Gravity fed rainwater harvesting is a great way to add a little pressure to store water allowing a toilet cisterns to be filled and garden hose to be used.
Check out some of our great customer installations here:
The installation above shows a 3P filter collector used to filter and divert rainfall. A 200l rainwater tank to store water. A RainAid valve to top up fitted into the tank to allow a mains back up.
The installation above shows a 280l water tank placed on a heavy duty platform, the rainwater in and mains water out pipes can be seen leading to from the toilet.
The installation above shows a 280l water tank placed on a heavy duty wooden platform discharging to a 60 micron filter serving a out house. The Pre filter consists of a 3P filter collector just out of shot.
The Prestige water low pressure 60 Micron filter being used to eliminate fine debris.
The tank serves a sink used for non-potable applications. Note the rainwater tap outlet labelled as drinking water not suitable for drinking.
Below the 125l water butt is being used to drain to a downstairs WC.
An impressive mains water top
The majority of gravity fed rainwater installations are typically installed with the tank and mains back up installed externally. The following installation shows the tank installed internally feeding the adjacent toilet. Once boarded up the tank will be invisible within the bathroom.
Below is an excellent example of a gravity fed rainwater harvesting system on a Victorian property. The tank has been strapped and supported and the mains back up is visible on the top of the tank.
]]>“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry” said Thomas Fuller.
Global research has shown that 785 million people worldwide live without clean, safe, readily available drinking water close to home, and 1 in 4 of us don’t have a toilet of our own. The threat to water security has also caused around 60% of the earth’s ecosystem services to deteriorate. The development required for sustainability will only be achieved with a water-secure world.
Despite the millions of people without water; in the UK alone, an average person uses 150 litres of water every day. Water is essential for our everyday activities with 27% of it being used for bathing and toilet use and six and a half gallons of water needed for a toilet flush. Installing simple water metres in houses and at workplaces helps to monitor the usage of water and reduce our water footprint.
Reducing everyday water consumption will save energy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help to achieve a cleaner lifestyle. A number of creative technologies are introducing innovative ways in an attempt to scale down the vast number of people without water. Promoting hygiene is one of the most cost-effective health interventions and will save thousands of lives daily.
ESC Scheme
Energy Systems Catapult is a not-for-profit organisation which is working to transform the UK’s energy landscape to be clean, secure and affordable. It looks to bring innovative companies together to deliver integrated solutions which will be beneficial for consumers. It has identified 184 innovative energy companies who are revolutionising the future of energy in the UK.
CleanTech
Clean technology is helping to reduce negative environmental issues and obstacles by significantly improving energy efficiencies. Cleantech covers a broad array of technologies; including recycling, purifying water, renewable energy, green transportation, green chemistry lighting etc. Financially funded programmes and aforementioned schemes which help to reduce global warming and spread awareness of climate change are known as carbon projects. Providing technologies to purify water via the use of solar power and innovative water recycling also plays a vital part in cleaning up our act.
Water Recycling Systems
Efficient, affordable systems have been in place for many hundreds of years, dating back to the Neolithic Age when waterproof lime plaster cisterns were built in the floors of houses. The Rain-Water harvesting System acts as part of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System and was created to reduce water over-heads in an attempt to counteract the water crisis.
An example of this which is powered by the laws of gravity alone is the Gravity-Fed Water System. This is used to pull water from springs, streams and rivers upstream or uphill from a water source and doesn’t require the use of pumps or electricity. It can also be used for flushing toilets by allowing ground-floor toilet cisterns to fill and flush using rainwater and is the simple in-expensive alternative to underground rain-water systems which require high installation, operational and maintenance costs.
About the Organisation
Energy Systems Catapult
If you’re a digital energy innovator who is working to achieve clean growth and water security, the Energy Systems Catapult Innovator Support Platform can offer bespoke support and strives to overcome systemic barriers, de-risk innovation and secure investments.
]]>Water Supply
The vast majority of homes in the UK are connected to a central water supply, operated by their local utility company. However, around 1% of the population in England and Wales use a private water supply (PWS); in Scotland this figure increases to 3%.
Groundwater or River Abstraction as a Water Supply
Many properties with a PWS have a ground water supply usually fitted with a borehole well pump. Being off grid the benefit of a solar water sumbersible well pump is clear. Likewise the motion of flowing water can actually be used in a ram pump set up. The Papa Ram Pump is one such innovation which allows the momentum of flowing water to power the pump and so an external power supply is not required. This set up is ideal to fill a header tank and using this header tank to dicharge to the site on demand.
If a new borehole or alternative abstraction is to be implemented this will be subject to building control and the Environment Agency (or SEPA) will be involved at the early stages to ensure the borehole/abstraction has no negative impacts on the existing groundwater/river.
Rainwater as a Water Supply
Capturing Rainwater is something that any household or business can do but if you are thinking of living off grid this becomes particularly important. Any roof space can become source of water supply. By simply installing a water storage tank, whether that be above or below ground, a large amount of water that would otherwise go to waste can quickly be collected and stored until necessary and delivered on demand to where it is required using a rainwater harvesting system. Considering a gravity rainwater harvesting system reduces the power demand on the site and makes off grid living that much more achievable.
Whilst rainwater itself is not suitable for drinking directly after harvesting, there are a number of products that will divert and filter the rainwater to an acceptable standard for flushing toilets which typically represents 30% of total household demand increasing to 45% if washing machine usage is added. Splitting out potable and non potable demand has a significant effect of reducing the demand and sizing of the potable water system and often pays for itself.
In terms of sizing our online rainwater harvesting calculator will help for most domestic and smalls scale projects. If the project is more substantial you may wish to consider a level 3 rainwater harvesting assessment.
Storage of Water.
Once a source has been identified the water can be collectd and stored in its raw form with the the treatment step downstream of the holding tank. If stored after treatment a potable water tank will be required. A combined potable tank and booster pump set can be incorporated into the system to ensure short durations of high water demand are well managed. This tank is typically much smaller than a main raw/source water tank. This step (potable water storage) may not be required if the treatment capacity exceeds the maximum demand.
Water Treatment for Drinking
In some cases however a total off grid solution is required since no other source of water exists and so rainwater purification system is required.
Water that is intended for drinking understandably comes under the most stringent of regulations.
Typically treatment for drinking water starts with analysis of the incoming water to establish the baseline using water quality testing.
Once the baseline has been established the treatment can tailored to suit.
In all cases a particle/sediment filter(s) followed by a carbon filter will be required. This will remove all particles typically down to 5 micron and the carbon filter will remove taste and odour issues.
This will be followed by a Ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria - the size on this will depend on the maximum flow rate required typically 20-30 lpm in a domestic setting.
A WRAS approved booster pump set maybe required to store water and balance demand and maintain pressure.
Further water treatment may applied depending on the basline assessment, this may include Reverse Osmosis membrane filters.
The above treatment chain can be supplied in an "all in one package" such as the Rainsafe, an innovative rainwater to drinking water package solution for treating rainwater into drinking water, storing it and delivering it on demand.
For driking water treatment on the move a UV LED water bottle could be a worthwhile investment.
Waste Water Treatment and Grey Water Recycling
There are a number of activities that result in wastewater being created, domestically these could include cooking, bathing, washing, using the toilet.
As with the benefit of splitting out incoming water into potable and non potable uses it is worth considering the different types of waste water.
Grey water represents up to 70% of wastewater output resulting from showers, baths and taps and thus a potentially great resource. We supply the Hydraloop which is a package system which treats grey water to a non potable standard suitable for flushing toilets.
