Student designs retrofit innovation that turns rain into water for toilets

UK – Northumbria University graduate Hope Underwood has developed a retrofit rainwater harvesting kit designed to cut UK household water bills and to reduce the strain on a system facing climate pressure.

Toilet flushing accounts for approximately one-third of household water usage, about as much in a day as many people drink in a month (source: NIdirect). Underwood’s modular, wall-mounted tanks, called Mains to Rains, capture rainwater from downpipes via a filter and use it for flushing, supported by a mains water top-up.

‘One of the key findings that pushed this project for me was that by 2050, we will need five billion more litres of water a day,’ Underwood told Dezeen. Exhibited at New Designers, the project is seeking partners to bring it to market, reflecting the focus on products that support climate resilience and water scarcity solutions.

Our Retrofitting Revolution report explores why this approach will play an essential role in the UK meeting its 2050 net-zero target and in creating more sustainable homes.