The 5th April was the first day of a hosepipe ban, under the Water Industry Act 1991, following the declaration of drought across parts of central and eastern England. The long-predicted changes brought about by global warming, changes to weather patterns, rising population densities, and greater abstraction levels from rivers have all contributed to severe water shortages – and given the severity of the situation, no one can predict how long the ban will be in place.

In response, Kingspan Water, the UK’s leading manufacturer of rainwater harvesting products, has introduced some new and innovative water butts, particularly suited to those with larger gardens and ponds.
Rainstore is a range of water butts featuring built-in pumps and hosepipe connections.

The Rainstore range includes 700 litre tanks – the equivalent of 70 watering cans full – and 1000 litre tanks, and are ideally suited for bigger garden plots, removing the need for multiple smaller water butts. What’s more the handy pump and hosepipe connector means no more traipsing up and down the garden, carrying a heavy watering can – saving time (if not the chiropractor’s bill!).

Contact Information:
Kingspan Environmental Ltd
Tel: +44(0) 28 3836 4400
e-mail: enquiry@kingspanenv.com

Fuel and oil prices are steadily rising, which is pushing an increasing number of people into fuel poverty and making home heating oil and diesel fuel into “liquid gold” and a prime target for thieves. So what can be done to safeguard your home or business?

Last week, BBC One’s The One Show was the first to bring this issue into mainstream national media. Farmers and homeowners have two concerns; how they safeguard their fuel supply and how they cope with rising fuel prices. They discussed various preventative measures for combating oil theft including; locking vehicles in a secure building overnight, installing security cameras on the premises, deterring thieves using a guard dog and even the “smart option” of a “Sonic Sensor” or Sonic Signalman as it is correctly known, an electronic fuel monitor.

Earlier this week, there was a feature on oil theft on BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s breakfast show, which included an interview with local businessman and security expert Roman Cooper from Allcooper. Again, the discussion highlighted, among other things, the value of using electronic wireless system for remotely monitoring fuel levels.

First alert for oil theft

In both programmes, it was clear that those interviewed had no knowledge of the theft of their oil until long after the event. Initially, their concerns had been raised when the radiators did not work – which led to the immediate and reasonable assumption that the boiler was broken and a plumber was called out. Of course, the boiler was fine but the oil tank was empty. The message here is check your oil and fuel levels regularly

The cost of oil/fuel theft

The cost can be high. Not only will the tank probably have to be replaced, as well as the oil, but there is also the cost of cleaning up. Sadly, oil theft may not be covered by home insurance There is also an environmental cost, which can be high as oil leaks not only pollute the ground, they can also leach into groundwater.

How Oil Tank Alarms Work

There are various oil tank gauges or oil tank alarms currently available. The latest technology or Sonic Signalman as we refer to it, can monitor the levels of either diesel in a fuel storage and dispensing tank, or kerosene in a bunded heating oil tank. It has GSM capability that can send text alerts to the owner if there is a drop in fuel or oil levels. This notifies of a potential fuel theft in real time. In other words, it provides a means for the owner to monitor, constantly, their oil tank supplies. The wireless electronic monitor is suitable for any existing or new oil tank installation, whether it’s a bunded heating oil tank or a single skin oil tank.

You may want to know if your oil tank is suitable for this technology. The simple answer is yes, any plastic or steel oil tank can be suitable, depending on the condition of the oil tank- in other words as long as there are no leaks or the tank is showing signs of wear or tear due to age.

Servicing and Maintaining Your Oil Tank

Clearly, with oil being such a precious commodity (and of course any losses can be devastating) it is more important than ever that your oil tank is in good condition and your oil boiler is working efficiently. With regular maintenance both will run more efficiently and cheaply. What’s more regular maintenance will prolong the life of the overall heating system. Through our Titan Accredited Installer Network we are offering a FREE, NO OBLIGATION survey of where your oil tank is situated and advise, if necessary, on oil tank replacements to help secure your oil supply.

To find out more about the free survey and the latest innovation in oil tank security, including oil alarm functionality and SMS text alerts, please contact Kingspan Environmental and talk to a member of our team email: enquiry@kingspanenv.com or call +44(0) 28 3836 4400

The innovative technology developed by Kingspan Environmental will be installed by Carillion Energy, in 20 oil tanks in homes in Dungannon, Camlough and Newcastle for a period of three months in a “pay as you go” pilot scheme to help homeowners budget for oil fills.

Charles Burns, Commercial Director, said, “We are delighted that we can road test our Fuelserv solution in our own back yard and that people in Northern Ireland could be the first in the world to see the benefits.

Buying the oil is a very simple process – you buy however much you want to use and Fuelserv then releases this amount from your tank.

All this is monitored by a small wall mounted unit inside your home, which will allow you to keep track of how much you’ve spent and how much you’ve used. For the householder’s peace of mind, there are also a number of anti-theft alerts and alarms built into Fuelserv, that we will also be testing.”

