some £25k, compared to a
budgeted cost of less than £20k, i.e. pay-back achieved
within 9 months.
Concurrent with the installation of new IRC's, 78
existing IRC's were checked, flow rates re-set as
necessary and batteries changed.
- All 178 IRC's now in situ are scheduled for annual
battery changes from Summer 2006 onwards.
- Removal of all other control devices and
replacement with 42 IRC's will be achieved in a
further phase as University budgets allow.
- The University are benefiting from reduced metered
charges, coupled with consistent, effective urinal
flushing performance determined by usage.
- Maintenance staff are increasingly familiar with the
IRC unit, enabling them to carry out routine servicing
in-house without the need to call in external
contractors.
