6 minute read
Pioneering sustainability in the water industry: Groundbreaker Systems leads the way
In this issue of Building & Facilities News, we would like to feature Groundbreaker Systems as the winner of our Industry Excellence Award in recognition of its innovative, sustainability-focused products that are transforming the Water Industry.
“We were thrilled to find out that we were receiving this award, it really does show to all of us at Groundbreaker Systems that our knowledge, experience and ultimately, our products, are valued and trusted by the industry to help solve problems. One of our core objectives has always been to minimise our environmental impact while delivering life’s essentials – like the water that flows from your taps. That’s why receiving an environmental award is especially meaningful to us,” stated Richard Leigh BEng CEng MICE, Groundbreaker Systems.
Founded by Steve Leigh in 1999, the company proudly celebrates 25 years of innovation and problem-solving within the Water Industry this year.
“Our team has over 200 years of combined industry experience, we are able to use this collective knowledge to quickly solve and bring to the market solutions to our customers problems. We serve niche markets, providing a range a bespoke solutions to the Water and Construction Industries to help them with reducing leakage, reducing water usage, improving data transmission range and improving how new and old properties connect to the public water supply network. Put simply, we provide smart solutions for water management and connectivity, with a heavy focus on improving water connections and flow management to domestic properties,” stated Richard.
Headquartered in the village of Stuston near Diss, Groundbreaker Systems also has a wider team and network of manufacturing partners spread across England, from Wiltshire in the south to Caerphilly in the west and Liverpool in the north.
Groundbreaker Systems delivers innovative, industry-leading solutions that set a new standard in the water sector. Its products go beyond quick fixes as they’re designed for durability, tackling long-term challenges with lasting impact. Backed by extensive industry experience and expertise, every Groundbreaker solution is either born from firsthand knowledge or developed in collaboration with industry experts. The result is a range of products that solve real problems and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of essential, often labour-intensive water service tasks.
Groundbreaker is probably the only truly SUSTAINABLE water management system, eliminating the need for joints on PE pipe and therefore creating a leak free system. We asked Richard how does the company incorporate sustainability into its products/operations:
“Sustainability is embedded in everything we do. We’re particularly proud of our NRv2 LoFlo range of products, these have been developed to help households reduce their water consumption by up to 12% in a way that is barely noticeable to the end user. Saving water, saving energy and saving CO2 through our products use is really important to us. We have also designed the product to be as small as possible, and allowing it to be installed as part of new construction and existing meter exchange programmes significantly reduces the environmental impact of its implementation.”
Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo is a surprisingly simple method of working towards current water usage reduction targets. NRv2 LoFlo regulates the level of flow entering customer premises – regardless of network pressure, meaning a reduction in the level of water used by customers when ‘variable use’ appliances are used. As the flow of water into the premises is limited, then the amount used by the customer is also limited – but without providing a degradation of service, and more importantly not requiring any intervention or behavioural change on the part of the customer, leading to ‘natural’ reduction in per capital consumption.
While some water companies are offering ‘environmental incentives’ to developers to build water efficient homes, and some local planning departments are insisting on water efficient homes designed to keep per capita consumption (PCC) to under 100L per person per day, this will not impact the consumption of existing housing stock.
The NRv2 LoFlo can be easily and simply fitted to any meter installation or retrofitted on meter exchange or when upgrading or remediating underground meter chambers. Thus, allowing Water Companies to manage demand with little or no impact on consumers and at minimal cost to the water undertakers.
A simple solution at approximately £20 per household, fitted on the normal meter exchange/upgrade cycle could instantly achieve the Governments recent challenge to Water Companies of saving 8 litres of water per person per day over the next 5 years!
“As far as the business operations are concerned, we have a short and local supply chain. All the businesses we work with share our objectives of minimising our impact on the environment. One supplier has recently expanded and invested in roof top solar power, significantly reducing their reliance on network power and incorporated on-site rainwater catchment to minimise the impact on the local community,” added Richard.
Groundbreaker Systems is excited to showcase its groundbreaking solutions at UW Live from the 20th–21st May 2025 on Stand: C22. If you haven’t already, you can register for the event here: register.visitcloud.com.
“This really is an opportunity for members of the industry to share any problems they have with water management and connectivity with us and to see how we can help them with our existing solutions or, to at least think about developing something new,” said Richard.
With a brand-new website expected to launch early June 2025, we asked Richard what strategic goals the company has for the rest of this year and beyond:
“The UK water industry is focused on the reduction of water consumption; the growing domestic water usage and population will leave the UK with a water deficit of 5,000 mega litres of water per day by 2050. One strategy for achieving this reduction is to rapidly expand the installation of smart meters. The Groundbreaker product range is ideal for supporting this role out – from Groundbreaker, housings for meters to LoFlo, flow regulators, for further reducing water use and waste.”
“In addition, one key aim for this year is to communicate to Water Companies the environmental and economic benefits of whole house flow regulation at the same time as a Meter Exchange programme, to enhance the savings that can be achieved prior to smart meter role out – there is more information for our customers on our website on this.”
Groundbreaker Systems has proven that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand. With products like the NRv2 LoFlo, which quietly reduces household water usage without affecting customer experience, the company is enabling real, measurable progress toward national water consumption targets. Its commitment to sustainable design, local supply chains, and long-term solutions – not short-term fixes – demonstrates how practical engineering can drive environmental change across the Water Industry. As the UK moves toward a more water-conscious future, Groundbreaker’s smart, efficient, and eco-friendly technologies are set to play a vital role in safeguarding resources for generations to come.
For more information, please see below:
T 01379 741993
