Water Recycling and Harvesting System

The Need for Sustainable Drainage

 

Within the United Kingdom we appear to have plenty of rain, but our growing population and changing climate means water resources are under increasing pressure. When it does rain our hard landscaped urban areas and modern drainage techniques collect and transport water quickly which can often result in local flooding.

 

One way of reducing demand and saving money for metered water supplies is to collect and reuse rainwater, a technique known as rainwater harvesting, to provide non-potable (non-drinkable) water for activities such as garden irrigation and toilet flushing.

 

In an average household, non-potable water uses for gardening, car washing and toilet flushing can account for about a third of all water consumption throughout the year (a garden hose uses between 600 to 1000 litres per hour and washing a car with a domestic hose typically uses about 300 litres). Rainwater can be harvested to supply this need in a more sustainable manner and reduce metered water bills.

The Bradstone System

The award winning Bradstone System* utilises both hard and soft surfaces for collecting and storing rainwater that would otherwise have gone down the drainage system, into the ground or lost to the atmosphere through evaporation. This allows you to replace mains water with rainwater from your roof, patio or driveway. The collected water can be used for:

■ Garden irrigation

■ Car washing

■ Flushing toilets

 

The system operates by collecting rainwater, filtering out leaves and debris through the Bradstone patio, aggregates and geofilter, then storing it in a holding tank immediately below the patio (or, alternatively, a drive or lawn). Water can then be drawn off via a pump for use in a variety of non-drinkable applications as and when required. Odours are kept at bay by the action of incoming water which introduces oxygen maintaining an aerobic condition within the system.

 

The construction uses a number of toughened, loadbearing plastic cells which are wrapped in a water-tight membrane. These units are easily clipped together to form both the rain tank and the base to a garden patio or driveway and replaces the granular stone base in a traditional application. The surface can be any Bradstone paving laid on a bedding aggregate, but having large enough joints with which to brush in decorative stone as infill.

Benefits

■ Reduces the use of tap water for landscaping, car washing and even toilet flushing

■ Saves money on metered supply

■ Reduces risk of garden flooding

■ Chlorine free water for better crop and plant irrigation

■ Replaces patio or driveway sub-base

■ Shallow water storage construction negating the need for a deep underground recycling system

■ Recycles water and therefore helps the environment

 

For further information on the Bradstone Water Recycling and

Harvesting System contact the Consumer Helpline on 01335 372289.

 

* Best new product - GLEE 2005

 

Patent applied for