Water Sustainability

Eco-Smart Plumber is an initiative of the Plumbing Industry Association of South Australia Inc to assist the plumbing industry to meet the challenges of water and energy conservation by familiarising them with the issues, regulations, the rebates available to the public and the technological solutions available to improve the sustainability of the community by reducing the demand for water and energy within our homes without compromising lifestyle. Plumbers have a strong social conscience about protecting the community from disease by providing safe potable water and effluent disposal. Equally many plumbers have adopted Eco-Smart plumbing because they believe they can play a significant role in reducing our footprint on the planet and leaving a better world for all of our children. To learn more about Eco-Smart Plumbers and how they can help go to www.eco-smartplumber.com.au

Case Study

Brenton Key of Key Plumbing was engaged to undertake the plumbing for a new office warehouse project in Edwardstown. The architect in order to accommodate stormwater detention tanks within limited space had designed the building with the detention tanks suspended under the eaves. 3600 litres of stormwater from the roof needed to be detained and the steel support structure for the tanks would have added a significant cost to the project. Brenton immediately saw a cheaper and more effective solution for the warehouse project when he attended the July eco-smart product day. Freewater manufacture a slimline modular tank system which has been designed not just for rainwater storage but also as a detention system.

Brenton advised the builder of this option and he approved its use as a cost effective alternative. The width of the driveway and the area at the rear of the warehouse were too limited to locate conventional tanks outside. Sixteen modular tanks were installed against the wall of the warehouse between two steel columns and they only encroach a few centimetres into the warehouse floor space, eliminating the problem of lost valuable floor area. The detention system bleeds the water from the tanks through two 20mm pipes from the base at each end of the tanks. Overflows at the top of the tanks release the water if the tanks reach full capacity.

An additional benefit is that the installation is on the ground and no installation or maintenance work is required at height reducing safety issues and cost.