Rainwater Harvester saves water usage

National Energy Foundation saves half its water usage with Freewater UK Rainman Rainwater Harvester

The National Energy Foundation, a charity promoting the more sustainable use of energy, has recently completed the construction of the second phase at the National Energy Centre building in Milton Keynes.

The Freewater UK Rainman' rainwater harvesting system from Hydro International has been included amongst the many conservation features in this exemplary low energy office for 36 people.

Ian Byrne, the NEF Deputy Director, comments: "The Rainman system has proved extremely efficient, and provides up to half our water needs from rainfall".

"It is a valuable addition to our wide range of systems for exploiting 'free' energy from the ground and the sun, and contributes to minimising our running costs".

"It also benefits the local environment by controlling rainwater runoff in the spirit of SUDS".

The Rainman installation at the NEF is a Standard T modular package system complete with self-cleaning inlet filter, pipework and submersible pump, with a 3300 litre polyethylene storage tank buried in the landscaped office grounds, which collects water from the roof.

This is connected through standard ducting pipework to the building and via a small control panel to provide water for flushing the toilets and watering plants and lawns.

One wet day fills the tank and provides enough water for about three weeks office use, but there is also an automatic mains water inlet, which is used to maintain water levels in the storage tank, if rainfall levels get too low.

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