Developers plot path to cutting water use in new homes

The Future Homes Hub (FHH), through which developers collaborate on environmental and social challenges, has set out a proposed roadmap on the trajectory for water efficient new homes in a report to inform Government policy.

Part G of the building regulations sets out the current water use levels for new build properties of 125 litres per person per day, or an optional level where specified by planning conditions of 110 litres. In the report, Water ready, a FHH working group comprising representatives of house-builders, water companies and the supply chain recommended future standards for increases in the level of water efficiency to be required under Building Regulations to be implemented in 2025, 2030 and 2035.

It also set out how these might be achieved via three strands: 

• Fittings and labelling – To achieve the basic target consumption, fittings with flow rates up to the maximum specified should be selected, along with appliances with capacities up to the maximum specified. The hub noted that in addition, consideration needs to be given to the future relationship between Building Regulations requirements and the Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS) the Government is due to introduce from 2025.

• Water reuse and recycling. 

• Water positivity to enable sustainable growth in areas of the most water stress. The report suggested the trigger test for this should be where there is a supply demand water balance of below zero.  Water positivity can be achieved via standards and fittings, water reuse mechanisms, nature-based solutions such as rainwater harvesting and offsets.

The proposed roadmap is shown in the table.

The FHH emphasised the importance of early certainty of government expectations to provide sufficient time to prepare and for the supply chain to scale up. It also recognised the need for different parties to work collaboratively and for wider issues including decarbonisation to be considered. Elsewhere, Water ready detailed critical enablers, desirable incentives and the need for effective public engagement.