Irish Water has launched a guide to help the construction industry better conserve and reuse water.

Building and construction uses vast amounts of water, from onsite welfare cabins and general cleaning, to hydro-demolition and dust suppression. This means the sector has an important role to play in championing efficient and sustainable water use.

In order to support responsible development that protects water supplies, Irish Water developed the guide in partnership with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Sisk, Cairn Homes and the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC). It details how builders and developers can implement sustainable and circular processes to achieve massive savings in water, including:

• Installing rainwater harvesting systems for use in dust suppression, vehicle cleaning, ponds, or underground tanks
• Reusing water from groundwater or surface water drainage to dampen roads in hot weather
• Using innovative technology, such as percussion taps - which self close after a period of time - and water efficient toilets
• Introducing recirculating systems for greywater that can be used for cleaning tools, flushing toilets or irrigating plants
• Designing ground surfaces to slope away from structures and towards garden areas and recharge zones
• Retaining as much vegetation as possible during construction to reduce water evaporation

Yvonne Harris, Irish Water’s housing programme director, said, “We want to emphasise the benefits of a circular approach to conserving water in the construction industry. We’re calling on industry to get involved and keep the momentum going.”

Irish Water is now calling on sustainability representatives in the construction industry to enrol in its upcoming Water Conservation Clinics developed in partnership with CIF, which will run this autumn. The free, in-person clinics will offer training and guidance in terms of how businesses can implement sustainable and circular processes at their sites to conserve water.

Visit> Irish Water’s dedicated webpage.