Saving water-life from water
Posted: Tuesday 2nd September 2008
The problem of contaminated rainwater from highways running into streams and rivers and killing water-life has been solved by a British company.
Powered by the sun and wind, the device from Chichester-based WMEC Limited can stand at any isolated point in the countryside ready to automatically check and correct water quality and make it safe before it reaches Britain’s waterways.
Contaminates left by vehicles, and alkaline from the limestone substrate used in road building, drain into ponds that are built alongside motorways and dual-carriageways. These ponds capture all road run-off, together with pollutants coming from a major spillage in the event of an accident. Water flows from the ponds over sluice gates before entering local streams and rivers.
The WMEC unit constantly monitors the pond water ready to automatically release decontaminates that will neutralise around 75,000 litres of water a day, keeping it within legal limits and safe for the waterways.
Powered by a wind turbine and photovoltaic solar panel, the unit is backed by an energy store, and whilst fully automatic, it can also be monitored remotely.
Having found a solution to the problem of keeping watercourses safe whilst leaving an insignificant carbon footprint, WMEC has already won orders for three units and foresees interest from across the UK and overseas.
WMEC specialises in the manufacture of equipment for decontaminating water used in industrial, agricultural and chemical processing, ready for safe re-use or disposal.
With water a scarce resource, the company finds ready customers worldwide.
