Beating the bugs in water supply and harvesting

Polypipe’s rainwater storage aims at cost savings and environmental benefits as well as antibacterial effectiveness.

Two manufacturers of water-contact plastic products have adopted antimicrobial silver additive protection technology from Stafford-based Biomaster.

Market Harborough-based Colex International uses the protection in its Water Regulations Advisory Scheme-approved NeuVend SI flexible hosepipes for potable water supply, to counter what it describes as “the enhanced health risks from microbial organisms within the potable water supply system.”

A Colex spokesman says: “There have been increasing concerns in recent years regarding the potential for leaching of chemicals into water supplies when using certain types of flexible hose. Where this occurs there is a greater risk of bacteria forming biofilms which can harbour harmful organisms.”

NeuVend SI is cited as suitable for use in all potable water supply applications, especially where the Biomaster protection makes a critical difference. Colex mentions as examples aviation, dental clinics, hospitals, HVAC, leisure, nursing and care homes.

Doncaster-based Polypipe, a manufacturer of plastic sustainable drainage and water management products, offers its Rainstream RXL high-volume water storage tanks as a response to “the growing need for sustainable rainwater re-use systems.” The tanks are available with an optional antibacterial lining and have been engineered using the same technology as Polypipe’s already popular Ridgistorm-XL large-diameter pipes.

The Rainstream RXL tank’s modular design allows any storage capacity to be created, says the company. It features an integral pre-storage filter with a view to eliminating the need to make connections between the chamber and the tank. The design aims to provide the same functionality as large-scale GRP sub surface tanking. In most cases it can be installed using a single-sized granular backfill, as opposed to a more costly concrete support structure. With no need to fill the tanks with water during installation to balance stresses, according to Polypipe, “tens of thousands of litres of water can be saved.”

Darren Crane, national sales manager for rainwater harvesting at Polypipe says: “Rainstream RXL has been designed and developed to help specifiers, engineers and contractors achieve significant cost and environmental savings too.”

Both Biomaster users cite independent confirmation of the efficacy of Biomaster in their products. For both NeuVend SI and Rainstream RXL products, proven effectiveness is quoted against Pseudomonas, E. coli, Legionella and MRSA. Polypipe additionally mentions ISO 22196:2011 as the test standard, and the elimination of Listeria and Campylobacter.

Biomaster is claimed to be “especially effective where there is infrequent use of the water supply in warm conditions.”

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