Waste water is captured and reused

The Glasgow central ready-mixed concrete plant at Jessie Street, Polmadie, features a highly efficient water harvesting system which means that mains water is rarely – if ever – used in the production process.

All the rain water which falls on the site buildings is collected and used. In addition, a water reclaimer allows returned materials and wash-out from trucks to be separated. The solids - mainly sand and aggregate - go back into stock for re-use and the water is filtered and pumped into the supply tanks.

Dirty water washed from the yard is also recycled after collection in a settlement tank.

At Bradford cement depot, mains water usage has dropped by 73 per cent after sustainability rep Chris Mason discovered and tracked down a long-standing leak and changed working practices to avoid the use of hose pipes for cleaning.

And at Barton quarry in Staffordshire the site team has introduced a number of changes to conserve water including use of abstracted water for high pressure washing and routine sand tests.