Discover how the UK’s upcoming water efficiency regulations could reshape the way hotels manage costs, compliance, and guest comfort.
Over the next two years, the UK will introduce Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling (MWELS) and start enforcing legally binding water-use reduction targets under the Environment Act 2021.
Together, these measures will transform how water-using products are selected, marketed, and ultimately managed across commercial estates, including hospitality.
For hotels already battling rising energy bills and tighter ESG expectations, it’s a change that demands early action.
Why This Matters For Hotels
England is on course to face severe water stress by the 2030s, with the Environment Agency already warning of potential shortfalls of up to 5 billion litres per day by 2050.
This challenge has prompted growing collaboration between innovators and policymakers.
For example, earlier this year, Econovate wrote to DEFRA highlighting how the Gjosa GS3 showerhead could help deliver measurable water savings across both hospitality and public sector estates.
In its response, the Environment Agency’s Water Efficiency and Demand Management team confirmed that the GS3 aligns closely with the aims of the upcoming Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS), expected to come into force in 2026, and invited further discussions to explore its potential role in the government’s Plan for Water.
In parallel, heating water accounts for roughly 15–20% of a hotel’s total energy bill, making it one of the most significant yet under-managed operational costs in the hospitality sector.
The government’s response is clear: reduce consumption, increase efficiency, and make performance transparent.
For hotels, that means understanding the numbers behind every shower, tap, and appliance and being ready to prove measurable savings.
What’s Changing
1. Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling (MWELS)
From around 2026, the UK will introduce a national A–F label (much like energy ratings) for all water-using products, including showers, taps, toilets, urinals, dishwashers, and washing machines.
Hotels will need to consider efficiency ratings when purchasing or refurbishing bathrooms. The labels will appear both online and in-store, giving procurement teams a transparent view of product performance and making it easier to evidence sustainability claims.
2. Environment Act 2021 targets
Under the Act, England has committed to reducing per-capita water consumption by 20% by 2037/38, relative to 2019/20 levels. That’s equivalent to reaching around 122 litres per person per day.
While that target applies to domestic use, the government expects commercial sectors, especially high-consumption environments like hotels, to contribute, with water utilities and local authorities introducing incentives and penalties to support compliance.
What can hotels expect?
- Procurement proof points. New builds and refurbishments will need to demonstrate that fittings meet MWELS standards.
- Evidence-based reporting. Expect to show measured reductions in water and hot-water energy use.
- Performance monitoring. Operators will need to track per-capita or per-guest consumption.
- Guest communication. Transparent sustainability efforts are now part of brand perception, and not just compliance.
Showers: The Hidden Hotspot
Showers typically account for over half of a hotel’s water consumption and are one of the largest contributors to hot-water energy use. Yet they’ve often been ignored because poor-quality “eco” showerheads of the past damaged guest experience.
That trade-off no longer exists.
New low-flow technologies such as the Gjosa GS3 Jet-Fusion™ showerhead use micro-droplet spray design to deliver full, comfortable showers using around 4.5 litres per minute at 2 bar pressure, roughly a third of a conventional showerhead.
That means up to 65% savings on both water and the energy to heat it, without guests noticing a difference.
In fact, in hotels like the Best Western, where GS3 has been installed, operators have seen five-figure annual savings, reduced boiler strain, and consistent guest satisfaction scores.
Future-proofing your property
The combination of MWELS and the Environment Act is a clear signal that voluntary measures are over and hotels that act now will not only stay ahead of compliance but unlock tangible business value.
Here’s how you can start:
- Audit your baseline. Understand your hotel’s current water and energy use, focusing on guest showers and staff areas.
- Identify high-impact zones. Prioritise rooms or facilities with the highest turnover.
- Pilot efficient technology. Test the GS3 showerheads in select rooms to measure guest feedback and savings.
- Build procurement criteria. Align future purchasing with MWELS standards.
- Report and communicate. Share results internally and with guests to demonstrate credible action.
The Hospitality Takeaway
These regulations aren’t just about compliance. They’re about unlocking a more resilient business model, one where sustainability and profitability work hand in hand.
By adopting water-efficient technology early, hotels can cut operational costs, improve ESG scores, and future-proof their assets against rising energy and water pressures.
With the Gjosa GS3, water efficiency doesn’t have to mean compromise. It means performance that meets guest expectations today while meeting regulation tomorrow.
Water efficiency that pays for itself and keeps your guests happy.
Learn more about the GS3 and see how it can help your hotel prepare for MWELS and beyond.