A forward-thinking project is underway in Shropshire, leveraging wireless technology in domestic water storage to enhance flood resilience. Backed by Shropshire Council, the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) initiative is rolling out smart water butts, supplied by SDS Limited, to businesses across the county as a proactive measure against heavy rainfall.
These innovative tanks are equipped with technology that continuously monitors the volume of stored rainwater. Crucially, they are programmed to automatically release water gradually in anticipation of significant downpours. This pre-emptive emptying creates essential storage capacity within the butts, effectively reducing the volume of stormwater that enters local drainage systems during peak rainfall, thereby alleviating pressure on rivers and mitigating the risk of flooding.
A recent installation saw a substantial 10,000-litre smart water butt deployed at the premises of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), a defence engineering company located in Telford. Matt Smith, the project's programme manager, explained the dual benefit of this deployment: "The tanks will collect and store rainwater runoff from the roof at Rheinmetall BAE Systems for industrial use on site. Simultaneously, the system is programmed to release this stored water into the drainage network just ahead of a predicted rainfall event. This coordinated action creates vital capacity to buffer the river during periods of high flow, ultimately helping to reduce flood pressure downstream."
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Adrian Stones, representing RBSL, highlighted the company's proactive approach to climate change resilience, stating that a recent expansion prompted them to better understand their vulnerability to environmental risks, including flooding. He added, "We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the River Severn Partnership and Shropshire Council for helping RBSL tackle flood risk on our site and to contribute to preventing flooding beyond our boundaries."
The RSPAWIR project is funded by a £4 million government grant secured by Shropshire Council to foster wireless innovation within the region. Mr. Smith's team is also actively engaging with local farmers to explore how this smart water butt technology could be adapted to protect rural communities and agricultural land from flooding.
"By extending the project to include the deployment of smart water butts to businesses within the River Severn catchment area, we are able to demonstrate the broad applicability of this principle," Mr. Smith commented. "It highlights how a similar approach to water management can be effectively implemented across both manufacturing and agricultural sectors to enhance flood resilience." He further indicated ongoing efforts to collaborate with other businesses in the Telford area that possess large roof spaces suitable for rainwater harvesting, signifying a potential for wider adoption of this innovative flood mitigation strategy within the industrial sector.
Neil Sewell, Director of Technology Systems at SDS Limited, said: “One of the great things about the Intellistorm® smart rainwater management system that powers these smart water butts is that it has the dual benefit of helping to alleviate flooding and encouraging rainwater reuse. Because it is smart, it can have its program changed at any point to either save more water, or release more, meaning the full volume of the tank can be made be use of.”
[Main image credit: Neil Sewell, SDS Limited]