96% of the UK’s wastewater is treated at large scale waste water treatment plants. This is completed in the following stages:
In an off grid scenario the waste water must be treated to a standard where it can be discharged to a drainage field or a water course. New legislation in the UK requires all new properties and existing properties with a septic tank to be upgraded to a package treatment plant or a small sewage treatment plant.
There are also a number of solutions that can be installed on a more local level, such as a GRAF One2Clean domestic sewage treatment plant which treats wastewater to a very high standard allowing it to be discharged to the water course with minimal environmental impact.
Living in the 'sticks' is dream for many but it does present some challenges: where will the water come from, how should it be treated for drinking and how will the wastewater be dealt with. Whatever the challenges we have a solution. Most the technologies described above are available for inspection at the Centre for Water Saving technology.
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There are a number of reasons why the water in your home may taste off or appear discoloured. The vast majority of household water is fed through mains pipes, over time impurities such as lime scale, bacteria and sediment can start to build up and contribute to the overall taste of your water; a home water filter will remove all of these and leave you with a clean, filtered glass of water direct from your tap.
Some areas may occasionally experience localised problems such as discolouring and debris in the water, in the past this has been particularly prevalent in the North and South-West of England. By installing a home filter system you will be immune to these interruptions and your supply will continue to be filtered in your own property throughout.
It may well be the case that you simply don’t like the taste of the water from your tap; this is particularly common when somebody moves property and the water in their new area tastes completely different. A home water filter system that contains activated carbon will not only remove unwanted particles and bacteria, it will also reduce bad tastes and odours. To ensure that it continues to work effectively it is recommended that you change the filter every three to six months depending on your usage. The Water Gem and Water Gem ll are DIY installations which allow the filter to be concealed under the sink. the kit also includes an additional tap from which beautifully purified drinking water can be taken.
Most household filters are designed to be installed by the users themselves; if you have thirty minutes and an electric drill you’ll be able to get yourself up and running. If you are not confident in doing this then any plumber or handyman will be able to install it for you in a matter of minutes.
Other drinking water filter options include jug filters; these are great for taking around the house or office with you and can easily be stored in the fridge. Start-up costs for these are relatively low in comparison to a permanent fitting but the filters do need regular replacement depending on both your usage and the hardness of your water. These vary in capacity between approximately 1 and 3 litres and can very quickly become an everyday part of your home.
]]>On large scale treatment plants, covering vast areas, separating these treatments can be straightforward, each getting their own designated area. On a smaller scale a similar process is achieved in septic tanks and cesspools by using a number of chambers to separate the waste and allow it to process.
Regulations for the standard of wastewater treatment are documented in the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Within this directive it is set out what level of treatment waste water should receive before it is deemed safe for discharge into the surrounding environment. This is determined by a number of factors including.
Where the waste water originates from whether that’s domestic type properties or food processing plants that will contain food particles and food preparation washings. It could also be rainwater run-off containing organic debris washed from roads and draining to sewers.
There are a number of activities that result in wastewater being created, domestically these could include bathing, washing, using the toilet, and rainwater collection and runoff. Commercially these may be industrial works waste or food products. Depending on where the wastewater originates will determine which level of treatment it is subject to. Wherever it originates from all wastewater can contain a number of containments either from the source or from human intervention, this could include including bacteria, chemicals and other toxins. The risk of water borne disease is present in all wastewater and it is imperative that it is processed accordingly to remove the risk of this.
Sewage networks also need to be designed and constructed to deal with seasonal demands particularly from wet weather; the sewage treatment works must also be able to must also take this into account and be prepared for fluctuating demands. They must both also be designed to cater for seasonal changes for that specific area, for example coastal towns may receive an influx of tourist during the summer months but may be sparsely populated during the winter. Both the network and the sewage treatment plants must take this into account.
]]>Now the tricky part is thinking how many days of storage do you require. In the UK it rains typically once every three days. However in the summer of 2018 some areas of the UK had no rain for over 30 days! In 1976 Milton Abbas in Dorset and Teignmouth in Devon had no rain for 45 straight days! However these are extremes. Let's say we want rainwater for 10 days of dry weather so the total would be the daily usage (15 litres per day in this example) multiplied by the total number of dry days (10 in this example) which equals a total storage volume of 150 litres.
That's it, its as simple as that. Daily usage multiplied by days without rain you're preparing for.
At this range (150 litres - 500litres) of storage our standard decorative water butt range would suffice.
If you're wondering how does that work if you're currently using mains water hose. Well the flow rate is typically 6-10 litres per minute (lpm) depending on the mains pressure, hose diameter, nozzle setting. 15 minutes on a hose would equate to 90-150 litres per day/session. If rainwater storage of 10 days is required in this example this would equate to 900-1500l total storage requirement.
At this range (500 litres upwards) of storage our rainwater tanks might be more appropriate .
The following is a look up graph -if you know your daily usage on the x-axis and the days without rainfall you're preparing for you can quickly read off the storage required on the y-axis.
Finally here are some quick tips to make your rainwater go further:
1. Water late in the evening or early in the morning. Watering at this time means less water evaporates than it would on hot soil during the day.
2. Keep leaves dry to avoid diseases. Wet leaves can become diseased . Leaves can also burn as the droplets magnify the suns rays.
3. Water the roots. This is ultimatley where the watre is absorbed and so the most efficient place to direct water.
4. Water 'gently': aggressive watering can result in washout/movement of topsoil and expose shallow roots. Consider using a soaker hose with a gravity fed rainwater harvesting system.
5. Use water-saving irrigation methods: Clearly if you're harvesting rainwater you want to use it wisely. Consider a dripper irrigation system connected to a wall mounted water butt for a passive watering system.
6. Avoid over watering: This can waterlog the soil and drown the roots :(.
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If your property has a septic tank or small sewage treatment plant or you are thinking of installing one then you must check you meet the general binding rules set out by the UK government in line with the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This is applicable to you if any of the following is true:
New rules came into force on 1 January 2015. If your system was installed and discharging before 31 December 2014 you have an ‘existing discharge’. If your system was installed and discharging on or after 1 January 2015 you have a ‘new discharge’.
The following General binding rules apply to both new and existing discharges.
Use the correct treatment system
You must either use a septic tank or a small sewage treatment plant to treat the sewage prior to discharge to the surrounding environment via a drainage field A drainage field is a series of pipes with holes in buried in trenches so that the water can pass through and discharge of its own accord.
Your treatment system must meet the right standards
Current UK standards that are in place are:
Your treatment system must be installed correctly and have enough capacity
Whatever treatment system you install it must be able to cope with the peak demand that it will experience. This can be checked in the British Waters Flows and Loads 4 guidance if you are not sure. If your property is extended at any point in time it is imperative that the treatment system is also extended in line with this.
Have your treatment system regularly emptied and maintained
Each tank will have a different capacity; you must get the sludge removed from your tank before it exceeds the maximum capacity. This could be anything between every one and five years and will be detailed in the manufacturer’s specifications. The company which do come to de-sludge must also be a registered waste carrier.
If you sell your property: tell the new owner about the sewage treatment system
When it comes to selling your property you must tell the new owner in writing about the arrangements for sewerage treatment. As a minimum this should include:
If you stop using your treatment system: make sure it’s properly decommissioned
If you no longer intend to use the treatment system then it must be decommissioned to the extent that anything that could potentially cause pollution must be removed. This is generally remaining sludge which will you will need to arrange to be relocated.
