Exhaustive testing and intensive development have brought about one of the highest quality pumps available on the market and the only one manufactured in the UK. With the strapline ‘Quality under Pressure’, the new HydroForce pump has been designed with a number of important features.

Perhaps the most important of these is the alloy bulkhead, pressure release gap and twin chamber design which prevents ingress of water to motor, electrical components and to bearing oil, and for which a patent has been applied for.

Other key features are that it is pressure sensitive (it turns itself off until there is a demand for water); it’s dry-run protected (it turns itself off when no water is detected); and it comes complete with factory fitted filter, connectors and non-return valve.

I shall try not to make too many sales pitches in this blog, but when a great product comes along I will tell you about it!

The Water Companies have issued a revision to the guidance for pipe colours for Water Re-use Systems. You can download the document from
http://www.wras.co.uk/PDF_Files/IG N%209.02.05%20version%203%20Sept%202011.pdf

When you think about it, an underwater pump is a fast moving powerful 240v electric motor operating in a totally unsuitable environment. Electricity and water do not mix too well; the casing is subject to variable pressures inside and out; the motor has to stay cool; the electronics have to stay dry; the highly pressurised lubricant must not leak; it must pump water up in the air to 35 metres – yet not use much power. A tall order for a product that is expected to retail competitively below £300.

British engineers at HydroForce Ltd have taken just such a European built pump and completely redesigned it. Taking each technical issue one by one and engineering a sustainable solution, they have built an entirely new water pump that will outperform in the toughest environments.

Just take a look at the product features:

• Pressure sensitive so the pumps starts when a tap or hose is turned on
• Dry-run protected so that the motor stops if the water runs out
• Non-return valve so pumped water does not flow back
• Twin chamber and Pressure Release Gap so that internal pressures do not burst the bearing seals
• Factory fitted Filters and Connectors so you know they are right for the job
• Sealed Electronics so they don’t get wet
• Alloy bulkhead for ultimate strength and rigidity
• Individually tested so you know your pump has been checked before you get it
• British design and build (their engineers also build racing cars)

HydroForce™ Series 3 is an 800 watt rainwater harvesting pump you can couple up, lower into a tank and rely upon. It is a big heavy duty clean water pump weighing in at 13 kilos and measuring 565mm long. Tough, tested and suitable for rainwater harvesting tanks both below and above ground.

You can read more about the pump at the HydroForce Ltd web site and you can buy at good rainwater harvesting distributors like rainwaterharvesting.co.uk.

Trade or consumer – if you want immediate information, just call HydroForce Ltd., Peterborough, England direct on 0800 074 7234 or +44 1733 405100

1) How would you describe the current state of sustainability development within the UK? How does the successes of rainwater harvesting fit into that current state?

Marcus>>> Poor. More talk than action from the government. The Code for Sustainable Homes is adequate but, despite instructions from Govt, local councils do not impose it as part of the planning application. There should be a balance between stick and carrot. There is neither in the UK.

2) How intrinsically linked is the relationship between growth within the construction industry, and wider economy, and the investment into eco technologies?

Marcus>>> When an aconomy is thriving, builders and owners can afford the extras. Right now they can”t so see (1)

3) In your opinion, does greater sustainability provide an answer for the future health of UK water resources?

Marcus>>> Yes. No-one realises the degree of stress UK water supply is under. Did you know that over 99% of rainfall in the UK flows to the sea. There is little room or capital for new reservoirs. Rainfall is falling in the UK (see tab 2 of the attached tank size calculator of ours). So rainwater harvesting off the roof of every building is essential for a sustainable housing future. Not just an option.

4) How much responsibility lies with the government and water suppliers in promoting these sustainable initiatives to the general public?

Marcus>>> Well, all of it. If the govt and suppliers do not inform the industry and the publuic who else can? Our industry’s turnover is too small to permit impactful campaigns at this level.

5) What barriers do you think are significant in holding back the full embracing of sustainable practices regarding water?

Marcus>>> Govt and water suppliers. Installing rainwater harvetsing equipment is cheap, certainly cheaper than solar PV, solar hot water and wind power. Say £2000 for the equipment and negligible installation cost in a new build, so that’s not the obstacle. The householder saves half their water bill. That’s not the obstacle. Clean and plentiful water off the roof for non-potable use. That’s not the obstacle.

5a) Are these barriers financial? Or, do these barriers come from other sources?

Marcus>>> No. It’s just because the water stress has not come onto government’s radar. Our industry’s lobby has got to be better. Civil servants and water companies that believe in the need must be more open and forceful in their arguments.

6) How would you say the promotion and prioritising of ’saving water’ is ranked in comparison to other key initiatives such as recycling or alternative green energy sources?

