News > Saving and Managing Water Using Pressure Management
Saving and Managing Water Using Pressure Management
24/09/2010
The Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. Water costs were a primary focus for Andy House, estates manager, and knowing that the system was not pressure managed and therefore potentially over pressurised particularly during night time where there is lower demand, he knew there must be scope to improve the system.
Aquavent UK via an introduction with their partner The Cost Reduction Company, conducted a comprehensive survey of the existing water system to fully understand the pressures and flows that the hospital required to meet its 24hour operation. Their experience in working and supplying to the major water companies in particular thier supplier, was invaluable, as all risks were mitigated.
From the data collected and the cost plan provided, including predicted savings, Aquavent UK's sustainable water pressure manager David Hurley agreed an action plan which included the installation of a new Pressure Reducing Valve and an Aquai-Mod stainless steel hydraulic flow modulator.
Andy house said "The installation has been extremely successful and after 2 weeks coped with an unexpected water main water burst in our suppliers pipe network that the feeds the hospital. Pressures were between 35 and 40 m head and these have been reduced to 20 and 27m head, a 48% reduction. The consequence of this is a reduction in flows from 250,000 to 900,000 litres per day to 200,000 to 800,000 litres per day. The Pressure and flow charts opposite showing left to right before and after the installation. Water and hence cost savings are immediate and are expected to be around 24 million litres per year, with capital payback within 1 year. Peripheral cost savings have not been calculated as yet, we will also be looking at the impact on our carbon reduction because of this installation says Andy.
The Trust occupies a 52-acre site about 1½ miles from Bath city centre and became a National Health Service Trust in 1992.
The Trust provides 687 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.The Trust employs around 4,800 staff, some of who also provide outpatient, diagnostic and some day case surgery services at local community hospitals in Bath & North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire. This fulfils part of the Trust's aim to provide high quality care to people in their local communities.The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by three primary care trusts (PCTs).
In a TEDx WWF session held in Geneva, Switzerland, Stuart Orr talked about water which is a solvable crisis. Stuart Orr is freshwater programme director for WWF International.
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