Graf UK’s rainwater harvesting tanks helped solve the cricket club’s watering problems.
The installation of the Graf UK rainwater harvesting system at Chiswick Cricket Club has resulted in three firsts.
Firstly, this is the first time that water consumption consultant Ecoprod has specified a Graf UK system. Secondly, it is the first time that water management systems contractor Jamie Vacher has installed a rainwater harvesting system. And thirdly, this project is the first of its kind in Middlesex.
Chiswick Cricket Club was founded in West London in 1853 and has recently undergone a major redevelopment in line with the English Cricket Board’s (ECB) emphasis on sustainability.
Part of this focus is on improving their facilities throughout the year without increasing their use of tap water, as well as thwarting the increasingly frequent occurrence of temporary water bans which mean that during a tap water ban, clubs can only water their cricket pitches.
By accessing ECB County Grant Funding, Middlesex Cricket approved a grant that will contribute towards Chiswick Cricket Club’s costs of installing a rainwater harvesting system, believed to be the largest underground system in cricket in the country to date.
Chiswick CC will monitor its performance through the end of the summer to better understand how rainwater harvesting on this scale can benefit a cricket club, with the potential for the project to be used as a sustainability example for the ECB.
Ecoprod were called upon by Chiswick to advise on a suitable system, having rebuilt the women’s changing rooms sustainably two years ago. Having met frequently with Graf UK, and also having the mutual knowledge of Prof Jacob Tompkins OBE as a consultant, they decided to specify Graf’s 15,000 litre Platin XL shallow underground rainwater storage tank.
It stores around 250m³ of rainwater per year from the main roof of the clubhouse, which is made of plain clay tiles, and from the rear and side flat roof extensions, which total 550m². The runoff is used to irrigate 900m2 The cricket pitch and surrounding grass area covers over 5,000m2.
Jamie’s first installation of the rainwater harvesting system took just six days from start to finish. A two-man team used a five-ton excavator and general hire equipment to dig a 9m long, 2.5m wide and 2.3m deep hole in the virgin soil in the outdoor dining area next to the clubhouse.
The tank is 7.5 m long, 2.2 m wide and 1.3 m high and weighs 710 kg and is then lifted by an excavator and backfilled with 40% of the sand that is under the top layer of clay. The remaining 60% of the sand is used to resurface the cricket pitch itself, eliminating any further wastage.
To complement the fully assembled Graf tank, Jamie added a water meter to the main water supply so the club would not have to pay for untreated wastewater.
Jamie was so impressed with the ease of installing the Graf UK system that he is now interested in becoming a regular installer of the Graf UK system.
“We were lucky with the ground conditions, but the installation was very easy, it was perfect to be honest. The Graf system really worked as promised. I had to contact the technical team on one occasion, about the water fill sensor, and that was immediately resolved. It was the best service you can get and a very good experience overall.”
He added: “I can really see the benefits of a rainwater harvesting system now. We just need to make more people aware of it.”
Ecoprod director and general manager Marcus Rose was equally impressed with his initial specifications of the Graf UK system.
He said: “The project has gone extremely smoothly, with technical support from Graf and excellent on-site operations from our appointed contractor, Jamie Vacher, so it will be a great case study for the England Cricket Board.”
He added: “Graf is now our go-to supplier for underground rainwater harvesting systems.”
Josh Knappett, MCCC’s facilities and projects lead, said that despite the extremely wet season, Chiswick CC and Middlesex Cricket were keen to understand the impact a rainwater harvesting system with underground storage would have on London cricket clubs as many were facing extreme climate conditions, alongside rising mains water costs.
“We hope that by the end of the summer, we will have a better understanding of Chiswick Cricket Club’s use of rainwater versus tap water for pitch maintenance and playing conditions. Anything we can do to support the cricket club, we will do,” he said.
In addition to rainwater, Platin XL recycled and recyclable plastic tanks are designed to hold substances such as wastewater, raw sewage, liquid waste, silage, slurry, grey water and blue water. This makes them an excellent choice for applications including firefighting.
The adjustable lid height allows for flush alignment with the ground surface, ensuring the tank fits perfectly into its surroundings. Additionally, the rotating tank dome assists in aligning the connecting channels, further simplifying the installation process, and the optional vehicle loading lid, ideal for installations below traffic surfaces such as driveways or parking lots, allows the tank to handle significant loads, ensuring durability and safety in high-traffic areas.
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