Prison Cell Toilets and Showers to get Water Control System

Inmates and prison staff at the category B Lewes Prison will benefit from a new toilet and washroom control system from March 2008.

180 cells in a new multi million £££ cell block, developed in the East Sussex prison, have been installed with state-of-the-art water system remote controls.
The new system enables Lewes prison staff to control water flows to hygiene and sanitation facilities in two cells from one simple unit. It saves water, is more flexible and more hygienic than traditional control methods.

The control unit is programmable and enables cell WCs to be flushed remotely by a prison officer from outside the cell. This has the dual effect of improving hygiene and of discouraging the storage of contraband in the toilet system. Other sanitary ware, such as showers and basins, can also be cycled remotely to prevent the incubation of bacteria etc.

The WDC200 system has been developed by UK secure sanitation specialists Wallgate Ltd, which produces a wide range of toilet and washroom systems for secure environments, and is based in Wiltshire.

Benefits of the WDC200 system at HMP Lewes include:
* Programmable remote control of two cells from one 8 channel unit - controlling two toilets, two showers and four taps;
* Reduced plumbing and wiring installation costs through simple 'Plug and Play' technology;
* Compatible with all forms of flushing methods;
* Long life-time and low maintenance costs;
* Automatic maintenance cycle to avoid water stagnation;
* Water saving dual flush option to meet environmental BREEAM requirements;
* Lockout facility to avoid misuse and prevent vandalism.

The installation of the 90 WDC200 units in the new cells at HM Prison Lewes (for whom the main contractor is Keir) is the first of its type by Wallgate in the UK prison service.

HMP Lewes is a Victorian-built building dating from 1853. The prison has a population of 558 prisoners, consisting predominantly of short term locally convicted men and male prisoners on remand from courts in East and West Sussex.

Since the Lewes Prison contract was signed, Wallgate Limited has taken hundreds more orders of the WDC200 for the prison service, HM Courts Service, the immigration service, Police cells, secure mental health facilities and military detention centres.

A free information pack on the Wallgate WDC200 Control System can be downloaded from the company's website: http://www.wallgate.com. It is also available by writing to: 'WDC200 Information Pack', Wallgate Limited, Crow Lane, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 0HB, by calling: 01722 744594 or by e-mailing Wallgate Limited at WDC200@wallgate.com