Recommendation points
There are different ways to save water at the household level. Some are organizational in nature, and some are embedded in the design of plumbing. Therefore, during the selection of specific models, you can make it so that over time at least part of the cost of their purchase will pay off by reducing water consumption.
Savings principles
Despite the different design solutions of โeconomical plumbingโ, in principle there are only two ways to save water: recycling gray waste water and reducing consumption without compromising the efficiency of using the plumbing fixture.
Secondary use
The first principle has long been known in Europe, where waste separation is a common practice. Yes, and we have โprivate tradersโ with autonomous sewerage sometimes use this scheme, and let treated gray drains to irrigate the site.
But how can this be done in a city apartment? The answer was found long ago โ to combine a washbasin and a toilet cistern. Even with a โcompactโ conventional in design, such a solution looks quite natural.
There are also more โsolidโ sets, made of stainless steel, in which the classic toilet bowl is combined with a vanity unit for a sink and a cistern.
The only disadvantage of such โfrontโ models is that to use the sink, you need to have free space on the side. But there are also asymmetric models..
For example, in such a set, the toilet bowl is โshiftedโ to the edge of the cabinet.
In this case, the toilet is โturnedโ 45 ยฐ.
This model provided the most comfortable conditions for washing, completely freeing the approach to the sink.
And one more example of the perpendicular arrangement of the centerlines of the toilet bowl and sink. Here the tank consists of two compartments: the right one for clean water, the left one for waste water. And in order to know when the left tank can be used, an indication is provided in its key.
Saving the consumption of cisterns
Continuing the topic of toilets, it should be said that the development of a special bowl shape allowed to reduce water consumption for effective flushing. It has long been not uncommon when the standard volume of the tank is 6/3 liters (the second economical drain button). Some manufacturers have gone even further, for example, the Roca Gap Clean Rim toilet model has a 4/2 liter cistern.
Economical mixers
One can argue for a long time which mixer is more economical โ two-valve or single-lever. For example, the British believe that the two-valve design does not allow wasting hot water, which is more expensive than cold water..
But if we talk about the overall saving of water during turning on / off the mixer, then the best are sensory models that are triggered when hands (or other object) approach at a distance less than the sensorโs sensitivity threshold. Moreover, this threshold can be adjusted. And the operation of the sensor and the shut-off valve is provided by a battery.
The simplest model of such a mixer may have a single temperature control knob..
Advanced models are equipped with a built-in thermostat, whose temperature is regulated by turning a knob. In the initial position, the thermostat is set to a comfort temperature of 38 ยฐ C.
And faucets are considered the height of perfection, the operating modes of which are set using the touch control panel..
Nozzles
In this chapter, we will briefly discuss the nozzles that help you save water..
The most complex nozzle has a sensor like a sensor mixer.
And the simplest ones are aerators. The vast majority of faucets come on sale complete with them. It can be a head with a metal mesh or a plastic grill.
Aerators: 1 โ with a metal mesh; 2 โ with plastic mesh; 3 โ with a change in the direction of the jet; 4 โ aerator nozzle with several operating modes; 5 โ nozzle with flexible hose
There are models of aerators with variable jet direction and switching modes of operation, and for kitchen mixers they use nozzles with a flexible hose aerator.
The task of the aerator is to obtain a volumetric stream of water with a low pressure. And this is possible if it is divided into trickles (like a shower head) or saturated with air..
How effective are devices like taps, nozzles, and aerators in saving water? Are there specific brands or models that are known for their water-saving capabilities?