Jillian Ferris, Client and Stakeholder Director at Carillion Energy Services said, “We decided to team up with Kingspan Environmental to find a pay as you go method that works for people in fuel poverty as well as for those householders who want more control over their energy usage.”

Visiting the home of Tracey Doherty from Dungannon, where the technology is being tested, Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, said, “Pay as you go systems for gas and electricity have been around for some time and it is very exciting that the world’s first pay as you go oil metering system has been produced here and will be piloted in Northern Ireland.

For those limited in their choice of fuel, this technology has the potential to offer a means to budget for spend on oil and a chance to avoid the high costs of emergency drums. I am very keen to see the results of this pilot, and, if successful, will be looking at the possibilities for incorporating this kind of innovation into future energy efficiency schemes”.

Contact Information:
Kingspan Environmental Ltd
E-mail: enquiry@kingspanenv.com
Tel: +44 (0) 28 3836 4400

Sonic Signalman sends text alerts if oil or fuel levels drop, suggesting a theft may be occurring

Whether you live in a city or in the country, there is no getting away from worries about the rising cost of fuel and oil.

The cost and supply of fuel at the moment is of concern with possible fuel-tanker strikes looming in the UK. The government are advising the public to top up their tanks, and, according to news reports, petrol demand has risen by 172% and diesel demand has risen by 77%. Everyone is panic buying petrol and diesel in the event that supplies run low.

The rising cost of fuel and oil can make both appear more attractive to thieves.   In fact, there are a rising number of fuel and oil thefts being reported across the country, not only by home-owners but also by farmers and rural businesses.

Last night, Thursday 29th March, BBC’s The One Show discussed the impact this situation is having on rural communities across the country. It is clearly having a major effect on many farmers, who are now faced with two issues: how they secure their fuel supply and how they cope with rising fuel prices.

The One Show featured our latest innovation in fuel level management, referred to in the programme as “Sonic Sensor”.

The “Sonic Sensor”, or Sonic Signalman as it is correctly known, can monitor the levels of either diesel in a fuel storage and dispensing tank, or kerosene in a heating oil tank.   If the device detects a sudden drop in the level of fuel or oil – suggesting there may be a leak or someone is stealing the fuel – it sends an immediate text alert to the owner of the property. In other words, it provides a means for the owner to monitor, constantly, their oil or fuel stocks.

To watch the programme simply click on the link to the BBC i-player or copy and paste into a new web browser. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01f4zjj/The_One_Show_29_03_2012/

The Bond covers servicing and maintenance as required.

It is the longest warranty offered by any UK off-mains manufacturer and is designed to give peace of mind to Klargester BioDisc owners.

The hugely popular Klargester Biotec is also being covered, by a  FIVE YEAR BOND.

Both Bonds include a free initial inspection by a Klargester expert to evaluate the quality of the installation – existing BioDisc and Biotecs may also qualify.

The move underlines the confidence Klargester has in their top-ranking, off-mains products.

For further information, please contact Kingspan Environmental Technical Sales on 01296 633000 or visit:  http://www.klargester.com/service/index.htm

Speaking today at the launch of the campaign Kingspan Environmental Director Alan Wright said: “The debate about septic tanks in Galway has been very heated in recent months and we’re running this campaign to educate septic tank owners about how to maintain their tank properly.”

“There are over 36,000 septic tanks in Galway alone. Along with Cork, and Donegal this is the largest number of any county in Ireland,” he added.

“The Government will be introducing legislation for septic tanks very soon and we’re encouraging people to educate themselves and find out what state their tank is in and become septic wise,” says Wright.

“There is a lot of scare mongering and misinformation about septic tanks. Some people are worrying unduly about their tanks, but many don’t even know where theirs is,” added Wright.

“We are hoping this information campaign will educate people about what system they currently have, and give them the knowledge to make an informed decision,” said Wright.

There are four elements to the campaign:

 A public information number 1890 929 797,
 A website www.septicwise.ie
 A detailed information pack, and
 A septic tank inspection If people would like a service engineer to assess their septic tank and let them know what steps they need to take to make sure it is up to date.

Henley Rowing Club

The Biodisc replaced an ageing septic tank that had struggled to cope with the demands which the Club’s rising membership had placed upon it.

The Club, which was founded in 1859, moved to its current clubhouse on Wargrave Road in 1986.  Since then, it has grown from 50 to 300 members and the clubhouse has been extended twice.  This expansion had placed an intolerable strain on the existing septic tank and soakaway.

Nigel Read, chairman of Henley Rowing Club, says: “The septic tank just wasn’t viable as a solution any longer.  The tank and the soakaway were so overloaded that they were overflowing in the car park and entrance to the clubhouse and blocking the drains on a regular basis.  It was causing an environmental and health hazard as well as costing the Club more than £3,000 a year to empty and clear the drains.”

