WET News

ADVERTisEmEnT fEATuRE Traditionally, and unlike other utilities, water service control has been left in the public highway; with meters being buried in boundary boxes located in footpaths or worse, the consequences of accessibility, leakage and maintenance are inevitable. Replacing and maintaining boundary boxes is time consuming and expensive, but there is an alternative greener , cost effective solution to install new or replacement water services – The Groundbreaker Water Management System - an insulated chamber above ground, which attaches easily and discreetly to the property at just above ground level in which sits a water control valve and meter. The UK water industry plans for up to 25% of treated water to leak from pipes every year, this equates to 120 TONNES of carbon which is valued at around £M9.5 per DAY, all of which invariably leads to DESIGN OUT LEAKAGE – WITH GROUNDBREAKER SYSTEMS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE T H E G R E E N A N D C O S T E F F E C T I V E S O L U T I O N T O W A T E R S U P P L Y M A N A G E M E N T For cost effective Water management solutions use Groundbreaker Why use Groundbreaker? P To remove the need for boundary boxes P To provide a platform with easy access for water meters P To save time and money P Contribute to Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM by allowing ease of water consumption monitoring. P To design out joints that may contribute to water leakage P Meet Secure by Design Criteria Co-located utility meters. P To provide multiple location options. P Water Regulation approved. P To reduce Carbon footprint. P Use on new or existing housing stock. P Low cost maintenance facility. P Compatible with barrier pipes P Can be installed at any time of life to a new or existing building Groundbreaker be used on: P Greenfield sites P Contaminated (brownfield) sites P Urban Regeneration P New build housing P Park homes & caravan sites For more information please call 01379 741993 or e-mail: sales@groundbreaker.co.uk www.groundbreaker.co.uk The quote - 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got' could not be more true of the traditional methods used to regulate water usage and design out leakage. increases in costs to the consumer. It is estimated that around 25% of this leakage emanates from private water service pipes (source: Society for the Environment) which were installed using "old technology". With this in mind, it is clear that 'what you've always done' is no longer the best and most effective way forward for the future. In recognition of the need for change, a joint statement from the Water UK / Home Builders Federation states that "all (new) water services should be without joints - joints being a potential site for leakage, with water meters above ground to facilitate smarter homes and other benefits." It is worth noting that joints on a pipe are wasteful, as connectors can cost the same as up to 40 meters of PE pipe! By "designing in" maintenance free systems, developers, landlords and utility companies should reap the benefits offered from the use of the Groundbreaker System for many years to come, enhance their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs – all of which score points towards the Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM and other environmental management tools. Compliant with Water Regulations, the Groundbreaker unit is accepted across the UK as a real viable and cost effective alternative to boundary boxes. Groundbreaker includes a high specification back flow prevention system and is accessible for the home owner and utility company alike, offering the best location for a smart meter, remote reading and control systems. Location of Groundbreaker box removing the need for a boundary box and reducing the use of joints and potential leakage Location of Boundary box

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