RPC SOUTHWEST - WATER
case study
Regional Prime Contract South West (RPC SW) covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset,
Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and South Hampshire. It is one of a series of
five Regional Prime Contracts through which the MOD maintains the Defence Estate.
Development on many of the sites incorporate sustainable development principles, one
of which is water efficiency – to minimise the total water consumption and promote the
re-use of water and the use of water efficiency devices.
Water Supplied from Borehole
Sustainable Water Supply at Predannack, Cornwall
Predannack, a satellite site to Royal Naval Air Station
Culdrose, is situated on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall
and occupies part of the West Lizard Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation
(SAC). The former World War II airfield extends over 350
hectares and serves as a helicopter and fire fighting
training facility.
Techniques to improve and conserve the local biodiversity
on site were investigated. It was determined that low
intensity cattle grazing would be the most effective
technique to maintain and enhance biodiversity.
Consequently, large areas of remote land were opened up
to grazing. With the increase in grazing it was also
necessary to provide a source of water for stock to allow
Detail of Solar Panel Powering Water Pump
grazing to continue during dry periods. As only a single
low pressure supply of mains water existed on site, novel
ways had to be explored to provide an appropriate water
supply onto large areas of the airfield with the minimum
of cost and disruption to the heath.
A feasibility study identified that a borehole with a solarpowered submersible water pump would provide a low
impact solution. This method delivers an environmentally
preferrable solution, as opposed to connecting to the
mains which supplies nearby isolated cottages and
hamlets and which would require more extensive work.
This solution has been adopted as best practice by MOD
and has been implemented extensively on site as funding
has been made available.
case study
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General View of Abbey Wood, Birstol
Rainwater Harvesting - Abbey Wood
A rainwater harvesting system is being installed at Abbey Wood (North) in
Bristol at the Oak Building (formerly known as Neighbourhood 5) development.
The new building, with a capacity to accommodate 600 employees, will collect
rainfall in a 15,000 L capacity system, and will be used for toilets and urinals.
Based on average occupancy and existing rainfall rates the system will save an
estimated 268,000 L of water per year, or enough water to take over 3000 baths,
and will eliminate the need to draw water for sanitary plumbing purposes.
Rainwater Harvesting - Bovington
Bovington Camp, located in Dorset, has been developed as a training facility for
maintenance and operation of the Terrier, a tracked armoured excavating
vehicle.
As part of the development, two new buildings were required – a junior ranks
mess and communal facility serving several hundred people per day; and a
building to house the Terrier simulators, and provide training and workshop
space for 65 people.
A rainwater harvesting system was installed on both buildings, each with a
5,000 L tank capacity. The system is designed to continuously meet the water
demands for the toilets and urinals in both buildings, with each tank providing
enough water for over 1,000 flushes when full.
KEY FEATURES
•
Development of an innovative and sustainable solution to water supply
issues
•
Adoption of the techniques more widely across the region
•
Rainwater harvesting system installed at two sites with capacity to meet
water supply needs for all toilets and urinals in 3 buildings
Version 1 May 2009
This is one of a series of case studies
produced by Defence Estates. For
details of other case studies please
contact:
Programme Management Team
Property Directorate
Defence Estates
julie.cannell@de.mod.uk