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The most common forms of waste water treatment when not connected to the sewer networks are:
The main UK sewage networks service up to 96% of the population with the other 4% utilising one of the systems above. These are generally remote properties or rural communities that have proven inaccessible to the main network.
By law both septic tanks and small treatment plants are required discharge to an infiltration system as part of the design; this is usually either a soakaway or secondary drainage field. Whilst a treatment plant will often provide a better level of treatment than a septic tank, if used and installed correctly septic tanks can be very effective. A badly maintained or incorrectly installed system has the potential to pollute local water sources and the surrounding environment through untreated discharge. Building control and the Environment Agency (SEPA) will advise on suitable discharge standards.
The cost of constructing or installing a septic tank is relatively low in comparison to other waste water treatment processes so they are an ideal choice for a single property. On-going maintenance is required and consists of routine inspection to ensure that the tank remains watertight; also any pipework should be checked for blockages when possible. It is also good practice to empty the tank every two – five years.
A septic tank will have at least two chambers which in previous years have generally been made out of brick work or cast concrete; these days reinforced plastic versions are widely available and are much less prone to leakage or deterioration.
A recent innovation to the market is the One2clean treatment system. This system allows aerobic digestion of the sludge by means of pumping air into the effluent. Aerobic biological digestion occurs, aeration is interrupted to allow the clean effluent to be decanted and discharged. Such a system provides a significantly higher quality of effluent. One which the Environment Agency (SEPA in Scotland) view favourably.
]]>The average household in the UK uses around 330 litres each day. The new government legislation states:
This would require a reduction of approximately 25 litres per person per day in order to be compliant with this legislation. Whilst many people now realise that by cutting down on water usage they will also be cutting down on utility bills there is often technology that will help with this at very little cost to install. The amended regulations now bring this technology to the forefront, making each new development as water efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.
Under this new legislation techniques such as rainwater harvesting are positively encouraged. If collected and stored correctly, with minimal treatment rainwater can be used not only for watering the garden, but toilet flushing and in washing machines too. If harvested rainwater was applied to all possible uses in the home It could save up to 50% of the total household water use. Industrial premises with a larger roof space can collect much more and the number of uses can also be extended to things such as vehicle washing.
The Water Efficiency Calculator for new dwellings
For developers to determine how water efficient their property will be they must first complete the water efficiency calculator. The calculation methodology requires the use of water consumption figures provided from manufacturers’ product details. Before the assessment can be carried out, figures will need to be collected from manufacturers’ product information to determine the consumption of each terminal fitting, this can then be populated in the table below.
In some cases, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling may be used as a means of reducing water consumption to achieve higher water efficiency performance levels. This may be needed where options for improving the efficiency of terminal fittings (taps, WCs etc.) have been maximised and further savings are still required. Sources of greywater include, baths, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. As greywater contains fewer pathogens than domestic wastewater, it is safer to handle and easier to treat and reuse where it was collected for things such as toilet flushing, watering the garden, and other non-potable uses.
]]>Here are some statistics that may surprise you:
Imagine how much difference just one small change could make; getting a low flush toilet for example would use six litres of water each time rather than the 13 litres an old style single flush would. That’s potentially saving 35,000 litres a year! By spending just a minute less in the shower each day you would save over 6000 litres a year. There are now even flow regulators that can be fitted into your existing system that will automatically reduce your water consumption. By reducing the flow, your daily habits can continue as they are but each time you switch on a tap or have shower you will be using less water.
What are the savings
1 litre of water costs around1p. If you have a water meter, you are generally charged for every cubic metre of water you use. 1 cubic metre equals 1,000 litres of water, which will cost you around £3 (when including the wastewater charge). Using the example of installing a more water efficient toilet, the savings to you for doing this would be in excess of £100 a year; well worth the initial investment and a great move for the environment too.
Rainwater Harvesting
So, we know how much water costs us, and we know that to save both the environment and our wallet we need to cut down our usage, but what about getting water for free?
Rainwater harvesting and can be used as a means of reducing water consumption in the home.
Harvesting rainwater can be a great way of cutting down on mains water consumption. It’s something that almost anyone of us can do. By installing a water butt you could potentially harvest up to 50,000 litres of water a year.
]]>One major way this will change will be the more direct influence of the consumer over their energy. Instead of sending electrons and gas through the wires and pipes, there will be more sophisticated methods of meeting everyone’s particular energy needs.
Consumers will play a bigger part in deciding how the energy is produced. This could lead to a focus on locally generated energy – the general reduction in the costs of renewable energy technologies could start to represent local energy production as better value than centralised energy production.
The Internet of Things can also be incorporated into our energy management. All parts of the energy market will become connected so they all work together. The connected home concept will become further fleshed out, wherein electronic devices will have the ability to connect together. Through this connection, they can use energy in the most efficient way possible.
The biggest take away from our future energy outlook is the consumer’s role. Instead of being an outsider consuming the energy as it’s given to them, the consumer will be at the heart of the energy system. They will take a far more active role in how and when the energy is consumed, and where it comes from.
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Historical drought
Whilst 2018 has been a particularly dry summer there is still a chance that substantial rainfall could even things out. The most recent drought experienced in the UK was in the summer of 2006. The two years prior to this were exceptionally dry which cumulated in a number of measures being taken to reduce water consumption across the UK.
The drought in 1976 will also be memorable to many people. This is regarded as the worst drought in living history, extending from June right through to August of that year. Parts of the country went up to 45 days without rain and an estimated £500 million worth of crops failed causing some food prices to soar.
There have also been very dry years in between these two events. 1989 for example was recorded as the driest in East Anglia for over a hundred years, whilst in the peak of the heatwave in 1995 all of the reservoirs in the Pennines ran dry.
Drought bans
All bans associated with drought in the UK are enforced by the Environment Agency. The first action they are likely to take is a media campaign, encouraging people to use less water and think about their everyday usage.
Beyond that a hosepipe ban will be introduced. This categorically bans the use of hosepipes effecting both homes and businesses. Tasks such as filling pools, washing cars and watering the garden using a hosepipe are prohibited.
In very exceptional circumstances the ban can be extended to banning the cleaning of vehicles, windows and buildings. Whilst this would be very rare for the UK it is certainly something that should be considered for the future.
Worst effected regions
In nearly all UK droughts on record the worst effected region is the South East of England; this is largely due to the population density, a large amount of people using a limited supply can quickly lead to shortages. Reservoirs in this region are also few and far between which places an unusually high demand on groundwater supplies.
Impacts
The impacts of drought are widespread and often much more serious than people think. Obvious impacts mean that water consumption must be managed and any non-essential tasks involving using water must cease.
The impacts to the environment however can be much greater. If river levels fall, the concentration of any pollution can prove fatal both to fish and any other wildlife that depend of the area as a source of food and water. Due to a lack of water flow, oxygen levels will also be depleted which can be catastrophic for any associated ecosystems.
Intermittent storms and capturing storm flow
As the weather becomes more changeable, it is not just drought which presents a problem. Short bursts of extremely heavy rainfall are also becoming more frequent throughout the year. Whilst flooding may be an issue at the time it is important that this water is harvested and retained for future use.
This can be done on a small scale at home by using items such as water butts and storage tanks; it is also of increasing concern to the Environment Agency. Storm drains, dedicated run offs and catchment areas are all vital in capturing this resource.
]]>This is a great example of innovation from one of our customers. Using the 220l slim water butt to feed a dear scarer! During no rainfall the scarer fills with a part open tap. During rainfall the overflow is fully open increasing the frequency of the dear scarer! Absolutely amazing.
