Exclusive: Unified Water Label MD reacts to Trump’s flushing claims

Former BMA chief Yvonne Orgill has reacted to recent comments from President Trump about the problems of water restriction on showers, toilets, and sinks.

Orgill, who is now MD of the Unified Water Label (UWL) initiative and was recently honoured for her significant contributions to the bathroom industry, has suggested that education is key within the debate, and argues that it is vital that consumers have more information the benefits of water-saving habits.

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Speaking to the press last week, the US president issued an order to review water-saving regulations, suggesting that people in the US end up using more water “flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times” due to excessive regulations on water flow.

“This is the second time in a few months that President Trump has been in the news on this topic,” says Orgill. “He is right to bring attention to the topic of water efficiency, we all need to make better choices and use water wisely in the home.

“However, it is not all about restricting how much water you use. Consumers need to have information about how much water different products use, to enable them to make better choices.

“In the US, they have a restrictive system that takes away choice, only offering products that restrict flow and this can lead to poor performance. If we are to make a real difference here in the UK and Europe, we have to offer water efficient products that can still perform, so that they are not rejected by consumers.

“There are over 7.5 billion living on the planet with an estimated 3 billion having no or little access to water and sanitation - each one of us having different bathing habits and using products differently to suit our life styles, ability and family make up. It is important to educate so consumers understand how saving a little can make a massive difference. We need to provide more information about reducing showering time and turning taps off for example, as well as how much water a particular product uses.

“The UWL is unique in that it allows consumers to understand how much water is used, allowing them to see which products can best save water and energy in their home.

“There is no one solution that fits all when it comes to saving water and energy, everyone has a moral obligation to do what they can.”

The UWL is a voluntary and independent label that provides a clear and simple system to identify water saving products.