Marcus>>> Low. The stress in water supply is not understood.

7) How has the industry changed regarding rainwater harvesting in recent years? Do you feel you have more support from the government environmental policy? How beneficial will schemes, like the Code of Sustainable Homes, be in the future success of rainwater harvesting?

Marcus>>> As above, the Code is fine but it has to be enforced. Noone takes those steps in a new building unless they are forced. insanely rich or insanely altruistic.

In your opinion, do you think the UK uptake into rainwater harvesting has been slower than other western countries? If so, why is this the case?

Marcus>>> Yes, hugely slower. West Germany had subsidies and tax incentives for rainwater harvesting since shortly after WW2. Only France lags behind (and they have plenty of mountain water).

There is a big jump to be made from the 200 litre butt to larger capacity tanks. But a hose full on can use 1000 litres an hour. Hopefully most gardeners now are aware that using a garden spray is a wasteful and ineffectual method of irrigation and that drip methods are far more economical in water use. But better irrigation methods will still need a lot of water in a prolonged dry spell.

Obviously the bigger the tank, the less likely is the rainwater to run out in a dry spell. However the amount of collectable water is limited by the surface area of the roof draining into it. You can find at www.RainWaterHarvesting.co.uk an online tank size calculator into which variants such as roof size, geographical location and the uses to which the rainwater will be put are fed. For homeowner use, tanks will typically range from 2000 litres to 7000 litres.

Above or Below Ground tanks for Garden and Outdoor Use
For garden and other outdoor use, above ground tanks are a cheaper and easier option than below ground tanks, mainly because installation is cheaper as there is no hole to be dug. In hot weather, the rainwater will go off, but this is not a concern for irrigation. The simplest kit with a British-made Balmoral 7270 litre tank, pump and a filter for the downpipe currently costs just over £1800. No hole is needed but lifting equipment is necessary.

Underground tanks have two great advantages over above ground models: the rainwater stays cool and fresh (no bacterial action takes place under 12 degrees) and the tank is both out of view and frees up space. A comparable kit with the German GRAf Carat tank 6500 litres model costs just over £2600. As it comes in two halves and is assembled on site, it does not need lifting equipment. With a height of 2.7 metres, it requires a substantial hole but does not need concreting in unless there is a very high water table. The one piece GRAF Platin tank 5000 litre model is only just over 1.2 metres in height and suitable for locations where a deep hole cannot be dug. For both GRAF tanks, the filter is self-cleaning and is installed in the turret of the tank rather than in the downpipe.

Using Rainwater during Water Shortages
The new Flood and Water Management Bill that came into force in April 2010 gave water companies the right to impose stricter rules during water shortages. Before this Bill, hosepipe bans covered irrigation and washing private cars, but now extends to include amongst others, topping up pools, hot tubs, ornamental ponds and fountains whether with hosepipes or permanent plumbing. A drought order prohibiting topping up can be imposed at any time. However, with a large capacity tank, there is the chance of being able to continue using these facilities just when they are most wanted.
A typical 10 x 5 metre pool kept covered will lose @ 30 litres a day through evaporation. In a 2 month drought that is @ 2000 litres. This figure could well be much more, bearing in mind continual use of a pool in a long dry spell. If rainwater is to be used to top up swimming pools then an underground tank should be used.

Rainwater Harvesting Products and Information rainwaterharvesting.co.uk

The organic matter in the roof, when wet, will be putting discoloured water into the underground tank. It’s warm on the roof and the natural bacteria will be chugging along, multiplying. Another example of the “tea bag effect”. For garden watering this is not a problem but I would recommend you give serious thought to abandoning a sedum or grass roof when using the water for toilets and washing machine.

Secondly, the amount of water available in the tank will be much less. Estimates of the amount of rain absorbed by a sedum or grass roof, and then evaporated back into the atmosphere whence it came, are between 50 and 75%. So a British home which would have provided 150,000 litres a year, enough for all the toilet, washing machine and garden use, will be limited to half that. More mains water bills. Less defence against hosepipe bans.

If any reader has experience of sedum roof with harvesting I would be very grateful for feedback.

Mr Gunn of Bedford phones our help line to say the ironed clothes smell a bit musty… yes, as hundreds of thousands of British homes they use rainwater for washing clothes as well as for flushing the toilets and watering the garden.

I discussed his installation with him by phone and he said he had made baffles in his gutters to prevent the leaves from getting down into the underground rainwater storage tank. However, this is probably what caused the problem. Retaining leaves in the rainwater flow enables them to continue to fester, if bacteria are present, which we call the “tea bag effect”. Remember that bacteria from animal and vegetable matter get active at normal UK spring and summer air temperature, say above 15°C. So these leaves on the roof gutter were quietly working away and putting bacteria into the water flow. In the cool of the ground, more like 10°C, the bacteria die.