A 500l Burgundy Barrel water butt with a 3P filter collector - good use of pipe clamps (clips) and water butt diverter extension hose to extend the hose.
The 300 litre slim wall tank (stone) seen below. Excellent use of water butt overflow and splitter to feed planters.
Use of water butt overflow and splitter to discharge the excess flow to planters. A unique sustainable urban drainage solution below!
100 litre wall mounted water butt elibutt featured below.
525 litre rainwater tank installed at a light industrial unit.
Regendieb Original downpipe filter installed on a cast iron pipe!
Customer hack of the 3P filter collector using a 110mm to 68mm reducer to create a snugger fit at the inlet.
External Zistern Filter 110mm rainwater installation and 110mm overflow into an Enduramaxx rainwater tank.
]]>What is a percolation test?
The percolation test also known as the infiltration or soakaway test is perfomed out by a drainage engineer to determine whether a soakaway is suitable in any given location. The test will also ultimatley yield the Infiltration rate which is used to size a soakaway Percolation tests are very important, particularly on new building projects, they will give an immediate indication of the water table and drainage rates of any given area, thus allowing a decision to made on the overall viability of the soakaway.
How is a percolation test carried out?
The actual percolation test itself is quite a simple one devised to measure how quickly water drains away from the soil. This is achieved by digging a pit, the size of which can vary according to the site. Once dug the pit can be filled with water and allowed to drain naturally. The drainage speed and height should be recorded at regular intervals in order to produce the most accurate results.
The method for carrying out a percolation test is as follows.
Why carry out a percolation test?
When commencing a build where stormwater storage is required it is prudent that a percolation test is carried out. It is usually required under local authority regulations and will provide the construction team with accurate data with regards to the state of the surrounding land. Even if you supply your local authority with all of the information detailed above it is not uncommon for them to request further test until they are completely satisfied.
If you require an Infiltration test to BRE365 in the Greater Manchester area please get in touch.
]]>We’ve all heard of being green and living sustainably; the vast majority of us like the idea of it, but how many of us actually make a positive change and start doing something about it? People live busy lives these days, convenience is everything. If something is going to add to your already growing list of things to do it’s unlikely that you’re going to stick with it.
What about the cost? If going green is going to add further bills to an already stretched budget then that’s the end of it for most people; but that’s where they’re wrong. You’re not just going just going to be saving the planet, you’re going to be saving your wallet too. Many changes that you can make to go green will reduce your consumption and save you money; it’s all about thinking a little bit more and spending a little bit less. Doing things like switching to energy saving light bulbs might be an expense that you hadn’t accounted for but in the long run the savings far outweigh the initial outlay.
Of course a lot of people simply aren’t aware of what impact they have on the environment. Decisions on what to buy are made on price alone on a lot of occasions. This isn’t how it should be, by educating yourself on where things come from and what impact they are having on the environment and other communities, you can make informed decisions on what you are purchasing. This may mean something as simple as switching from one brand to another, that company may be more ethical and have a more transparent supply chain. You can almost guarantee that if a company doesn’t want you to know about their values or where they source their products from then it probably isn’t good.
There are also lots of things that you can do inside your home itself that will help the environment. Turn down your thermostat by a couple of degrees, put a jumper on rather than turn the heating up. You’ll soon adjust to it and the savings will be instantaneous. Recycling is another big one in the home. First of all are you recycling absolutely everything that you can? Are you breaking down your recycling as far as possible? It also starts much earlier than that, are you conciencously thinking about what the products you buy are packaged in? Just choosing a product that is packaged in recyclable material over something that you will have to throw away is a great start.
Don’t think that one person can’t make a difference? If everybody thought like that nothing would ever get done. Protecting and preserving the environment is everybody’s responsibility and everything that we do or buy or consume has an impact on it, whether that’s positive or negative. By making some small changes, with minimal added effort, you can transform your lifestyle and make big difference to your impact on the environment.
If you think you’ve had a chilly winter and the heating seems to have been on all the time these last few months, we’ve done a bit of research to find out which are the coldest places to live in Britain.
Take a look at our infographic and see where your city ranks.
City | Average Annual Minimum Temp (°C) | Average Winter Minimum Temp (mm) |
---|---|---|
Perth | 5.1 | 0.4 |
Leeds | 5.1 | 0.6 |
Bradford | 5.1 | 0.6 |
Aberdeen | 5.1 | 0.7 |
Dundee | 5.3 | 0.8 |
Durham | 5.4 | 1.0 |
Manchester | 5.5 | 0.8 |
Ripon | 5.5 | 0.8 |
Salford | 5.5 | 0.8 |
Glasgow | 5.5 | 1.0 |
Stirling | 5.6 | 1.1 |
Inverness | 5.6 | 1.2 |
York | 5.7 | 0.9 |
Wakefield | 5.7 | 1.0 |
Newport | 5.7 | 1.4 |
Lisburn | 5.7 | 1.7 |
Winchester | 5.8 | 1.3 |
Stoke on Trent | 5.9 | 1.1 |
Hereford | 5.9 | 1.2 |
Leicester | 5.9 | 1.2 |
Edinburgh | 5.9 | 1.4 |
Newry | 5.9 | 1.9 |
St Albans | 6.0 | 1.3 |
Chelmsford | 6.0 | 1.4 |
Lichfield | 6.0 | 1.4 |
Wolverhampton | 6.0 | 1.4 |
Peterborough | 6.1 | 1.2 |
Derby | 6.1 | 1.3 |
Nottingham | 6.1 | 1.3 |
Worcester | 6.1 | 1.3 |
Birmingham | 6.1 | 1.4 |
Chester | 6.1 | 1.5 |
Preston | 6.1 | 1.5 |
Salisbury | 6.2 | 1.4 |
Wells | 6.2 | 1.6 |
Lincoln | 6.3 | 1.4 |
Belfast | 6.3 | 2.2 |
Norwich | 6.4 | 1.6 |
Cambridge | 6.4 | 1.6 |
Coventry | 6.4 | 1.6 |
Derry | 6.4 | 2.3 |
Bath | 6.6 | 2.0 |
Sheffield | 6.6 | 2.0 |
Kingston upon Hull | 6.7 | 2.0 |
Newcastle Upon Tyne | 6.7 | 2.3 |
Sunderland | 6.7 | 2.3 |
Gloucester | 6.8 | 1.9 |
Exeter | 6.8 | 2.5 |
Oxford | 6.9 | 2.1 |
Canterbury | 6.9 | 2.1 |
St Asaph | 6.9 | 2.6 |
Bristol | 7.0 | 2.2 |
Cardiff | 7.0 | 2.3 |
Ely | 7.0 | 2.3 |
St David | 7.0 | 2.9 |
Liverpool | 7.2 | 2.3 |
Bangor (Gwynedd) | 7.6 | 3.4 |
Southampton | 7.7 | 2.9 |
City of London | 7.8 | 3.1 |
Plymouth | 8.1 | 4.0 |
Portsmouth | 8.2 | 3.3 |
Truro | 8.3 | 4.7 |
Swansea | 8.5 | 4.1 |
The colour code runs from blue for the lowest cost up to red for the most expensive water (and wastewater charges) in the country. The good news is that if you live in in the middle of England and towards the North East, you should expect to pay less for your water supply. If you live in the south you might want to consider rainwater harvesting quick!
Scotland and Wales are slightly more expensive but by far the most costly water supply is found in the southern counties. Anywhere along the English Channel, you’ll be paying over the odds compared to the rest of the country.
