New £1million Eco-Depot for Water Direct

Earls Colne-based emergency water supplier Water Direct has announced further expansion with the opening of a new energy-efficient site in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Water Direct has invested more than £1million in the premises, including a complete refurbishment and the installation of solar power generation to the 13,250ft² building.

The one-acre site creates further warehouse and office space to house the company’s growing dedicated drinking water tanker fleet and Nationwide Bottled Water Bank stock.

The strategic central-UK location provides easy access to major routes and becomes Water Direct’s fourth UK fleet hub. The Nottinghamshire site also adds to the 20 existing Nationwide Bottled Water Bank storage locations, strengthening the company’s capabilities and reducing alternative and emergency water supply delivery times nationwide.

The site is currently undergoing refurbishment and is set to be fully operational as a customer-facing location in May 2019, with logistics and warehousing active in advance of the official launch.

As part of the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, the refurbishment includes the installation of roof-mounted solar panels, designed to generate an estimated 41,432 kWh per year. With typical SME electric consumption currently standing at between 20,000 and 25,000 kWh, surplus energy will be exported to the national grid through the government FIT scheme, helping provide clean energy to the local community.

The system comprises 180 Sharp 275w photovoltaic modules and has been designed to integrate seamlessly into the current electrical infrastructure with minimal interruption.

The energy efficient installation at Mansfield also includes the introduction of high performance, electric forklift trucks for effective loading duties and further reduced emissions.

Oliver Silcock, Head of Operations at Water Direct, commented: “Our expansion into Mansfield solidifies our offerings to clients in the area and provides us with a substantial base of operations for the Midlands and North of England allowing for a greater ability to respond to increasing contract demands. Having the ability to also put our own stamp on the premises has allowed us to take the initiative and start to really cut down on our carbon emissions by installing solar panels to self-generate electricity for use on site.”

For more information visit their website here.

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Photo credit: Water Direct