Rheinmetall BAE Systems, based in Hortonwood, has been supported by the RSPAWIR to install a water tank capable of holding 10,000 litres of rainwater.
The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) has enabled the installation of an industrial scale smart water butt at a defence engineering company in Telford.
Rheinmetall BAE Systems, based in Hortonwood, has been supported by the RSPAWIR to install a water tank capable of holding 10,000 litres of rainwater.
The tanks are fitted with smart wireless technology which allows water to be stored and used about the business, or to empty under controlled release ahead of heavy rain, creating more storage and easing local flood risk.
Matt Smith, programme manager for the RSPAWIR, led by Shropshire Council, said: “The RSPAWIR is working in the catchment of the River Strine, just north of Telford, where our partners Cranfield University are collaborating with 10 farmers to combine a predictive weather model with on farm reservoirs to help manage water but also reduce the likelihood of flood events downstream.
“By extending the project to include the smart water butts to businesses in the catchment area we are able to demonstrate how a similar principle could be applied to manufacturing as well as to agriculture.
“The tanks will collect and store rainwater off the roof at Rheinmetall BAE Systems for industrial use on site and are programmed to release it into the drainage system just ahead of a rainfall event so there is capacity to take pressure off the river when needed.”
Adrian Stones, environmental and sustainability specialist at RBSL added: “The expansion of the RBSL factory at Hadley Castle had driven the business to understand how resilient it is to climate change and in particular, flood defence. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the River Severn Partnership and Shropshire Council for helping RBSL tackle flood risk and to assist with preventing flooding beyond our site.”
Matt added: “The RSPAWIR has been working with Telford and Wrekin Council for the installations and we are looking to extend our offer to businesses in Newport, Edgmond, Lilleshall, Kynnersley and Preston upon the Weald Moors and Hortonwood/Donnington areas, with large roof spaces of more than 100sqm.”
To find out more email matt.smith@shropshire.gov.uk
Notes: The RSPAWIR, managed by Shropshire Council, has been awarded £4m of funding from the Department of Science, Industry and Technology, to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in some of its key economic sectors.
The Partnership comprises the eight English and Welsh councils that cover the River Severn catchment area including Shropshire Council, and is one of 10 UK Innovation Regions to gain funding.
The RSPAWIR will focus on accelerating the adoption of advanced wireless enabled technologies across three sectors which have particularly strong roots in the River Severn catchment area:-
Water management
Agri-tech
Public sector
