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The huge industrial demands on water supplies are a growing cause for concern and the construction sector has particularly high requirements, especially in the manufacture of materials such as steel and concrete. Once a building is in use, demands for mains-supplied water can be a further major drain on resources. High density office buildings in urban areas, for example, often have very high requirements.
With weather patterns becoming more unpredictable both in the UK and globally it is increasingly important to consider the conservation of clean, fresh supplies of water - not least in the design and use of buildings
Most construction activity needlessly uses clean, drinkable water supplies and there is no reason why many processes couldn't use water treated to less exacting standards. If such high consumption continues, we will face a future where water companies won't be able to guarantee continuity of supply through a dry summer. Measures to limit water use, such as hosepipe bans, are likely to become much more common.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Plain English Guide to Sustainable Construction.
There are a number of measures which can be taken to minimise excessive water use. These include the following:
Envirowise publications on water conservation in construction