Location: Gloucestershire
Developer: Linden and Bovis Homes
Size: 370 existing and 368 new build homes on an ex-RAF base
Purchased by Linden and Bovis Homes in 2012, Upper Rissington is an ex-RAF base with 350 existing homes within Upper Rissington village and Victory Fields is a community of 368 new build houses.
Challenge
Many of the water and sewerage assets serving the existing community at Upper Rissington had reached the end of their operational lives. As a result interruptions to supply were frequent and effluent discharge quality was difficult to optimise. The local sewerage infrastructure of the regional incumbent was also running at full capacity with any additional flows or loads requiring substantial investment.
Solution
We provided water and waste water services to Victory Fields and refurbished and adopted the old private water and waste water infrastructure in the village.
We began by replacing the leaking water supplies to private customers in Upper Rissington village, removing the old pumping station and abandoning the reservoir.
Where possible, we also installed automated meter reading technology across the site which enables us to use real time data to track usage and spot gradual or sudden changes in water use. This helps us find and fix leaks quickly and reduce further water wastage.
We also adopted local woodland and wildflower meadows to be managed as sustainable ecological resources and/or public open space. We adopted and managed the sustainable drainage systems and retention lake to ensure that homes are protected from flooding and to ensure that the quality of flows joining the local stream and feeding the non-potable treatment plant are maximised.
Kitchen sink macerators were installed in the new homes in Victory Fields. These collect organic food waste and take it to the onsite sewage treatment works where research into its use as a feedstock for energy generation is being carried out.
Results
Replacing the leaking water pipes, removing the old pumping station and abandoning the reservoir resulted in a total reduction in demand of 750,000 litres per day.
Victory Fields was one of the first developments in the country to provide both potable and non-potable water supplies into every new property. It offered dual benefits to the developer and customer including:
- reducing the use of natural resources by 25% to 27%
- decreasing water costs to customers by around 10% a year.
We continue to grow community engagement through the green spaces in and around the site and undertake green space management.