The house in Juniper Road, owned by Southend City Council as part of its social housing stock, has been installed with as many water saving devices as we can think of!
The retrofit of the property includes providing rainwater capture, storage, treatment and re-use equipment that will reduce the “blue footprint” of the house. Rainwater harvesting and re-use techniques not only improve flood resilience but also reduce mains water usage. This improves drought resilience.
Green roofs, using living plants, have been installed on the bike sheds, reducing surface water runoff as well as creating new and varied habitats.
A Hydraloop device cleans greywater from the shower, bath, and washing machine, as well as condensation water from tumble dryer, heat pump, and air conditioning. It can be reused for toilet flushing, washing machines, garden irrigation, and topping up swimming pools.
A climate resilient garden is designed to be colourful, low maintenance with low watering needs and year round visual appeal and interest. The majority of plants in the garden have been chosen because they are pollinator friendly and encourage the health and population of pollinator insects which are fundamentally important for nature and the production of flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Hydrorock is a natural aquifer system that’s installed under the ground. Made from natural mineral wool, it soaks up rainwater when it’s wet and then releases it slowly over time. It also irrigates the plants in the garden above, reducing the need for watering using mains water. At Juniper Road we have installed Hydrorock systems throughout the outside areas, collecting the water from the front section of the roof and porch. All systems are cleverly linked to provide resilience from surface water flooding and provide a water source for plants in the gardens.
We have also installed a large system in the highway verge. This absorbs drainage water to improve flood resilience during rainfall and stores the water in the upper layers for plants to use throughout the year.
A large slimline water butt collects water from the back section of roof and stores the water for gardening or cleaning. The water butt is also connected to the Hydraloop system so any excess water within the house can be stored for further reuse.