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The Problem
Increasing urbanisation, the destruction of traditional front gardens to make way for off-street parking and rapid run-off have put a tremendous strain on our storm water drainage systems. This has resulted in sewers becoming overloaded during periods of heavy rain leading to contamination of streams and rivers. Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, rubber dust, silts and other detritus are all deposited on impermeable surfaces during dry weather. They in turn are washed off in heavy rain into expensive treatment works, or directly into rivers and streams where they cause severe environmental damage.
the solution
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are increasingly being used to prevent run-off and flooding, and as a method of collecting, cleaning and in many cases re-using storm water. Formpave’s sustainable urban drainage systems allow surface water to pass through the Aquaflow permeable paving surface into a unique sub-base before being released in a controlled manner into sewers, water courses or the built-in water harvesting system.
The water collected is cleaned by filtration and microbial action and passed through the Aquaflow water harvesting system and can be used for flushing toilets and watering lawns and plants thereby reducing water bills by up to 50%. Their Aquaflow Thermapave system combines the technology of the permeable paving and that of heat exchange to heat or cool a property. This can lead to savings of up to 70% on annual fuel bills and a significant reduction in carbon emissions somewhere in the region of 50%. All of this can be done without a drain hole or soak away in sight.
Anyone now turning their front garden into a car park has to install a permeable paving solution under planning law. Digging up the garden for parking is a perfect opportunity to consider water collection and management, and heat exchange technology to reduce your carbon footprint and save on your fuel and water bills. Formpave are market leaders in providing innovative water management solutions and part of Hanson, the UK's leading supplier of heavy building materials for the construction industry.
