Syphon off lost profits
June 23rd 2008 PHS Washrooms claims its water-saving Flushwiser device for WCs could save billions of litres of water and millions of pounds in the UK alone. Brendan Coyne spoke with PHS MD, Ian Osborne
The device essentially fits all syphon-based toilets and – along the same principles as aerated taps – introduces air to the syphon, replacing around 30 per cent of the water that would otherwise be flushed away. As an example of how much water can be saved, PHS fitted the Flush-wiser to the 13 WCs at its head office, which houses 500 staff. For a total outlay of £156 (at list price, volume discounts are available), the water cost saved per annum is £1,605 – some 720,000 litres.
According to the company, the widget is simple to fit, lasts the lifetime of the toilet and can pay for itself in months. Given that water bills are based on both supply and sewerage, the savings are two-fold: less water used is less water wasted. The company is now in the process of approving the Flush-wiser for the government’s Water Technology List. Should it succeed, companies will then be able to claim enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for purchase and installation against corporation tax in the first year. “It might be a cliché,” says PHS MD, Ian Osborne, “but the Flush-wiser really is a ‘no brainer’. Companies save money and improve their environmental credentials simultaneously.”
The device was developed by PHS’ technical manager, Terry Armstrong, to fill what had previously been a missing link in the company’s water-saving washroom portfolio, which covered urinals, taps and to some degree, toilets with the Save-a-Flush. “We’ve been spending a lot of time and money looking at the whole water savings opportunity within the washroom environment,” says Osborne. “Some years ago we launched what has become a leading PIR device for urinal flush control, we launched the Eco-Shield product more recently, and now we have a solution for the WC environment.”
But the vast majority of toilets now being manufactured are valvebased, so will this limit the Flush-wiser’s impact? “There are new fits gong out with syphons in, and the regulations now in force didn’t come into play until 2001, leaving a huge retrofit opportunity on existing toilets,” Osborne says. “We also find that when customers undertake refurbishments, it is invariably the visible areas of the washroom that are upgraded, not the fitting behind the panels, such as the cistern. We are looking at valve-based toilets, but it’s a challenge for the future. In the meantime there are millions of syphon-based toilets for us to target.”
Osborne says customers are expressing interest, and expects to announce some major wins in the next couple of months. Discussions with water companies are also ongoing. While PHS will concentrate on UK sales he says firms operating in ex-colonial markets are welcome to approach PHS with regard to distribution.
Similarly, while keen to point out its own inhouse R&D operation, Osborne says PHS is receptive to approaches from other companies with ideas that add value to its product range.
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