Xylem water safety

Water safety measures in public buildings can boost occupants’ wellbeing

As climate projections point to an increase in extreme weather across Ireland, up to 60,000 buildings are reported to be at risk of flooding1 in the coming years. With millions of euros worth of property damage likely from climate change, it is vital that building services offer the best possible means to protect both occupants and structure. Nowhere is this more important than in public buildings housing vulnerable members of society, like hospitals and care homes, says Kevin Devine, Sales Director, Ireland, Xylem Water Solutions. Futureproofing with the help

of the latest technological advances available for building systems means safety and wellbeing can be prioritised. Now is the time to prepare buildings, not only to cope with current demand, but to be ready for whatever the future holds. This can include improving the handling of waste, maximising reliability and the optimal disinfection of drinking water to protect users.

Ensuring safety of water supply

For buildings where it is important to ensure safe drinking water, particularly clinics or care facilities, the latest UV and ozone treatment options can eliminate chlorine-resistant pathogens, including cryptosporidium. The most advanced UV systems offer longevity as well as much-needed reliability, with processor controls that can reduce UV intensity as required, generating energy savings of up to 20%. These can be coupled with up-to- -date cold-water booster sets to offer a low maintenance yet high performance solution to ensure consistent water pressure and flow in larger properties.

Reliable defences against flooding

The cost of cleaning up after flooding can run to tens of millions of Euros – the 2016 floods in Ireland brought a bill of almost €100 million2 – but the latest pumping systems help to overcome the challenge of managing waste, stormwater and drainage on any scale. Bespoke systems can adjust performance according to demand to ensure reliability and peace of mind, no matter what the future brings.

Remote smart monitoring options also mean building systems can be closely controlled from anywhere, with supervision systems capable of detecting potential malfunctions well in advance to trigger maintenance alerts or alarms.

Efficiently handling wastewater

The safe and effective handling of wastewater is a key challenge for public buildings, especially medical facilities that can generate extra hazardous waste. Intelligent equipment, like the Flygt Concertor, is capable of sensing environmental conditions to adjust its operation accordingly, significantly reducing energy use by only working when needed. Its clog-detection and self-cleaning functions ensure clog-free operation and make downtime a thing of the past. In addition, installation and serviceability can be a genuine boon in avoiding costly outages.

Preparing for the future

Harnessing the power of technology can help to create the most reliable public buildings and prioritise the safety of residents in the case of extreme weather events. Whether that is intelligent equipment that can “read” its environment and adjust performance to suit demand, or smart networks and services that collate data to allow operators to optimise each system for maximum safety, there are a wealth of options that can let buildings work for you.

Be it improving stormwater management, handling the challenges of wastewater or eliminating drinking water issues, these new measures can ensure occupants’ wellbeing now – and long into the future.

References

1. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid30916190.html 2. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ estimated-cost-from-damage-following-flooding-setto-reach-100m-1.2502861