Let me know if you want pictures of what to avoid up on the roof!

With low rainfall until mid June 2011 the concentration of not-so-nice water was probably dominating the small quantity of water in the underground tank.

The other issue is his use of mains water to keep the rainwater for the garden. Quite right in normal circumstances, but with the not-so-nice water stagnant in the tank even the low temperature might not have been enough to overcome the bacteria. Some more reading matter on rainwater quality if you are interested is here at http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/advisory-information.php

Solutions:
1) Remove the leaf baffles and let the water push the leaves across the Optimax filter and to soakaway. Get rid of the leaves from the system and from the water flow.
2) Pop a chlorine tablet in the underground tank to kill anything that might be there. After the bacteria have gone thisb treatment will not need to be repeated.
3) Until the water and the ironing smell fresh, use both rainwater and mains water habitually, to ensure the tank water is circulated.

Hope this helps someone out there! No chicken wire in the gutters. No perforated plugs in the tops of the downpipes. Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow.

Marcus

Why rainwater filters from Australia? Well, that is the real home of rainwater harvesting. The water collection and storage issues they have faced over the years make our occasional droughts look like brief moments between showers.

The new filters are stocked by Rainwater Harvesting Ltd and are available to both trade and consumer buyers.

Take the Rain Harvesting Pty Ltd Leaf Eater Ultra™. It is a simple and effective downpipe filter which throws the leaves and debris out the side and lets clean water down the downpipe. And its great value. The Leaf Eater Ultra™ uses the Leaf Slide which deflects debris away from the screen and a precisely angled  screen which directs leaves and debris away from the flow of water to maximise catchment efficiency.

Or the Downpipe First Flush Water Diverter that will improve water quality and reduce tank maintenance. It works by preventing the first flush of water, which may contain roof contaminants, from entering the tank. This helps to ensure cleaner water is available for use, protecting rainwater pumps and internal household appliances such as clothes washing machines, toilets, hot water systems, etc.

Over the past 20 years, the Rain Harvesting Pty Ltd has developed its brand and range of products to attain the marketleadership in the Australian sustainable water systems industry. They offer a range of products all designed to collect, store and distribute higher volumes of cleaner water for all homes. Their specialty is in water catchment, storage, insect/pest control, and leaf and debris removal systems. RainWaterHarvesting.co.uk is pleased to bring these products to Europe at prices often better than equivalent products from manufacturers here, and we are holding stock at our UK Peterborough warehouse.

Happily, the Building Regs and the Code for Sustainable Homes mean that developers of new buildings of any type must show how they are going to reduce the amount of mains water used by the occupants. The most obvious and practical way is for the collection of rainwater off the roof for non-potable use like flushing toilets, washing clothes and outdoors. Such usage cuts in half the amount of mains water use and the vast majority of buildings in the UK (but less in the case of apartment blocks) have a roof big enough to provide the amount of rainwater needed to reduce the use of mains water by half. Tank size calculators, based on the British Standard BS 8515 and the Code, are available from major suppliers of equipment for use by home owners, contractors, architects and developers, for example at http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/calculator.php

You can see the full statistics in tabular form in the press release we put out on theis subject:

http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/newsletters/rainfall_shortage_press_release_29mar2011.doc

Happy Harvesting!

Marcus

The one day courses are likely to appeal to architects, contractors, plumbers, merchants, resellers and specifiers of the latest rainwater systems. The courses are informal and set to run on two dates:  Tuesday 5 July and Tuesday 6 September from the company’s HQ in Peterborough off the A1 about an hour an half from London. Other dates can be arranged for groups.

A typical course will run from 10am to 3pm and cover a broad range of vital information to include : How to handle client enquiries and assess the needs of the site; How to use the tank size calculator so that from the roof size, rainfall in the area and the number ofpeople using the building you can establish the ideal tank size according to the British Standard BS8515-
2009 and the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes; How to make a full scale quote or how to get one, tailored to your client from Rainwater Harvesting Ltd; How to access our professional documentation such as tank size calculations for clients, engineering drawings of tanks, technical information, installation instructions, regulatory and environmental data;
Why tanks should normally be underground, which ones can be above, and how the filter, pump and mains water backup works… oh yes, and what about direct feed against gravity feed in the building? And find out about delivery, off loading, assembly, digging, installing, piping, wiring, pre- and post-sale support.

There are many more subjects covered and time for questions ans answers. For a full list of the course contents, access to an enrolement form and contact information, visit the info page on the company’s  website rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/training-days