Water Forum calls for the use of water efficient fittings to reduce supply demand pressures

Despite Ireland being perceived as a ‘wet’ country, the greatest demand for water is in areas where there is least rainfall. A 30 per cent population growth in the past two decades substantially increases demand for water and expands economic needs. Climate change impacts will exacerbate the challenges in water supply.

In 2018 and again in 2020, Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) issued national water conservation orders (hosepipe bans) and this year ran a national water conservation campaign during the recent warm dry spell. One of the Water Forum’s statutory functions is to advise the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on water policy, we have outlined below how we developed our position on water conservation.

Science to policy

We commission research to ensure policy recommendations are based on the latest science and data. In 2021, Sarah Cotterill, Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, completed commissioned research on domestic water conservation. This report titled, A Framework for Improving Domestic Water Conservation in Ireland presented 10 policy recommendations including:

• establish a national water conservation team to develop and implement a national water conservation strategy in Ireland;
• update building regulations in Ireland to specify total water use per building and maximum ratings for fittings; and
• rethink water education to support a bottom-up understanding of water linked to the Irish curriculum.

Stakeholder engagement

Following presentation of the research to members of the Water Forum, the Forum hosted two workshops to discuss the policy recommendations in more detail. The first workshop focused on developing a national strategy for water conservation and the recommendation to update building regulations to include water efficiency targets. Attendees at the workshop included officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (including representatives from water policy and building regulations), the Irish Green Building Council, Uisce Éireann, National Federation of Group Water Schemes, Waterwise UK, and Water Forum members.

In 2023, a second workshop focused on the recommendation to develop a bottom-up understanding of water, linked to the national curriculum. A wide range of education stakeholders were invited to consider how water education could be improved in the school curriculum and in non-formal education settings. The Forum commissioned the development of cross-curriculum education modules to help build a bottom-up understanding of water resources, water and wastewater services in Ireland. Four modules that comprise of lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations and a student workbook are available to download for free from the Forum’s website and Scoilnet.ie (a Department of Education online resource centre for teachers).

Policy Position

Building on the research and workshops, the Forum then developed a Policy Position on Water Conservation which was submitted to the Minister and Department officials in May 2023. Recommendations included the establishment of a national water conservation team with a mandate to lead the development and implementation of a government-led water conservation strategy.

A Water Conservation Working Group has recently been set up by the Department to advise the Minister on a future strategy for water conservation and prioritisation of resources during periods of water stress.

National survey

In August 2023, the Water Forum commissioned a national survey of over 1,518 water consumers to gain an understanding of water consumers knowledge of and interest in water conservation and technologies. The survey found that:

• 74 per cent of respondents support water conservation measures but 59 per cent do not know how much water they use.
• 73 per cent said more information would help them manage their water use.

Based on these findings the Forum’s Water Survey Summary Report highlighted the need “for education and awareness on how to increase water efficiency in the home, to take advantage of the strong consumer support for conservation”.

Cost benefit analysis

The Water Forum has also called for a review of building regulations to ensure that new buildings are not only energy efficient, but also water efficient to help conserve water resources. Cost-benefit analysis research commissioned by the Water Forum shows that fitting water saving devices (e.g. efficient taps, showers and toilets) in the 300,000 new houses committed to be built over the next five years has the potential to save money as well as water resources.

The researchers, John Gallagher and Laurence Gill of Trinity College Dublin used a baseline of water use of 110 litres per person per day (LPD) to represent a new-build, four-person family home. For the cost-benefit-analysis, the researchers used a combined cost to the state of €4.40 per m3 (1,000 litres) for water and wastewater services, (which equates to €2.19 per m3 for drinking water and €2.21 per m3 for wastewater) based on Uisce Éireann data. The analysis shows that:

• low to moderate cost water saving technologies (taps, showers and toilets) would cost developers less than €180 per household;
• reducing water usage from an estimated baseline of 110 LPD to 90 LPD across the planned 303,000 new homes could save 2.2 million cubic metres of water per year;
• this would result in saving of up to €9.7 million in state costs for water and wastewater services to 2030 (Uisce Éireann);
• alongside an additional potential energy savings for households of €30 million per year (approximately €100 per household);
• reduced hot water consumption through more efficient taps and showers could reduce household energy costs by up to €280 per year; and
• these technologies would also reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 70 and 93 kg CO2 eq. in electrical energy savings, equating to an estimated reduction of 1.5 per cent of the average Irish person’s annual carbon emissions.

Uisce Éireann has indicated that water supply constraints in some areas of the country hamper meeting the Government’s housing targets. The research and Summary Report: The Value of Water Conservation confirms that using water saving technologies and setting water efficiency targets for new builds would reduce water demand, relieve pressure on water and wastewater infrastructure, and it would help unlock capacity for additional housing, particularly in areas with water supply constraints.

Significance of the Forum’s work

This example of bringing science to policy through a national stakeholder body, illustrates the positive impact the Water Forum is having on national policies and water management.

The Forum is very supportive of advancements in the establishment of the National Water Conservation Working Group, and we will provide scientific support and input from stakeholders to progress the work of this group.

We will continue to inform and engage to make sure those who wish to conserve water in their homes are empowered to do so.

W: www.thewaterforum.ie