Water efficiency focused updates rarely make the priority list in school capital works plans. It doesn’t have the immediate visibility of addressing heating bills or the political clout of meeting decarbonisation targets.
But it should
Emma Foster – Head of Marketing and Product at tap and shower manufacturer Methven, explains why the relatively simple act of replacing taps should be a top priority for school leaders this summer.
With budgets increasingly under pressure and a growing range of environmental considerations to factor in, there’s no doubt that the summer of 2025 is a time to focus on cost-effective changes, with a quick ROI and instant impact on sustainability.
According to the Lets Go Zero 2030 campaign - which aims to unite and support UK schools working to become zero carbon by 2023 - simple upgrades such as water-efficient taps and showers, can cut water consumption by 25-30%.
An article published on the campaign’s website claims that replacing regular taps with water-saving models in a school of 1,000 people can save around 1.37 million litres of water per year – which would have a huge financial impact to boot.
It also claims a life-cycle assessment comparing ordinary and water-saving taps found that switching to water-saving fixtures could reduce water usage by 26.2% and energy consumption by 13.6%.
Meanwhile, a Department for Education article called ‘Tips to Reduce Energy and Water Use in Schools’ advocates for the use of water conservation devices including flow restrictors and self-closing taps as ‘simple to apply and economical’, with the ability to potentially reduce water consumption ‘by half’.
The summer holidays present an opportunity to refresh and rest – but for many schools and education leaders, this also means prioritising background refurbishment or renovation work with a view to doors reopening in September.
In the current financial climate, the conversation around efficiency in schools has rightly focused on energy: solar panels, LED retrofits, smart heating controls.
But water is an equally important preservation focus and water-saving taps and showers they are easy to install, cost effective and pay back quickly.
With this in mind, water efficiency isn’t just good environmental practice. It’s fiscal common sense.
The summer break offers a window that should be used tactically.
Taps, showers, and other high-usage fittings can be upgraded without major disruption.
These aren’t full-scale refurbishments—they’re targeted interventions with measurable outcomes.
Beyond budgets, there’s an educational case for visibility. Water is one of the most tangible utilities for students to understand—one they interact with multiple times a day. A refit program can become part of a broader sustainability narrative, tied into learning outcomes around climate, citizenship, and community.
This is where operational decisions meet cultural leadership. When students see their school acting on sustainability—not just talking about it—the impact goes further.
For more information, visit www.deva-uk.com/collections/schools or https://uk.methven.com/