Smart water tanks help Newport Rugby Club manage rainwater and reduce water bills
With the support of the RSPAWIR Newport RFC has installed smart water butts to aid grounds maintenance Photos:Jamie Ricketts Photography
Newport Rugby Football Club has taken delivery of a 25,000‑litre smart rainwater holding tank and installed smaller tanks on every downpipe around the club’s buildings in a bid to protect the environment and reduce water costs.
The digitally controlled system captures rainwater from the roof and stores it safely on site, helping to reduce pressure on local drains during heavy rain. When bad weather is forecast, the tanks can be managed so there is space ready to take in more water, helping to lower the risk of flooding nearby.
As well as supporting local flood resilience, the stored rainwater can be re-used around the club, cutting down on mains water use and making better use of a natural resource that would otherwise be lost.
A spokesperson for the club said:-
“Investing in smart water butts means the club can harness natural resources to support our grounds maintenance team, protect the pitches during the summer dry spells, and manage our water use more responsibly.”
The installation has been funded through the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) programme, which is supporting real‑world trials of smart, wireless‑enabled technology to tackle shared challenges such as flooding and water management across the River Severn catchment.
Matt Smith, programme manager for RSPAWIR, said:-
“One of the strengths of RSPAWIR is showing how advanced wireless technology can be used in everyday places to make a real difference.
“Installing smart water tanks at a community rugby club like Newport demonstrates how practical, affordable solutions can help manage rainwater better, reduce flood risk and benefit people and places downstream. It’s exactly the kind of real‑world testing that helps us understand what works and how it could be scaled up.”
The RSPAWIR programme, managed by Shropshire Council and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is one of 10 UK Innovation Regions. It focuses on accelerating the adoption of wireless-enabled technologies across water management, agri-tech, and public sector services within the River Severn catchment.
