64 GROUNDWORKS
IN HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS, AND WHEN APPROPRIATE CAPACITY HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY CONSIDERED, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS CAN OVERFLOW AND LEAD TO A DEVELOPMENT SITE FLOODING
hydraulic capacity will prove to be a more cost-effective approach.
In heavy rainfall events, and when appropriate capacity has not been properly considered, drainage systems can over ow and lead to site ooding. epairs can subsequently be very expensive due to the potential retrofi tting required. Going forward, developers need to make the most of design consultation during these decisions.
CHANNEL CAPACITY
Our survey also revealed that the element deemed least important was channel capacity (30%). This may be surprising given its signifi cance in managing water runoff and mitigating ood risks. A reason for this is perhaps that full channel integration embedded within a drainage network model is frequently overlooked due to being a time-consuming process to factor into design. However, ignoring this can be counterproductive. In the long-run, channels that have the optimum
Thankfully there have been several advances in digital design tools such as MicroDrainage or Causeway Flow. These can be used in tandem with Channel Design software to incorporate the capacity provided from linear drainage channels within a whole site drainage model.
EXPERT CONSULTATION
Although steps are being taken to manage surface water effectively, the survey results show that there remain
Reducing water waste, without active customer participation
L
eakage and domestic consumption are the two primary strands of water conservation in the UK.
REDUCE LEAKS, DESIGN OUT JOINTS ON PIPES AND PREPARE FOR SMARTER METERS It has been calculated that 25% of water leakage on the customer side, i.e. service pipe leakage. Whilst this can be due to old and corroded lead supply, the majority of leaks originate from joints in the supply pipe. Adopting surface mounted meter housings such as Groundbreaker, follow The House Building Federation (HBF) and Water UK issued best practice guidelines. It allows for no joint installation of water supply pipes and future proofs water supplies. Steve Leigh, Managing Director
Groundbreaker, and developer of the wall mounted boundary box has over 40 years’ experience in the Water Industry. ‘We’ve been putting pipes in holes in the ground to protect them from frost for decades’, he explained. ‘Although it works, today’s new materials allow for a much better solution. Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance. It’s just a must better method of working.’ Steve continued, ‘The advent of new smart
metering options has also highlighted the problems of burying meters in a hole in the ground. Groundbreaker allows for a stronger communications signal strength relative to
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WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
underground meter installation. Such systems have been proven to be able to be read from over 2 miles away from a single pick-up point and worldwide if linked to the internet.’
REPLACING SUPPLY PIPES, THE QUICK AND EASY SOLUTION Surface mounting and joint free supply does not need to be restricted to new build. Traditionally, any supply replacement program requires major excavations outside a property and causes huge disruption within. Resulting in mess and disturbance to householders over several days. This disruption has often been the cause of users’ reluctance to have the work undertaken, hence allowing leaks to persist. Using insulated supply pipes and surface
mounted boundary boxes, a new water service can be routed up the external face of the building and connected to the internal plumbing above ground level, whether this is the ground fl oor or upper storey. INSUduct® only requires one simple core drilled hole through the wall, at an appropriate point to connect with the internal plumbing. This enables most water supply replacements to be completed within a couple of hours, without the traditional mess and disruption to the householders or occupiers. Just as in a new supply, a no joint method of installation is used.
REDUCE USAGE, A FIT AND FORGET SOLUTION Water conservation is the key to reducing energy
areas that require further attention. Drainage channels should be a foremost consideration with sustainability, performance and maintenance collectively held up as key priorities. To meet the changing demands, the industry as a whole needs to become more collaborative. At the same time, it is crucial the challenges in achieving these ambitions are addressed, especially with regard to knowledge gaps. ne of the fi rst and most important steps to take is to understand the different products available and how to design these effectively. By consulting with local authorities and ecologists as well as drainage manufacturers, property developers can be equipped with effective drainage systems that protect people and buildings, while enhancing biodiversity for decades to come.
Rob Butcher is design services manager at ACO Water Management
bills. Heating water accounts for nearly 1/5th of energy use in UK homes. Approximately 40% of domestic water usage is from bathroom and kitchen taps and showers. ‘Eco’ or water saving shower heads are designed to restrict the water fl ow to a single outlet are highly eff ective but retrofi ts like these come at a price, especially larger properties with multiple bathrooms. The alternative is whole site fl ow reduction.
Fitting a device such as Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo®, at the meter regulates the level of fl ow entering customer premises – regardless of network pressure. As the fl ow of water into the premises is limited, then the amount used in ‘time controlled’ activities is also limited – but without providing a degradation of service.
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www.groundbreaker.co.uk 05/06/2023 13:50
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