Unlike gas and electricity supplies, there’s a lower number of water utility companies in the UK fixed by region. The most expensive prices based on typical usage (165 m3/yr for a 4 person household) come from South West Water so if you live in Cornwall and parts of Devon you can expect to pay £943 a year for the example usage (165 m3/yr). Wessex Water and Southern Water aren’t much cheaper, with charges of £728 and £673 respectively. South West water does seem like an outlier so Freeflush went direct to the source data here which tallies very well!! Definitely a good reason to consider rainwater harvesting.
The cheapest place to get your water is actually across the City of London and up towards Essex and the surrounding counties. Thames Water charge just £440 a year while Severn Trent, which basically covers everywhere from Bristol to Birmingham and the lower edge of Yorkshire, comes in at a reasonable £502 per year.
The full list of water companies and their yearly bills is as follows:
Thames Water: £440
Severn Trent: £502
Northumberland Water: £539
Yorkshire Water: £562
Northern Ireland Water: £596
Scottish Water: £600
Anglian Water: £619
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water: £636
United Utilities: £652
Southern Water: £673
Wessex Water: £728
South West Water: £943
Freeflush gathered the data for England and Wales from the Consumer Council of Water using their water meter calculator and basing figures on an average household of four people using 165 m3 per year. Data for Northern Ireland and Scottish Water was gathered separately. The information shows that water prices vary significantly across the UK and what you pay generally depends on where you live and who your water company is.
You can download the Water Charges Across Britain infographic here.
As we have all noticed our weather is changing, and not for the better. Wetter summers and milder winters are leading to an overall increased annual rainfall. In many cases this excess water has nowhere to go, particularly in urban areas; this is where Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) come in.
SuDS are a series of installations and practices designed to drain surface water in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way; they are becoming more and more commonplace throughout the industry and on a large amount of construction sites are now mandatory. By mimicking natural drainage SuDS manage potential flooding, particularly during heavy storms, and watercourses and rivers by using natural treatment processes. Rather than diverting excess surface water away to somewhere else that could potentially flood SUDS deal with it at the source; by retaining water and releasing it at a controlled rate they not only prevent flooding on the site they are installed on but also further downstream.
With construction, particularly in towns and cities, rapidly preventing the natural runoff of water, innovative drainage systems have had to be implemented. An ageing sewage network cannot cope with the excess demand placed on it when storm water is added to the existing load. Pollution also gives cause for concern when excess water is not properly diverted; overflows and storm drain can quickly accumulate a large amount of unwanted material and deposit it in an unwanted place.
The most common SuDS in use today are:
There are also plenty of other options that can be used in conjunction with SuDS to improve the process; these include planting trees and other vegetation, installing ponds and creating wetlands. By using a combination of these and the SuDS listed above the system can have a real impact on the amount of surface water that leaves the site.
If planning regulations require a SuDS to be installed it would save both time and money to install a rainwater harvesting system at the same time. Fitting an entire system during construction rather than retrospectively would be by far the best choice. If your property is already finished this does not however mean that either a SuDS or rainwater harvesting system cannot be fitted retrospectively. These are environmentally friendly solutions to a modern day problem and there is never a bad time to go ahead with installation.
]]>The acquisition represents further growth for the company which has seen rapid increases during 2017 with forecasts for 2018 showing an even steeper rise in its innovative water saving products. Incorporating The Original Wall Mounted Water Butt Company’s water butt into its range of rainwater harvesting equipment will see Freeflush takes its place firmly on the map of responsible providers of UK manufactured rainwater harvesting equipment for home and business.
Flushing out waste
Established in 2016 Freeflush uses its years of engineering experience to design innovative and effective rainwater harvesting solutions - from simple wall hung water butts for the home to large underground tanks with pumped control for business and industry.
One key product of the OWMBC is the Prestige Water Butt which allows domestic users to harvest rainwater whilst retaining available ground space for other uses. Discreet and effective, it has a more asymmetric aesthetic design than other ground-based models. As it is mounted at a height, this allows easier filling of watering cans and direct irrigation. This product has been received well and installed by many by house builders and housing associations largely due to its sleek aesthetic design.
The Prestige Water Butt was designed and patented in 1992 by Tim Jeffrey after he saw the shocking news story of a child who had drowned in a conventional water barrel. Determined to help prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy, Tim realised that the solution was a flat wall-mounted tank with an internal diverter which would allow water to fit into small spaces without projecting too far. The product was launched onto the market in 1994, quickly receiving accolades and awards including The Chelsea Flower Show’s ‘Best New Product’ in 1995.
Clean water, green future
As well as this important safety feature, Freeflush was quick to recognise the environmental benefits of the product - in a world of ever depleting resources, Freeflush works tirelessly to educate and provide water saving solutions. The Freeflush Water Butt is crafted from recycled plastic, effectively capturing waste plastic and preventing it from damaging the environment. Earlier this month, Prime Minister, Theresa May, pledged to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042 and, Freeflush is proud to be doing its part for such an important cause.
The Environment Agency for England and Wales has already classified some areas of the UK as under serious water stress due to the huge volumes of water which are wasted every day.
Harvested rainwater can be used to water gardens and clean building exteriors as well as flushing toilets and washing clothes in washing machines, the latter two of which make up 43% of a household’s total water usage.
A number of Freeflush products are currently listed with the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme, offering savings on water bills and tax incentives to UK businesses which pay corporation or income tax. The scheme will allow businesses to write off 100% of the cost of water saving equipment against tax in the year of purchase
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Here in the UK, the weather is variable and often unpredictable. In fact, its diversity and changeability make British weather so distinct and unique. But even in the UK, it is clear climate change is having an impact on our weather.
Here at FreeFlush, we provide rainwater harvesting and storm water solutions and so the changing weather patterns have an dramatic impact on designing such systems. We have examined rainfall change by city over the period 1961-2006 based on captured rainfall data. We’ve created two graphics below to display our findings. Why not take a look at your area and see how its climate has changed.
In the winter months, we found that Inverness has seen the biggest rainfall increase, followed by Dundee, Stirling, Ripon and Bangor.
In the summer months, Rochester has seen the biggest rainfall decrease, followed by Canterbury, Wells, Reading and Bath.
If you wish to use this infographic on your site please use the embed code below.
The original research paper from which this infographic has been adapted can be found here.
Use the interactive table below, pressing the arrows on the column headings, to rank cities by Winter and Summer Rainfall Change.
