Preston Water Efficiency Initiative
The project aims to reduce water demand in social housing. It is a partnership project between Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Raven Housing Trust, Sutton and East Surrey Water, the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council.
Original project aims are as follows:
1. making housing association customers aware of domestic water use
2. helping customers to reduce their domestic water use
3. introducing a range of water saving appliances to customers
4. testing a rainwater harvesting retrofit programme
5. installing water efficiency appliances when re-furbishing properties
6. providing an education programme for customers and schools
7. reducing demand in the secondary and primary school in the area
8. measuring the successes and failures in the programme
Preston Estate contains a mixture of private and social housing. There are about 500 houses and flats owned and run by Raven Housing Trust.
The project was been divided into 4 areas as follows:
1) rainwater harvesting trial (12 flats) - results showed reduction in water demand by 5.2%
2) bathroom refurbishment programme to include shower installation (160 homes) – results show a 25% water saving
3) demand management retrofit programme (340 homes) – interim results show a 13.9% water saving
4) schools programme to include refurbishing water fittings and educating children - over all water use reduced by 30%
This Project reduced water use in 400 households by up to 25 per cent. Annual water savings from the project was enough to provide an additional 169 people with water. The Full report published March 2009 can be seen on the Waterwise website. http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/research/publications.html
Contact Email:
Organisation:
Sutton & East Surrey Water
Funding Details:
The project was funded by the Government New Growth Points scheme, since reducing water demand in existing homes can offset demand from new homes.
Status:
Complete - Final report published March 2009
Website relating to case study:
http://www.waterplc.com/pages/home/saving-water/current-water-saving-projects/
Organisation’s website:
Keywords relating to this case study:
Water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, partnership, social housing
South East groups case study relates to:
Utilities and infrastructure
