As part of our ongoing community water-saving challenge in Hartley, we are working closely with local communities to reduce water consumption, boost efficiency, and protect our precious local environment. Schools play a vital role in this mission - not just as hubs of education, but as large facilities with significant potential to conserve water.
Earlier in June, in partnership with a specialist delivery partner, we stepped onto the grounds of Our Lady of Hartley School to conduct a comprehensive, free water-saving audit and intervention. The goal was simple: identify inefficiencies, fix hidden leaks, and upgrade appliances to help the school drastically lower its daily water footprint.
What we did
Our specialised team spent the day visiting the school's facilities, which cater to a community of 37 staff members and its students. The water-saving visit focused on four main areas: toilets, urinals, taps, and leak detection.
During the visit, we successfully carried out the following upgrades and repairs:
- Fixing leaks: Identified and repaired a total of 7 leaks across the school's facilities, including 5 faults with toilet filling valves and 1 leaky tap.
- Fitting water-saving devices: Installed 11 Save-a-Flush bags in single/dual flush toilet cisterns.
- Optimising Flow Rates: Installed 1 Mistermiser/Cisterniser control mechanism on the urinals and fitted 2 specialised tap inserts to optimize flow rates without compromising hygiene.
The results
Following the visit, the results revealed an incredible reduction in water consumption. The school's total water consumption dropped from a baseline of 22,750.7 litres per day down to 18,063.1 litres per day. This equates to a staggering total savings of 4,687.6 litres of water every single day.
Fixing the 7 hidden leaks alone accounted for the largest chunk of the conservation effort, saving 2,905.0 litres per day that would have otherwise gone completely to waste.
Protecting the environment together
By reducing their daily water consumption by over 4.6 cubic meters (4,687.6 litres), Our Lady of Hartley School is doing its part to protect local chalk aquifers and nearby rivers. Every drop saved ensures more water remains in the natural environment to sustain local biodiversity.
Using less water means the school is cutting down on the energy required to heat and pump water, resulting in a lower carbon footprint and a welcome reduction in utility expenses.
We’re incredibly proud to partner with the staff and students at Our Lady of Hartley School. Together, we are turning small changes into a massive wave of sustainability for the Hartley community!