After assessing the club’s needs,  installers W.J.Hatt Ltd  recommended removing the septic tank and replacing it with a Klargester Biodisc and pumping stations to manage both the removal and treatment of the raw sewage, as well as the dispersal of the treated effluent.

Mark Hatt, managing director of W.J.Hatt, says: “Choosing the right solution required very careful consideration; we had to look at both the loading levels and the sensitivities surrounding the location.  The clubhouse is obviously sited right next to the river, so any tank and a soakaway would be sited within the water table.”

It took just three weeks to install both the Biodisc and pumping stations, but it has met all the demands placed upon it.  Furthermore, the effluent quality is high enough for the Environment Agency to have consented for it to be discharged directly into the River Thames.

Nigel Read says:  “The new system has been installed for five months now and is operating perfectly.”
Kevin Roe, Klargester Sales Director, says: “This is a good example of where a building has been extended and enlarged and the existing off-mains solution has been unable to cope.  Given the sensitivity of the site, upgrading to a sewage treatment plant was the sensible solution.

“The Biodisc removes more than 97% of sewage pollutants, and the resulting clear, odourless overflow is very environmentally-friendly.  The fact that the overflow can be discharged into watercourses with Environment Agency agreement has worked well in this sensitive, but challenging, location.”

The main contractor was Redwing Construction (Marlow) Limited.

Klargester’s expert team can help with questions: email info@klargester.com, call 0845 8732333, or visit Ask Klargester at  www.ask.klargester.com.
- Ends -

Representatives and senior executives from businesses and organisations across the UK heard presentations from, among others Noel Crowe, managing director, Kingspan Group’s Environmental & Renewables division, and David Anderson, director, Kingspan Environmental, who is heading up the new Service Network.  The audience also heard from Robin Weiss, managing director, Alro Services who spoke about “specialist, expert service available locally” on behalf of the main installer partners – all of whom were represented at the event.

All the speakers emphasised the value, high-quality of service, and convenience on offer for customers contracted to the new Network.

The National Service Network offers the complete package of maintenance, servicing, installation, design and consultancy for businesses with premises depentent on off-mains drainage arrangements, such as septic tanks and sewage treatment plants.

For further information, email info@kingspanenvservice.com, call 0844 6565 658 or visit our website www.kingspanenvservice.com.

National Service Network Partners receiving their certificates from Noel Crowe, managing director, Kingspan Group's Environmental & Renewables division

A new nationwide service has been launched today, aimed at UK businesses operating premises across the country, where some or all of the facilities rely on off-mains, private drainage solutions.

Chains of hotels, pubs, restaurants and businesses with outlets which are largely dependent on septic tanks or sewage treatment plants, often backed up with grease traps or pumping stations, now need to call just one number for a fast, reliable service.

The new National Service Network from Kingspan Environmental, the UK’s leading manufacturer of wastewater products, offers the complete package of maintenance, servicing, installation, design and consultancy for private drainage arrangements. The service is an expansion of the company’s popular and highly-rated Kingspan Environmental Service, coupled with its network of Installation and Service Partners. The Network already looks after the operation of wastewater equipment at more than 20,000 locations throughout the UK and Ireland.

Contracted customers will have access to a high priority, emergency call-out service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Highly-trained National Network Installers and engineers, based across the UK, will ensure a guaranteed four-hour, on-site response service. All off-mains products and brands can be covered as part of the service.

Customers will also benefit from clear, regular communication, and a comprehensive reporting process.

The service will be backed by Kingspan’s guarantee and tailored service level agreements.

“Having to find reliable service engineers in all four corners of the country to maintain networks of existing treatment plants, and who can be relied upon to turn up at short notice if something goes wrong is an unnecessary distraction for businesses,” says David Anderson, director, Kingspan Environmental. “Our aim has been to offer companies a significant reduction in terms of both operational and financial risks.”

He continues: “This is a one-call-does-it-all service, offering everything from emergency repair and replacement to the design of a new system and regular maintenance contracts. Our partners have been hand-picked for their technical expertise and customer service ethos. What’s more the service is backed by the Kingspan guarantee for complete peace of mind.”

Robin Weiss, managing director, Alro Services, who are signed up as a National Network Partner, says: “We are delighted to be part of the new service. This provides the twin benefits of local service delivery – using our installers who understand the area’s topography and environmental conditions, so can advise accordingly – backed by a national specialist in the field of off-mains drainage. It’s a win- win scenario for customers.”

The National Service Network will also offer customers additional services including tankering and disposal, safety checks, telemetry for remote monitoring and alerts, drain inspections and system training.

For further information, email info@kingspanenvservice.com, call 0844 65 65 65 8 or visit our website

To avail of this service please contact a member of our team on 0845 355 0555 or email info@kingspanenvservice.com