Improving Water Efficiency at Rochdale AFC
Despite the opinion that it ‘always rains up north‘, water is a finite and precious resource which must be carefully managed in order to safeguard the future.
On average, people in the North West use around 143 litres of water per person, per day. By 2050 we will be required to use closer to 110 litres per person, per day. To achieve this, it’s important that local people and businesses are educated and supported about their water usage and where efficiencies can be made.
Groundwork’s Green Doctors have been working alongside United Utilities since 2024 supporting businesses and schools to identify leaks and fix them quickly and efficiently.
In early 2025 Groundwork made contact with Rochdale AFC to conduct a comprehensive water efficiency audit and to resolve ongoing issues with water fixtures and the club’s irrigation system. The goal was to identify and fix water leaks, improve efficiency, and help reduce unnecessary water consumption and costs.
Assessment & Key Issues Identified
The initial assessment focused on the stadiums taps, toilets, urinals, and showers. While there were a few minor leaks, such as dripping taps and faulty toilets, the most significant issue was with the irrigation tank, which was found to overflow heavily during use.
The tank’s leak was described by the stadium manager as “like a waterfall” with water pouring down the hill and reaching the pitch, especially when the system was run during halftime.
Investigation & Repair
Upon further inspection, our plumbing team discovered multiple faults within the irrigation system:
- A failed ballcock/valve, originally suspected to be the root cause.
- A severely corroded metal mounting plate, which was lifting the ballcock and preventing proper shutoff, resulting in continuous overflow.
Videos and measurements were taken to document the damage, and the appropriate replacement parts were sourced and installed during the final visit a few weeks later. In addition to fixing the irrigation tank, the toilet and tap leaks identified in the first visit were also repaired across the site.
Impact & Water Savings
The repair of the irrigation tank is estimated to save 5,184 litres saved per day. Previously, the leak was wasting approximately 86.4 litres per minute while in operation!
Stadium Manager Kevin Lowe praised the work done by the Groundwork team, saying:
Working with Groundwork has been very good, bringing to light the issues. Even the small leaks can all mount up. I would highly recommend Groundwork to any organisation. Lattoyah has been very courteous and professional, and the plumbers’ work has been done to a high standard
Groundwork’s activity at Rochdale AFC demonstrates how identifying and resolving both small and large-scale plumbing issues can have a substantial environmental and economic impact. By addressing the leaks and fixing the irrigation system, the club has improved its water efficiency and reduced operating costs.
This project was possible thanks to support from United Utilities:
