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"Flush with success" – PHS Washrooms introduces world-first water saving device for WCs

1 Feb 2008

PHS-Washrooms-Flush-wiser

Organisations set to ‘Flush With Success’ thanks to PHS Washrooms

Leading workplace service provider PHS Washrooms launched a world first device on 29 January 2008 that will have a momentous impact on the environment by saving organisations literally billions of litres of water and millions of pounds.

In a double launch in London and Cardiff, PHS Washrooms launched its new Flush-wiserTM, a revolutionary device that will save water and money with every flush.

In London, Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly and the MD of PHS Washrooms, Ian Osborne launched Flush-wiser, by ‘flushing’ a WC outside Westminster, demonstrating how much water is saved by the device each time we flush. At the same time in Cardiff, Jeff Cuthbert, Assembly Member for Caerphilly and the Chief Executive of the South Wales-based PHS Group plc, Peter Cohen, launched Flush-wiser, outside the Senedd, the National Assembly for Wales.

Ian Osborne (left) and Wayne David launch Flush-wiser in LondonThe widget is small (only 4cm in diameter) yet this deceptively simple device will save up to a third of the water we use every time we flush the loo. To put that in context, if the device was fitted to every WC 1,736 office workers would save enough water to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every year!  The fully adjustable Flush-wiser saves water by allowing air into the siphon within the WC when we flush.

PHS Washrooms provides washroom services throughout the UK and was responsible for every aspect of the innovative Flush-wiser, from the initial concept, through to design and actual production.  Peter Cohen, is thrilled with the results, he says: "Environmental issues are a key concern for everyone and PHS is no exception.  As the leading provider of washroom services we were determined that our latest product should be effective and save money, but, most importantly, be environmentally sound.  Our specialist team have excelled and produced a remarkable device.  I am extremely proud of their work on Flush-wiser which is, we believe, the first of its kind in the world."

Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, says: "Environmental matters are vitally important and we should all work together to engage everyone in the ‘environmental debate’ and to take action.  Anything that supports that aim is to be welcomed I am delighted to be here today to launch this innovative device designed by PHS Washrooms which is setting a standard for saving water on a global platform."

Peter Cohen (left) and Jeff Cuthbert launch Flush-wiser in CardiffJeff Cuthbert, AM for Caerphilly, commented: "The Welsh Assembly Government is working extremely hard to profile environmental issues and anything which underpins that aim is to be welcomed.  I am delighted to be here today to launch the world-first Flush-wiser and to congratulate Caerphilly based PHS Washrooms on their innovation."

To put the water savings into context:

o If a secondary school with 900 pupils in Wales had Flush-wiser fitted, with pupils flushing twice a day, then the average water saving in one school would be enough to take over 12,000 baths in one academic year.  If fitted in secondary schools throughout Wales that would mean a cost saving of over half a million pounds a year!

o If a hospital with 1000 people had Flush-wiser fitted, with people flushing three times in 24 hours, then the average water saving in just one hospital would be enough to take almost 42,000 baths a year!  There are over 1500 hospitals in the UK, if Flush-wiser was fitted in all hospitals that could mean a cost saving of over £11 million pounds a year!

Flush-wiser is fitted by PHS Washrooms’ technical installations team to ensure that the optimum amount of water is saved without compromising on hygiene. 

o Billions of litres of water are literally flushed needlessly down the toilet every year
o An office worker flushes, on average, three times per day  - up to 9 litres each time
o With Flush-wiser fitted, up to 30% of the water used by each WC can be saved
o In a typical office, Flush-wiser can save up to 3 litres per flush – approximately 1,440 litres per person per annum
o Each year, each worker can save enough water to take over 40 showers
o Each year, 1,736 office workers would save enough water to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool!
o Saving water is achieved without compromising hygiene
o The cost of fitting Flush-wiser is recouped very quickly and it lasts the WC’s lifetime
o It is adjustable and fits existing WCs – ideal for commercial and public sector premises
o Water/sewerage charges for commercial & public sector organisations are volume based, meaning that every litre of water saved is less money spent.

For further information on how Flush-wiser can save you water and money, please click here

Images:
Top - Flush-wiser
Middle - Ian Osborne, MD for PHS Washrooms (left) and Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, launch Flush-wiser in London
Bottom - Peter Cohen, Chief Executive of PHS Group plc (left) and Jeff Cuthbert, AM for Caerphilly, launch Flush-wiser in Cardiff


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