How to convert units of volume, flow rate and weight |
To convert from: |
To: |
Multiply by: |
Volume |
litres |
cubic metres |
0.001 |
cubic metres |
litres |
1000 |
UK gallons |
cubic metres |
0.0045 |
US gallons |
UK gallons |
0.8327 |
UK gallons |
litres |
4.5 |
Flow rate |
UK gallons/hour |
cubic metres/hour |
0.0045 |
UK gallons/minute |
cubic metres/hour |
0.2727 |
UK gallons/second |
cubic metres/hour |
16.36 |
cubic metres/hour |
litres/second |
0.278 |
litres/second |
cubic metres/hour |
3.6 |
Weight |
cubic metres of clean water |
kilograms |
1000 |
litres of clean water |
kilograms |
1 |
Typical rates of water use |
Item |
Average water use |
Employee (full-time, no canteen) |
25 litres/person/day |
Employee (full-time, with canteen) |
40 litres/person/day |
Toilets |
6 - 9 litres/flush |
Leaky tap (continual 5mm stream) |
60 litres/hour |
25mm hose |
1 m3/hour |
50mm pipe |
4.2 m3/hour |
Cost of water (2008 - 2009) |
Water type |
Cost |
UK mains supply |
£0.60 - £1.60/m3* (standard metered tariff) |
Chlorinated water |
£0.85 - £2.20/m3 |
Softened water |
£2 - £3.70/m3 |
Demineralised/
deionised water |
£2 - £3.70/3 |
Condensate |
£5 - £7/m3 |
Steam |
£20 - £22/tonne |
* Depends on mains water supplier |
How to measure flow |
- If sub-meters are installed, take readings over a set time period.
- If flow-meters are installed, take readings.
- Use a bucket and stopwatch approach. It is simple but effective.
- Consider purchasing or hiring sub-meters and/or flow-meters in order to calculate consumption or flow data for key equipment or process lines.
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