A Rainwater Harvesting Package for schools, featuring the new RainBrain teaching aid, is now available from WPL, the wastewater solutions specialist. This fully automatic system offers a choice of underground or aboveground tank plus a filter, pump and controls from WPL’s Commercial Eco Range. The RainBrain digital display unit is linked directly to the system which can be installed inside the school so pupils are able to monitor the amount of water harvested and used on a graphical display panel. In addition to helping schools make dramatic savings in mains water consumption, WPL’s new RainBrain rainwater harvesting solution for the education sector also provides an opportunity for pupils to develop their understanding of sustainability within the school curriculum.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families estimates that UK schools spend around £70 million a year on water and wastewater services. Investing in water management systems, such as rainwater harvesting, can reduce this figure significantly, benefiting the school’s budget and environmental performance. Rainwater is collected from roofs, filtered and stored in a tank, then pumped into the school for various non-drinking or non-bathing purposes, such as flushing toilets, irrigation of school grounds or vehicle washing. As a further health and safety precaution for schools, the system can be supplied with an optional UV filter for additional sterilisation.

WPL provides a full design and advisory service to ensure each RainBrain rainwater harvesting solution meets a school’s individual needs in terms of storage capacity. WPL’s Eco Range offers a choice of high quality, impact resistant tanks for applications ranging from 13,000 litres to 200,000 litres. It also features the latest in low noise self-priming pumps. In addition, a floating suction pump inlet with a filter suspended beneath the surface ensures the water taken is at the optimum level of cleanliness. All systems come with direct feed, duty assist and duty standby pumps where required.

The RainBrain digital display unit includes a rotameter for measuring water flow and visual inspection, a digital depth indicator, which displays the depth of water stored in the tank and a digital use indicator to show the amount of water harvested and used.

Commenting on this latest initiative to help schools reduce their water consumption WPL’s Marketing Manager, Alex Best, says, “Water is an increasingly expensive resource and water reserves in this country are declining. Rainwater harvesting offers a simple, eco-friendly solution and with our new RainBrain package aimed specifically at this sector, schools and their pupils can all reap the benefits. Not only will it achieve a reduction in water bills, the information on the system’s digital display panel provides a valuable teaching resource.” For more information visit www.rainbrain.org.

WPL is an internationally recognised designer and manufacturer of high quality package and turnkey rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment systems and grease management solutions. The company also has ongoing service and support contracts with an extensive customer portfolio comprising the UK’s major water utilities, commercial and industrial users and all sectors of the domestic markets. WPL’s innovative solutions are all designed to exceed existing and proposed standards set by the Environment Agency, SEPA and other regulatory authorities.