Save Water, Save the Environment

April 2006

In the UK an ever growing population and changing climate means water resources are under increasing pressure. Recent reports suggest a serious problem in the South East following a very dry winter and we’re all under pressure to think about how much water we’re using and how much we can save. We all know we can reduce consumption quite simply – fix leaks, don’t leave the tap running, don’t water our gardens or clean the car, and shower instead of taking a bath. But during the warm summer months most of us are guilty of using too much water for tasks like watering our lawns and gardens, and while we all want our homes to look good, this puts an enormous strain on local water supplies.

So why not consider collecting and using rainwater? This isn’t a new idea. Rainwater harvesting began over 4,000 years ago in the Middle East where runoff was collected in ditches for crop irrigation. Ancient Romans collected rainwater in underground cisterns and interior pools where it evaporated and cooled their homes, and today people all around the world still rely on harvesting water for irrigation and domestic needs.

Leading garden hard landscaping manufacturer Bradstone has developed an ingenious rainwater harvesting system meaning you can collect and reuse rainwater for non-drinkable uses, like watering the garden and flushing the toilet. The system works by collecting and storing rainwater under a patio. The water runs through the paving joints, through drainage channels or off your roof into toughened, loadbearing plastic cells which are wrapped in a water-tight membrane after being filtered through a geotextile membrane. The water can then be pumped out of the storage tank and reused.

The surface can be any Bradstone paving ideally laid on a bedding aggregate with large enough joints to brush in decorative stones as an infill. If you opt for conventionally pointed paving, the system can be used to collect water from downpipes or drainage channels.

Once installed, the system is easy to look after. It will need cleaning at least once every twelve months and the number and depth of the cells can be tailored to suit individual requirements. There is an inbuilt overflow system and if there is too little water the system can dry up without harm.

Marketing Manager for Bradstone, Paul Wagstaff, says, “This drainage system is already used in a commercial setting and is proving very popular for providing a solution to surplus surface water. In a domestic setting, this provides a sensible solution for rainfall runoff as well as giving people the opportunity to reuse water and, of course, save money.”