City | Winter Rainfall Change (%) | Summer Rainfall Change (%) |
---|---|---|
Aberdeen | -17 | -29 |
Armagh | -5 | -9 |
Bangor (Gwynedd) | 43 | -29 |
Bath | 20 | -30 |
Bedford | 25 | -17 |
Belfast | 8 | 8 |
Birmingham | 13 | 18 |
Bradford | 26 | -19 |
Brighton | 13 | 11 |
Bristol | 34 | -21 |
Bury St. Edmunds | 6 | 8 |
Cambridge | 15 | -7 |
Canterbury | 30 | -32 |
Cardiff | 20 | -5 |
Carlisle | 40 | -18 |
Chelmsford | 10 | 10 |
Chester | 3 | -16 |
Chichester | 26 | -15 |
Colchester | 22 | 12 |
Coventry | 13 | 18 |
Croydon | 15 | -21 |
Derby | -7 | 8 |
Derry | 24 | 4 |
Dundee | 63 | -13 |
Durham | 21 | -23 |
Edinburgh | 40 | 8 |
Ely | 20 | 9 |
Exeter | 8 | -18 |
Glasgow | 43 | 8 |
Gloucester | 5 | -21 |
Hereford | 15 | -21 |
Inverness | 72 | -6 |
Ipswich | 18 | 20 |
Kingston upon Hull | 13 | -8 |
Lancaster | 23 | -26 |
Leeds | 26 | -19 |
Leicester | 14 | 8 |
Lichfield | -5 | -17 |
Lincoln | 13 | 25 |
Lisburn | 7 | 14 |
Liverpool | 13 | -18 |
London | 26 | -23 |
Luton | 27 | -17 |
Manchester | 18 | -23 |
Middlesbrough | 21 | -13 |
Milton Keynes | 27 | -17 |
Newcastle Upon Tyne | 9 | -23 |
New Port | 20 | -5 |
Newry | -9 | -11 |
Northampton | 12 | -21 |
Norwich | 3 | 20 |
Nottingham | 23 | 14 |
Oxford | 13 | -23 |
Peterborough | 4 | -5 |
Plymouth | 43 | -21 |
Portsmouth | 20 | -15 |
Preston | 30 | -29 |
Reading | 18 | -30 |
Ripon | 43 | -10 |
Rochester | 27 | -32 |
Salisbury | 18 | -7 |
Sheffield | 7 | 14 |
Southampton | 31 | -11 |
St Albans | 20 | -17 |
St David's | 18 | 31 |
Stafford | -4 | -5 |
Stirling | 60 | 10 |
Stoke-on-Trent | 10 | -8 |
Sunderland | -9 | -12 |
Swansea | 8 | -25 |
Swindon | 25 | -8 |
Truro | 15 | 14 |
Wakefield | 21 | -13 |
Watford | 25 | -21 |
Wells | 20 | -30 |
Winchester | 12 | -13 |
Wolverhampton | -4 | -5 |
Worcester | 8 | -11 |
York | 5 | -17 |
Up to this point this option was only available to businesses in Scotland and those that had very high usage, over 50 mega litres, throughout the rest of the UK. This is a huge change from the way it previously worked whereby a business would be forced to go with a nearby supplier. The success of the scheme in Scotland has played a large part in the decision to expand this deregulation where it is estimated that around £43 million and 20 billion litres of water have already been saved.
This change in legislation will affect approximately 2.6 million users allowing them to pick a supplier based on price, customer service and their own individual usage and circumstances. Data released by MOSL indicates that since April 36,000 users have taken up this offer and decided to switch supplier; this represents 1.4% of those eligible so demand is only expected to increase as more and more people become aware of it.
There is now also an added incentive on suppliers to provide the very best customer service possible. Businesses will no longer have to use them by default, should they be dissatisfied with the level of service provided they can simply switch supplier.
Of course water conservation is key to all of this; suppliers that are most efficient with their resources can in turn offer the most competitive prices. Water prices, as with other utilities, have increased again in 2017; businesses as well as smaller consumers are all trying to cut costs in any way that they can. Whilst getting the best price initially plays a large part, water usage and conservation can have a dramatic effect on the final cost.
This change has also prompted businesses to take a closer look at their water usage; previously with no choice as to who their supplier was, there was very little consideration in regards to price. Now there is a realisation that there is money to be saved and efficiencies to be made businesses are really starting to wake up to the benefits of water conservation and commercial and agricultural rainwater harvesting systems.
Quick, affordable and efficient changes that any business can make to water usage include monitoring of consumption, installing rainwater harvesting solutions and installing water efficient technology that maximises water efficiency in their current workspace.
]]>So you've started on the rainwater harvesting journey and are wondering what components you need to optimise your system.
The key elements are: filter, storage and distribution.
Capture is usually through a water butt connector or combined diverter-filter of which are there are many to choose. These diverter-filters allow all rainfall diverted to be filtered, the filtration level is determined by the mesh size.
]]>The key elements are: filter, storage and distribution.
Capture is usually through a water butt connector or combined diverter-filter of which are there are many to choose. These diverter-filters allow all rainfall diverted to be filtered, the filtration level is determined by the mesh size.
You may have heard the term "first flush" being used and are wondering what this means. First flush refers to the idea that the first rain that falls cleans the capture surface (roof) of debris and contaminants and so this initial rainwater carries the most debris, contaminants, bird droppings etc. This concept has been around for some time. Many reservoirs in the UK for example have a bypass channel at the head of the reservoir to divert this initial first flush of rainwater around the reservoir perimeter preventing this initial poor quality water entering the reservoir. Following the first flush the water quality improves.
Being able to divert the first flush would mean less contaminants in the main tank and fewer issues when this water is distributed, for example reduced blockages of valves and pumps etc.
First flush filters are unlike conventional filters in that they do not actually filter the rainwater as such. The first flush filters simply work by diverting a set amount of the initial rainfall to a drain and not to the water butt or storage tank. Once the initial rain has passed it and is running clear of contaminants it is diverted to conventional storage. The filter has a slow reset which means the next time it rains the filter is ready to divert. Clearly the filter reset time must be long enough so that if another rainfall event follows immediately after an initial rainfall event this water is stored and not bypassed.
Typically, first flush filters length of pipework -equivalent to the first flush volume contains a ball. During a rainfall event the first flush volume is filled initially, the ball rises until it seals off the first flush volume. At this point the rainwater should consist of T-fitting in the pipework. Assuming the T-runs horizontally as shown below, the vertical a be running clear and continues to run onwards to the rainwater tank.
Of course the first flush volume needs to be sized correctly so that clean water is minimised. There is plenty of research on the subject. A brief summary below:
People for Rainwater Japan states that according to research done in March - April 1980 on rainwater collected from the roof of an office building in central Tokyo, about 0.5 - 1 cm of rainfall was needed to wash the surface of the roof. Other research, done in August - September 1986, also in central Tokyo, measuring the degree of change in water quality in rainwater collected from a roof after a period of about 11 days of no rain, showed that water quality is generally stable after 1.5 - 2 cm of rain.
The MSc thesis: Sizing the First Flush and its Effect on the Storage-Reliability-Yield Behavior of Rainwater Harvesting in Rwanda (K Doyle, 2006 Villanova University) suggests that with "1 mm diversion after 3 days... water quality of the stored water will greatly improve"
Quantifying the First-Flush Phenomenon: Effects of First-Flush on Water Yield and Quality provides a detailed methodology of determining the first flush volume by selcting the contaminant removal efficiency desired. "A more sensible diversion is over 2mm which both calculation and simulation yield a removal efficiency of about 90%"
So for example if you have 100m2 roof area and wish to divert the first 1mm (0.001m) this is equivalent to 100 litres (100m2*0.001m=0.1m3 or 100l). So a first flush filter can be fitted to any 100l tank to achieve the desired first flush diversion.
Here at freeflush we have our own firstflush devices which can be fitted to any storage tank. Allowing the user to dictate the first flush volume. Get in touch to learn more.
]]>If you already have a water butt, or are thinking about getting one but have concerns that it may not provide you with the amount of water that you require, there’s a quick and simple solution available; join two together. Not every home has the space for a large water tank; water butts come in all shapes and sizes enabling them to fit around your existing design without becoming an obvious feature.
In theory you could connect as many water butts to each other as your space allowed by 'daisy chaining' water butts. This will not only store more water, it will reduce waste by diverting and capturing excess water that would otherwise go down the drain. Its worth pointing out that more water butts alone does not alone allow you to store more water. The diverter on your downpipe has a significant impact on the amount of water which can be diverted and so more storage won't always help. Optimise the diverter first so you're taking as much water from the downpipe as possible.
