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Propelair

Thames Water

Executive Summary

Installed in 2015, a full decade before England’s current drought conditions, Propelair toilets at Thames Water Clearwater Court remain fully operational today. Their long-term performance demonstrates how early investment in ultra-low-flush, air-assisted technology delivers lasting water, carbon, and cost savings, while reducing peak demand and supporting resilient building operations well ahead of today’s water scarcity pressures.

Client Profile

Thames Water is the UK’s largest water and wastewater services provider, headquartered at Clearwater Court in Reading, operating high-occupancy commercial office buildings. Water efficiency is central to its role as a national utility, particularly during periods of drought and supply pressure. Propelair’s long-standing partnership with Thames Water reflects a shared commitment to innovation, demand reduction, and demonstrating best-practice water stewardship within its own operations.

Challenges / Pain Points

Thames Water faced multiple operational pain points at its Clearwater Court headquarters, including high water consumption from outdated 7-litre flush toilets, rising utility costs, and pressure to reduce peak flow demand during England’s 2025 drought and water scarcity. Water efficiency was critical to alleviate supply stress in a water-stressed region, support long-term ESG goals, and improve hygiene and washroom performance in busy commercial office environments. The project also helped address broader organisational challenges around demonstrating measurable demand-reduction solutions in commercial facilities.

The Propelair Solution

As the UK’s largest water utility, Thames Water faced the strategic challenge of leading by example in reducing demand across its own estate. High water consumption from legacy flush systems conflicted with its responsibility to protect regional water supplies, manage peak demand, and influence customer behaviour. Demonstrating credible, measurable water savings within its headquarters was essential to reinforce conservation messaging, strengthen ESG leadership, and encourage its wider network of commercial and domestic users to adopt proven water-saving solutions.

Lead by example on water resilience and demand reduction, contact us to futureproof high-usage commercial buildings today.

Metric: Water per flush
Before: 7 litres
After: 1.5 litres
Improvement: 79% reduction per flush
Metric: Annual water use
Before: High consumption from 7L flushing
After: 88,660 litres saved per unit per year
Improvement: 3,901,040 litres saved annually (44 units)
Metric: Costs
Before: Rising water and maintenance costs
After: £190.62 saved per unit per year
Improvement: £8,387 annual water cost reduction
Metric: Carbon
Before: Higher carbon footprint from water use
After: 4,020 kg CO₂ saved annually
Improvement: Significant annual carbon reduction

At Thames Water Clearwater Court, replacing 7-litre flush toilets with Propelair’s 1.5-litre system achieved a 79% reduction in water use. Each unit saves 88,660 litres annually, and across 44 installed toilets this equates to 3,901,040 litres of water saved per year, significantly reducing water demand in a drought-affected region.

At Thames Water, Propelair toilets deliver £8,387 in annual water cost savings across 44 units, with £190.62 saved per toilet per year and a 3.9-year payback period. Reduced blockages and lower maintenance demands further cut operational costs. As a regional water authority, Thames Water’s adoption sets a powerful example, demonstrating demand-reduction best practice that can and should be replicated across customer and commercial estates.

At Thames Water, installing Propelair toilets delivers measurable environmental impact, achieving a 79% reduction in water use, saving 3.9 million litres annually, and cutting approximately 4,020 kg of carbon emissions each year. These outcomes align strongly with sustainability and drought-resilience objectives, enhance ESG reporting credibility, and demonstrate practical, scalable action to reduce environmental pressure across commercial buildings in water-stressed regions.

Staff engagement and network acceptance, reinforcing Thames Water’s leadership in water efficiency and innovation
Improved hygiene performance, with air-assisted flushing that removes waste in one action and reduces germ spread
Reduced odours, improving comfort and washroom experience for staff and visitors
Operational reliability, supporting consistent performance in high-occupancy office environments
Faster, cleaner maintenance, with dry-flush functionality reducing manual intervention and disruption
Better user experience, combining powerful flush performance with visible sustainability credentials
Retrofit-ready technology, enabling installation without major plumbing changes