water

Removal and replacement of lead water supply pipes is not only good for occupiers’ health, but part of UK water companies’ environmental objectives.

The industry has been aware of the potential damage lead can do to the environment and health problems, particularly in infants and children for over 50 years.  Houses built before 1970 would have been constructed with lead water supply pipes and in some areas of the UK up to a third of these older properties are still receiving their water through these original lead pipes.1 UK water companies are actively engaged in replacement of these old lead supplies, and many are offering grants to residents. 

Stewart Clements, Director of the Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) recently stated. “It’s important that those responsible for building new homes and for upgrading existing homes – including both social and private housing providers and landlords – recognise the different factors involved in minimising energy consumption and in making tomorrow’s homes the efficient properties needed to achieve decarbonisation and reach the net zero target for 2050.”

With an increasing population and changes in lifestyle the UK water deficit is anticipated to be 4017 mega litres per day.  To reduce this predicted shortage, water companies are developing and implementing plans to upgrade the UKs water supply with the aim of Per Capital Consumption (PCC) from its current average of 150 litres per day to 110.

Smart meters are seen as a significant part of the solution, Thames Water have recorded post installation savings of 12-17%.  Now United Utilities have announced their plans for Advanced metering infrastructure, all new connections or meters will replaced with the latest generation of smart meters. 

Thermal Stores have been an effective and highly efficient hot water solution in the UK for almost 40 years. However, many installers today revert to recommending an unvented cylinder solution for mains pressure hot water, mainly due to a lack of awareness and understanding of thermal store technology.

McDonald Water Storage have seen thermal store popularity rise however, particularly in apartment applications, as they overcome many of the frustrations both installers and housing providers have with unvented cylinder installations, including the hidden costs of the difficult G3 requirements and ongoing annual maintenance.

Labour have committed to boost the building of affordable housing. Their plan is to build 1.5 million new homes in the next 5 years.[1] However, the anticipated UK water deficit is projected to be 4017 megalitres per day by 2050.  To offset this projected deficit, major water companies have been developing plans to upgrade the UKs water supply and reduce current usage from 150 litres per person per day to 110.

Since this announcement in January 2022, major water companies have been developing plans to upgrade the UKs water supply and reduce current usage from 150 litres per person per day to 110.  

Smart meters are seen as a significant part of the solution to reducing domestic water usage.  Thames Water have recorded post installation savings of 12-17%1.  Following multiple trials, all water companies are now working on plans for Advanced metering infrastructure, where all new connections or meters use the latest generation of smart meters.

Removal and replacement of lead water supply pipes is not only good for occupiers’ health, but part of UK water companies ‘Green Recovery Programme’.