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.