In most cases installation can be completed in 30-40 minutes. Disruption is minimal as no power cabling is required. It may be possible to allow use of the cubicles.
Only one valve can be operated by a single Water Watch. However, the valve can be placed in the water-pipe supplying 2 or 3 cisterns. The installed can arrange for the valve to open long enough to fill all the cisterns during a flush cycle.
The valve will always open within 20 minutes (or whichever other setting has been selected) of entering the detection zone. See the Maintenance menu in the dropdowns for instructions on how to test the valve.
Generally no, Good detection sensitivity (i.e. a large detection zone) is necessary to enable the Water Watch to be sited easily and without compromise to existing facilities.
Most installations of this nature require some preventative maintenance. This is low with the Water Watch.
The valve has a stainless steel filter to trap debris is the water supply that can be checked annually (see the Maintenance menu in the dropdowns for instructions). The batteries should be changed as a matter of course, every 3 years or when the battery low indicator flashes.
WC urinals in the UK traditionally operate using an automatic syphonic system.
There are not moving parts: it consists of a cistern mounted above the urinal basins. Inside the cistern is a syphon valve.
The cistern is supplied with a continuous steady stream of water; the water flow rate is set by a petcock.
When the level of water gets to a fixed point in the cistern, syphonic action starts and the contents of the cistern are rapidly “dumped” through the urinal basin feed-pipe, causing a flush.
This flush cycle repeats continuously, 24 hours a day. The number of flushes per hour is set by the flow rate of water to the cistern.
A petcock is the water flow adjuster which is generally controlled by a screw.
The detection zone (sensor operation), water control valve and battery can all be tested within a few seconds. See the Maintenance menu for instructions.
If you have a problem cleaning the valve or replacing the battery should resolve it. In the 18 years + that the Water Watch has been on the market only a handful of units needed replacing.
Do you know if it is working properly? Many companies have identified wateer conservation as a valuable market but the quality of product has been highly variable.
Many electronic controls of poor design have been sold. Most are unsophisticated and do not provide the best balance between hygiene and water savings. They may have no battery low warning or be fitted with undersized batteries. Many fail after a few months of use as the battery depletes because it is unable operate the valve.
One of the first products on the market (30 years ago) was the pressure-sensitive valve (as manufactured by Cistermiser). Innovative in its day, most impartial observers now acknowledge its fundamental failings:
By sensing water pressure changes due to use of the taps, a burst of water is supposed to be released into the cistern.
It fails because the pressure sensitivity adjustment is rarely set properly.
Normal pressure variations can cause the device to operate 24 hours a day, or just as likely – it never operates because the sensitivity is too low or the toilet cistern is fed from a storage tank while the sinks are connected to the main.
If your current flush controller is any of the above it is wise to replace it with the Water Watch which always delivers optimal water savings and good hygiene.
Mains units are better suited to refurbishment or new-build projects.