IT will not be a case of spending a penny but saving thousands of them when new loos are built in Woodbridge which will use surplus water from Deben Pools.
IT will not be a case of spending a penny but saving thousands of them when new loos are built in Woodbridge which will use surplus water from Deben Pools.
For community leaders hope to be flushed with success over a new idea to run the £90,000 toilets in an environmentally-friendly way - by using surplus water from the town's swimming pool.
Suffolk Coastal's cabinet is being recommended to approve the idea on December 5 because re-using the “grey” water from Deben Pools is expected to save around £1,000 a year and lead to a reduction of around 0.135 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
“This is set to be even better than anticipated as there will be a new high quality toilet block, which will open early in the new year, that will also address the council's green agenda by reusing water, so it has two functions instead of just one,” said cabinet member Sherrie Green.
“We have the opportunity to use the surplus water from Deben Pool to fill the cisterns in the new toilet block.
“This will be a far more effective way of using the 'grey' water rather than just putting it straight into the sewage system. Clean water will only be required for the taps to enable hand washing.
“If this scheme wins the go-ahead from my cabinet colleagues, there will be a long-term saving for the council as its water bill will be cut and also real benefits for the environment as we will be using less water.
“This is an excellent example of how we are trying to find ways to both be more efficient and environmentally friendly.”
The council has been working closely with Anglian Water Services to ensure the new scheme meets all its technical requirements, and this has resulted in a small increase in the original estimate of the total cost.
“Over the last six years we have brought 20 of our 32 blocks of toilets up to modern standards, with facilities such as hot and cold water, soap dispensers, hand driers, baby changing facilities, access for disabled people, and good quality lighting,” said Mrs Green.
WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
What do you think of using surplus pool water to flush the loos? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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