Introduction
Universities, colleges and schools have a responsibility to educate future generations, but they also have an important role to play in protecting the environment.
With sustainability becoming an increasingly important consideration across the education sector, managing water consumption is an area that deserves attention.
From student accommodation and teaching buildings to sports facilities, libraries, catering areas and washrooms, educational establishments rely on water throughout the day.
And with large numbers of students, staff and visitors using these facilities, even small inefficiencies can quickly add up.
So, how can universities and educational establishments make better use of this valuable resource while keeping operational costs under control?
Why does water efficiency matter in education?
Water is essential to the day-to-day running of any educational establishment. However, high occupancy levels and busy facilities can make it difficult to monitor exactly how much is being used.
Consider a typical university campus. It may include:
Each area presents opportunities to improve water efficiency.
A constantly running toilet, unnecessarily frequent urinal flushing or taps left running can contribute to significant water waste.
When these issues are repeated across multiple buildings, the impact on water bills and the environment can be considerable.
For estates and facilities management teams, improving water efficiency is not simply about reducing consumption. It is also about making buildings more sustainable, managing budgets responsibly and supporting wider environmental commitments.
The challenge of managing busy washrooms
Educational washrooms can experience very different patterns of use throughout the day.
Lecture breaks, lunchtime periods, sporting events and busy student accommodation can all create sudden increases in demand.
Traditional flushing systems may operate at fixed intervals, regardless of whether the facilities have actually been used. This can result in unnecessary flushing and wasted water.
Similarly, conventional toilet flush seals can deteriorate over time, creating hidden leaks that may go unnoticed until water bills increase or maintenance teams identify a problem.
The answer is to introduce smarter, more efficient water management solutions that respond to actual usage wherever possible.
How can Cistermiser help universities and schools save water?
Cistermiser has almost five decades of experience developing innovative water and energy-saving solutions for commercial washrooms.
Our range of products is designed to help educational establishments improve control over water consumption without compromising hygiene, convenience or the user experience.
Here are some of the ways our technology can help.
1. Smarter toilet flushing with EasyflushEVO and Easyflush Direct
Toilets are an essential part of every educational building, and with potentially hundreds of users every day, efficient flushing is important.
EasyflushEVO is a sensor-activated, dual-flush WC valve designed to help reduce water consumption. Its patented siphon design has no flush seal below the water line, helping to prevent the seal-related leaks commonly associated with traditional flushing systems.
Easyflush Direct offers an alternative mains-fed flushing solution without the need for a traditional cistern. Its infrared sensor activates the flush, allowing immediate successive flushing in busy washrooms.
Both solutions help educational establishments take a more efficient approach to toilet flushing.
2. Intelligent urinal flushing with Direct Flush
Traditional urinal flushing systems can waste water by flushing at regular intervals, even when the facilities have not been used.
Cistermiser’s Direct Flush uses infrared sensor technology to detect when a urinal has been used and flushes afterwards.
By responding to actual usage rather than relying on unnecessary timed flushing, it helps to control water consumption while maintaining washroom hygiene.
The system also incorporates a programmable hygiene flush to help prevent odours and the build-up of uric acid during periods of low use.
3. Reduce unnecessary water use with infrared taps
Handwashing is an important part of maintaining good hygiene across educational facilities.
However, taps left running unnecessarily can contribute to avoidable water waste.
Cistermiser’s infrared sensor tap solutions, including Vecta+ and Novatap, offer hands-free operation, helping to control water flow and reduce unnecessary usage.
They are particularly useful in busy shared washrooms where large numbers of students and staff use the facilities throughout the day.
4. Smarter washroom management with Sensazone
For larger educational establishments, managing water use across multiple washrooms can be challenging.
Cistermiser’s Sensazone intelligent washroom control system uses occupancy sensors to control services including water, lighting and extractor fans.
When the washroom is occupied, the relevant services are activated. When it is vacant for a pre-set period, the system can automatically shut off the controlled water supply, helping to prevent unnecessary water and energy consumption.
This provides an additional level of control in busy shared facilities.
Make water efficiency part of your next washroom refurbishment
For universities and schools planning building improvements or washroom refurbishments, water efficiency should be considered from the outset.
Whether you are upgrading existing facilities, planning a new development or reviewing water consumption across an entire campus, choosing the right technology can make a difference over the long term.
The benefits go beyond reducing water bills. More efficient washrooms can support sustainability targets, reduce unnecessary maintenance and help create better-managed facilities for students, staff and visitors.
At Cistermiser, we understand that every educational establishment is different. The right solution will depend on the size of your buildings, the number of users, existing plumbing systems and patterns of demand.
Book your FREE Cistermiser Water Survey
Are you looking for practical ways to reduce water consumption across your university, college or school?
Our FREE Washroom Water Survey can help identify opportunities to improve washroom efficiency, reduce unnecessary water usage and highlight where Cistermiser products could make a difference.
Whether you are responsible for a single building or a large university campus, our team can help you explore the options.
Make every drop count. Save water, save money and support a more sustainable future.
Book your FREE water survey today. Contact our friendly team at sales@cistermiser.co.uk or call 0118 969 1611 to arrange your survey.