If you don't have an combined diverter-overflow and the excess water is simply pouring on the ground then consider an overflow kit and direct excess water back to drain.
So how do you connect two water butts together?
To join the two water butts together you generally need a water butt linking kit. This video below gives great detail on what you can expect from a standard kit, highlighting each component required to complete the job. The water butt linking kit can be purchased individually or when buying a water butt. If you're doing something a little more bespoke perhaps consider buying the hose and barbed hosetails separately to suit the job. You may require the right drill bit to do the job.
Some of our water butts have additional machined threads set up for linking more than one unit. The Prestige Water butts is a perfect example of this.
The next video gives a practical demonstration of how to connect the two barrels using the water butt linking kit, along with some tips that will help during installation. Whist it is assumed that the first water butt is already in place and connected to your downpipe via a diverter there is no reason that you couldn’t set up two water butts from the start.
There are no expensive set up costs, you can find a water butt designed to fit your space and if you already have one installed the connections to the water source will already be in place. Linking water butts couldn’t be simpler; if you’re running out of water when it is dry or if your overflow is in constant use when it’s wet, get a second water butt.
]]>
With good planning and the right components a rainwater harvesting system can be nearly maintenance free and the rainwater quality is ideal for many uses, in both the home and the workplace. A professional system will have 4 stages of cleaning rainwater. The infographic below walks through the process of rainwater filtration in a bit more detail focusing on:
1. Rainwater downpipe filtration
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Over the past few weeks in many areas we have again seen records broken for the least amount of rainfall. At Freeflush we stock water butt connectors, rainwater diverters and filters from various manufacturers; these all help to capture and conserve the water when it does rain. For a deeper analysis of filters and diverters read our blog here.
Water butts
Used to collect water from your roof, a water butt is an instrumental part in any rainwater harvesting system. The water will be diverted from your roof through the downpipe, into a diverter and out into your water butt. This is by far one of the cheapest and most effective ways of harvesting rainwater.
The water diverted from your downpipe is far better for your garden than chlorine treated water from your tap. Plus if you are on a water meter it’s going to be saving you money from the minute you install it.
Diverters
A diverter is a very simple device that connects directly to your drainpipe. As the name would suggest it then diverts the water from the drainpipe directly into your water butt.
A diverter will normally consist of the main body which will contain a leaf trap, a section of pipe either rigid or flexible to link your down pipe to your water butt, and a threaded coupling which is used to attach the pipe.
Installation
Water butts come in a variety of shapes and sizes so it’s always a good idea to decide where you want to put it prior to purchasing it. Your water butt will need to be placed on a firm level site; if the site that you have chosen is either grass or soil it would be a god idea to put a concrete slab down first. In the event of the ground becoming saturated, this will ensure that the water butt remains stable. Some water butts are designed with tap at the bottom and so must be raised off the ground with a stand. These maximise the storage but in windy conditions they can become unstable and easily blow away. Other water butts sit the tap above the floor of the water butt which ensure there is always weight in the base for stability and that no stand is required.
Connecting a diverter to your downpipe is something that you can quickly do yourself and will not require professional assistance. Most of the diverters Freeflush supply come with instructions detailing how to do this.
Most diverters require a section to be cut in the downpipe to allow the diverter to be fitted; it is important that this is measured correctly and carried out in accordance with template supplied. A hole can then be cut into the water butt and the connecting pipe can be fitted between the two.
A new generation of diverters have appeared in the form of the speedfit diverters. This kit provides all the parts and holesaw to cut directly into the downpipe. Watch the video here:
The diverter on your drainpipe should be fitted below the top of your water butt; that way when the water butt is full the diverter will act as an overflow and the excess water will flow back through the down pipe rather than over the top of your water butt.
An alternative installation to a diverter is to bring the downpipe straight into the rainwater tank and fit an overflow to the tank. The benefit of this method is that all the flow is captured until the water butt is full. The overflow should be fitted just below the top of the tank so that the outlet is completely submerged when the tank is full. The overflow is usually fitted with a length of hose taking to the excess to where it is required. A smart use of the excess is it to discharge it to a raised bed, planter failing that the closest drain.
Once complete sit back, admire your work and wait for the rain :).
]]>If you are fed up of the cold and wet weather then why not take a look at our latest infographic that reveals the warmest and driest places in the UK.
By using figures available from the Met Office, we ranked cities by warmth using a single combined metric based on maximum average temperature, dry days and total rainfall.
]]>By using figures available from the Met Office, we ranked cities by warmth using a single combined metric based on maximum average temperature, dry days and total rainfall.
Those living in London should slap on the sun factor as the English capital beat all other UK cities to claim the hot top spot. This is thanks to a maximum temperature of 15.3 degrees celsius, 256 dry days and only 557 mm of rainfall annually.
Other cities that made the top 5 include: Cambridge, Chelmsford, Worcester and Canterbury.
Come summer these areas will certainly need to consider rainwater harvesting given the looming hospipe ban!
On the other hand, those living in Glasgow should wrap up warm and always think about carrying an umbrella. The Scottish city has won the title of coldest and wettest city in the UK.
Glasgow has a maximum average temperature of just 12.2 degrees Celsius, experiences 195 dry days and receives 1,124 mm of rainfall annually, more than double the amount of rainfall received in London.
Those looking for warmth should also avoid St Davids, Newry, Leeds and Bradford. These cities join Glasgow and make the top 5 coldest cities in the UK.
Take a look at your city below and see how it compares? Are your surprised by the results? Only cities with a complete available data set have been included.
Use the interactive table below, pressing the arrows on the column headings, to rank cities by maximum average temperature, rainfall, dry days or our combined Warmth Index!
