As pressure mounts on commercial buildings to reduce operational water consumption, uncontrolled urinal flushing remains one of the most overlooked sources of avoidable waste. Water saving expert Cistermiser, is warning that without proper flushing control, wider sustainability strategies risk falling short…
Water efficiency is no longer a peripheral sustainability goal, rising utility costs, ESG reporting pressures and greater scrutiny on operational performance mean building owners are expected to continually demonstrate measurable reductions in consumption.
Yet in many commercial washrooms, traditional auto-flush systems continue to discharge water at fixed intervals, regardless of whether the urinals have been used.
In high-traffic environments such as schools, transport hubs, offices, healthcare facilities and stadiums, this approach can result in significant and unnecessary water loss. Industry estimates suggest that a single uncontrolled urinal can waste tens of thousands of litres per year, undermining broader efficiency strategies designed to reduce a building’s environmental footprint.
Cistermiser on legacy infrastructure
Cistermiser is emphasising that the issue is not a lack of awareness around sustainability, but is the persistence of legacy infrastructure.
Richard Braid, Managing Director, comments: “In washrooms with high urinal usage, traditional timed systems simply don’t reflect how buildings are actually used. They flush whether someone is there or not and over time, that continuous discharge becomes a hidden operational cost.”
Demand-controlled systems tackle this directly and solutions such as Cistermiser’s Direct Flush activate only when required, using water in response to occupancy rather than a fixed cycle and delivering immediate, measurable savings.
The benefits are already being realised in practice – in a recent project delivered with Commercial & Industrial Interiors, Direct Flush was specified to future-proof client washrooms as part of a wider refurbishment. By replacing uncontrolled timed systems with demand-led flushing, the installation helped significantly reduce unnecessary water discharge while maintaining hygiene standards and compliance, demonstrating how simple infrastructure upgrades can unlock measurable efficiency gains without disruptive redesign.
The efficiency gains also extend beyond urinals, as Easyflush Direct is fully mains-powered and built for durability, reducing maintenance demands and avoiding the seal degradation and leaks often associated with traditional WC mechanisms.
Performance modelling indicates that Easyflush Direct can deliver water savings of up to 181,500 litres per year in appropriate settings. Over a 24-month period, that equates to savings of £744.76 and a carbon offset of 0.062 tonnes, with a typical product payback period of approximately eight months.
In addition, compliance and hygiene remain central to specification and Easyflush Direct features a DC pipe interrupter for enhanced backflow protection and meets Fluid Category 5 requirements, supporting high-risk environments where cross-contamination control is essential.
Richard adds: “Water efficiency should never come at the expense of hygiene or compliance. The technology now exists to achieve all three – reduced consumption, improved operational control and regulatory peace of mind.”
For more information on Cistermiser and Keraflo, visit www.cistermiser.co.uk
