Green irrigation systems
As urban architecture becomes greener, living plants have become an integral part of the design process. Unlike traditional building components, plants, shrubs and trees require water and nutients on a regular basis. Access Irrigation, one of the UK's leading irrigation companies has considerable experience both in the harvesting of water and the application of water in the urban environment.
Green roofs
Green roof load factors mean that the compost depths and water storage capacities a very limited. During dry periods, the available water supply is quickly depleted and the plants will start to wilt and die. Access can provide irrigation solutions to both extensive and intensive green roof designs.
More information on green roof irrigation
Green Walls
Steep cuttings, bunds and retaining walls are often planted up to provide camouflage of the underlying structure. Because of the steep slopes watering of the plants is difficult and run off is high, so an irrigation system installed during construction is often the only practical way of ensuring the survival of the plants.
Green walls are also being used as decorative features, cladding walls that would otherwise have been plain brick or concrete. There are a number of benefits to this; biodiversity is increased and dust particles reduced; summer warming of the building is also reduced, while in the winter the green wall provides an additional layer of insulation.
Hand watering is impractical and on vertical structures very little natural rainfall will be caught. Irrigation pipes therefore need to be designed into the structure from the outset.
More information on green wall irrigation
Living Sculptures
These living sculptures are an innovative way of combining art and planting. This installation in Derby by artist John Packer is designed to attract insects, butterflys and small birds once they flower.
Each tower consists of a hollow core with panels of vertical planting. Each panel has its own automated irrigation supply, designed by Access.
To comply with the water regulations a break tank and pump unit seperate the irrigation water from the public mains.
Dust suppression
Many activities create dust, including mining and quarrying. Dust suppression schemes spray water over the road areas to ensure that vehicle movement does not create large amounts of dust.
Dust suppression systems can either be operated manually by remote control, or using time or weather data to operate the system.
Odour control
Spray systems over rubbish storage areas or slurry ponds have been shown to reduce the environmental impact of unpleasant smells. Spray systems can also incorporate chemical injection pumps to add masking agents into the water stream.
Rainwater Harvesting
With water becoming an ever more precious commodity, catching and recyling rain water has become the favoured option for many irrigation schemes, especially for customers with high water usage or the threat of mains water restrictions.
Unlike mains drinking water, the use of harvested rainwater is not restricted by hosepipe bans or drought orders.
More information on rainwater harvesting
Click here to download our revised and updated 'Access Irrigation Guide to Rainwater Harvesting'