City | Max. Temp (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
Dry days (less 1mm of rain) |
Freeflush Warmth Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aberdeen | 12 | 815 | 226 | 0.48 |
Bangor (Gwynedd) | 13.7 | 1100 | 215 | 0.38 |
Bath | 14.3 | 814 | 234 | 0.58 |
Belfast | 13.4 | 944 | 210 | 0.42 |
Birmingham | 13.5 | 805 | 234 | 0.56 |
Bristol | 14.2 | 802 | 239 | 0.60 |
Cambridge | 14.5 | 568 | 258 | 0.94 |
Canterbury | 14.7 | 646 | 255 | 0.83 |
Cardiff | 14.7 | 1152 | 216 | 0.39 |
Chelmsford | 14.6 | 592 | 257 | 0.90 |
Chester | 14 | 726 | 230 | 0.63 |
Coventry | 13.8 | 700 | 242 | 0.68 |
Derby | 13.4 | 709 | 241 | 0.65 |
Derry/Londonderry | 13 | 853 | 195 | 0.42 |
Dundee | 12.4 | 722 | 241 | 0.59 |
Durham | 12.9 | 651 | 243 | 0.69 |
Edinburgh | 12.7 | 704 | 241 | 0.62 |
Ely | 14.7 | 1152 | 216 | 0.39 |
Exeter | 14.8 | 785 | 244 | 0.66 |
Glasgow | 12.2 | 1124 | 195 | 0.30 |
Gloucester | 14.7 | 843 | 219 | 0.55 |
Hereford | 14.1 | 665 | 250 | 0.76 |
Inverness | 12.5 | 733 | 222 | 0.54 |
Kingston Upon Hull | 14 | 680 | 242 | 0.71 |
Leeds | 11.8 | 1024 | 213 | 0.35 |
Leicester | 13.8 | 675 | 244 | 0.71 |
Lichfield | 13.8 | 675 | 240 | 0.69 |
Lincoln | 13.5 | 615 | 250 | 0.78 |
Lisburn | 12.4 | 902 | 210 | 0.41 |
Liverpool | 13.2 | 837 | 221 | 0.50 |
London | 15.3 | 557 | 256 | 1.00 |
Manchester | 13.2 | 867 | 213 | 0.46 |
Newcastle Upon Tyne | 12.1 | 597 | 256 | 0.74 |
Newport | 14.8 | 1077 | 230 | 0.45 |
Newry | 12.3 | 1019 | 198 | 0.34 |
Norwich | 13.8 | 674 | 242 | 0.71 |
Nottingham | 13.4 | 709 | 241 | 0.65 |
Oxford | 14.6 | 660 | 250 | 0.79 |
Perth | 12.8 | 811 | 232 | 0.52 |
Peterborough | 13.7 | 609 | 252 | 0.81 |
Plymouth | 14.5 | 699 | 256 | 0.76 |
Portsmouth | 14.5 | 699 | 256 | 0.76 |
Preston | 13.9 | 1034 | 212 | 0.41 |
Ripon | 13.4 | 643 | 247 | 0.73 |
Salford | 13.2 | 867 | 213 | 0.46 |
Salisbury | 14.1 | 749 | 243 | 0.65 |
Sheffield | 13.4 | 835 | 233 | 0.53 |
Southhampton | 15.1 | 779 | 250 | 0.69 |
St Albans | 13.7 | 712 | 247 | 0.68 |
St Asaph | 13.4 | 814 | 219 | 0.51 |
St David | 12.6 | 1138 | 214 | 0.34 |
Stirling | 12.9 | 1019 | 218 | 0.39 |
Stoke on Trent | 12.6 | 806 | 221 | 0.49 |
Sunderland | 12.1 | 597 | 256 | 0.74 |
Swansea | 13.5 | 999 | 217 | 0.42 |
Truro | 13.4 | 1061 | 214 | 0.38 |
Wakefield | 13.6 | 603 | 251 | 0.81 |
Wells | 14.6 | 709 | 243 | 0.71 |
Winchester | 14.6 | 747 | 249 | 0.69 |
Wolverhampton | 13.7 | 681 | 240 | 0.69 |
Worcester | 14.5 | 606 | 251 | 0.86 |
York | 13.6 | 626 | 248 | 0.77 |
Bradford | 11.8 | 1024 | 213 | 0.35 |
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Systems
There are various rainwater harvesting systems on the market today. These range from direct to gravity fed and move onto boosted and combi systems. The direct system is the most basic out of all of these, providing a simple design that captures and recycles the rainwater. The water is harvested from the roof of the property and directed into an underground tank or above ground tank ready for future use.
Boosted and combi systems will contain one or more pumps that take the water where you need it to be. Generally this is used to take the water from the main storage tank either above or below ground outside of the building to the break tank housed inside the building.
All of the above system will as a minimum contain a primary filter. This will prevent any debris getting into the tank and breaking down in the water. A filter can also increase oxygen resulting in clearer water. A secondary filter is usually include on the pump inlet combined with floating intake ensures only clean water is abstracted from the middle of the water column. Finally if higher levels of filtration are required then a cartridge filter can be added on the deliver side of the pump. To ensure there is always water available regardless of rainfall a mains back up unit is required which fills the tank with mains water if the level is too low.
Sustainability
More and more companies are looking to clean up their green credentials; rainwater harvesting is a great way to do this. Not only is it going to save the company money, it’s also going to dramatically reduce the amount of water used for day to day purposes. The amount of water that is captured by a large roof and diverted down a drain, when it could be captured and recycled is potentially huge.
Perfectly good water is being taken away from the property and processed water from elsewhere is being utilised instead. It doesn’t make sense from an environmental perspective, and it certainly doesn’t make good financial sense.
Applications
So what can all this captured rainwater be used for? As it is has not been processed it is not safe to drink directly; that however doesn’t mean that it is useless. The vast majority of water in a commercial property is used elsewhere; non-potable water could be a direct replacement for this.
Whether the water is used for flushing toilets, washing laundry, grounds maintenance, irrigation, washing vehicles, cooling equipment it all adds up to a huge amount of water.
Savings
Obviously the more people that you employ the more water you are going to use. This is where the greatest savings can be made. The cost of installing a commercial rainwater harvesting system is likely to be paid back within the first three to five years. In addition there are tax incentives to invest in water saving technology even more of reason to invest.
Commercial rainwater harvesting not only makes great financial sense it is also one of the best ways of doing your bit to help the environment.
]]>We were all then very quickly brought back down to earth by storm Doris, raging through the UK, causing destruction wherever it went. Any early progress was halted and much of any work already done was rendered worthless. However despite this initial setback, things are beginning to pick up again.
We are now into meteorological spring, a turning point for many that means we can actually get out into the garden again. As the snowdrops come and go, daffodils start to make an appearance and maybe even the odd crocus begins to flower, we know that we are nearly there. Seeds that have been bought and stored throughout the winter can be organised, and plans for the garden can be made.
Many of us will already have a good idea of what we want to get on with, having sat inside for the past few months plotting this year’s display or harvest. Whilst warm days in the garden may still be a few weeks away, there are plenty of things that you can be getting on with now.
Getting ahead on certain things now will save you time in height of summer when you’ll be too busy harvesting your produce, and tending to your garden, to do anything else. Now can be a good time to get on with some of the bigger garden tasks; things that will make your life easier throughout this growing season and maybe some larger jobs that you have been putting off.
Access to water is a necessity for any gardener; if you want your plants to grow well over the summer, regular watering is the key. If you have been using a hosepipe or watering can filled from a tap, somewhere along the line you’ll be paying for it, whether you’re on a water meter or not. Plus using water that has been processed and filtered, prior to making its way to your property, is massively unsustainable and a real drain on unnecessary resources.
A really good alternative to this, which can be installed on almost any property, is a water butt. With such a wide range available these days, all affordable and simple to fit, these are by far the most economical and sustainable choice for many home gardeners. Even if your downpipe or drainpipe is in an inconvenient location there are plenty of products, such as rainwater pumps, available to get things how you want them.
By installing a rainwater harvesting system you can put your water supply right where you need it. You can benefit from free water for as long as you need it and all for a small initial outlay.
]]>The infographic also shows which cities you are less likely to need an umbrella in. London has been named the driest city and is closely followed by Cambridge, Derry and Ely.
To make the infographic that bit more interesting, we’ve also created a table that looks at the total number of rainy days experienced by each city annually.
So take a look at your city below and see how it compares? Are your surprised by the results?
Regardless of whether you're in a wet or dry city there's always benefits to rainwater harvesting, check out some of our products here.
Revealed: The Wettest Cities in the UK - An infographic by the team at Freeflush
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But how can we, as individuals, do anything about it? The solutions are surprisingly straightforward. By making simple changes to our daily routine, we can contribute to making the world a greener place - and where better to start than in our home? How often we leave the tap running whilst we brush your teeth? This habit alone equates to 10,950 litres wasted each year! To put this into perspective, if the entire adult population of England and Wales remembered to turn off their taps, a whopping 180 mega litres could be saved- enough to supply nearly 500,000 homes!
So doing our bit to leave a greener planet for our children is probably easier than we think. Have a look at this easy to digest infographic which gives the perfect breakdown of how to start saving water (not to mention money!). Together, our small changes can have a big impact.