School water reference: terms and sources

Common measurement terms

• Consumption: the volume recorded over an interval, usually in litres or cubic metres.
• Average flow: volume divided by elapsed time, such as litres per hour.
• Baseline: measured use under recorded operating conditions, retained for comparison.
• Sub-meter: a meter recording part of the supply; establish exactly what it includes.
• Trace and access: a policy or scheme term whose scope must be checked against its wording.

Read numbers in context

One cubic metre equals 1,000 litres. Keep units and elapsed time with every calculation. An annual projection assumes a rate continues for the stated period; it is not proof of an actual annual loss.

Use comparable dates, populations and definitions when comparing school datasets. The regional pages name their source registers and extract dates; the datasets do not all share the same collection date or definition of a school. They do not establish staffing, funding entitlement or the condition of a particular pipe.

Use the sources and practical guides

The guide sources include water-provider advice, HSE technical guidance and relevant DfE documents. The review date shows when this guide was checked; schemes, tariffs and guidance can change later. Check the current document for a decision about eligibility, cover or duties.

The water-use articles suggest ways to organise observations. They are not a substitute for diagnosing the site. The methods section explains investigation options, while the sources page identifies the wider datasets used on the website.