As flooding once again devastates communities across the country, the need for reliable, long-term defences to protect homes and businesses continues to grow.
But despite the government’s stated commitment to invest billions of pounds in flood defences over the coming years, a recent report has raised concerns about the apparently poor state of repair of thousands of existing flood defences and highlighted the impact which this could have on their performance (source: The Guardian: Swathes of England’s vital flood defences ‘almost useless’ , January 24, 2021).
Against this backdrop, the UK and Ireland’s leading water management solutions manufacturer, Kingspan Klargester, has announced it is relaunching its market-leading Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) product range under the AquaCore brand.
The company’s portfolio includes separators, attenuation tanks, rainwater harvesting systems, pumps and flow control devices.
Their robust construction, in-built monitoring systems, plus an optional service and maintenance package, all help maintain their efficacy and efficiency around floodwater management over their lifetime. As a result, AquaCore products, where eligible*, are expected to meet the current criteria for adoption by water companies under the latest Design Construction Guidance (DCG) introduced in April 2020.
All new specifications are supported by Kingspan Klargester’s expert advice, free site visits, and design support service. The products are delivered factory-fitted, direct to site, ready to go in the ground; a key feature where time is money on-site.
Kingspan Klargester’s announcement is expected to be welcomed by specifiers and developers as they respond to rapidly growing demand for future-proofed flood management systems that can deliver the central tenets behind SuDS; improved water quality, water quantity, amenity value and biodiversity.
Flooding is becoming an annual occurrence in the UK affecting thousands of communities across the country, destroying livelihoods, damaging properties, and tragically also claiming lives. As a result, architects, specifiers and developers are being encouraged to include surface water management schemes as part of their project planning under the UK’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Kingspan Klargester’s AquaCore products are proven, high-quality solutions that can fitted solus, or incorporated into SuDS Management Trains, to effectively manage water volumes and improve water quality.
The range includes:
- AquaTreat surface water treatment separators and AquaOil bypass light liquid separators and full retention light liquid separators
- AquaStore attenuation tanks for stormwater storage
- AquaHarvest rainwater harvesting systems (*note, rainwater harvesting systems per se are not eligible for adoption)
- AquaFlow water flow control device
- AquaPump to control the release of water on an application
Three products in the range, AquaTreat, AquaOil and AquaPump, are equipped with the Kingspan SmartServ Pro remote asset monitoring systems for effortless performance management. The systems were developed in line with Kingspan’s Planet Passionate initiative and provide end-users with email alerts of any servicing requirements or other potential issues. Kingspan can also provide in-house service solutions via our national service provision, to support the optimal running of its systems.
“Our expert team will visit the site and provide bespoke advice, tailored to the individual – often complex – needs of each project, working alongside any other techniques that are being employed on-site” advises Dave Vincent, Kingspan Klargester Commercial Director UK, Ireland, MEA and US.
“It’s also a concern to read that thousands of flood defences may not be being properly maintained. Flood defences, whether proprietary or natural, can only function effectively with proper care and upkeep.
“Communities at risk of flooding will want reassurance that any protective measures that are put in place will last in perpetuity, while specifiers and developers will want their schemes adopted by the local water company under the DCG. Our AquaCore range is supported by remote monitoring systems and we can include lifetime servicing if required.”