Great Abington: St Mary the Virgin

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Rainwater Saving Community Scheme

At Great Abington: St Mary the Virgin, the II* listed building presents an excellent opportunity for implementing a community rainwater harvesting system. As a historically significant building, The church can significantly reduce its water bills by collecting rainwater from its roof catchment area.

The harvested rainwater can be used for:

• Watering the church garden and grounds
• Flushing toilets in the church hall
• Cleaning church furnishings and floors
• Irrigation for community allotments run by the church
• Emergency water supply for community events

With the church's location in Great and Little Abington, the average annual rainfall of 600-700mm in the Ely diocese area makes rainwater harvesting a viable and sustainable solution. The system would help protect the historic fabric of the building by managing water runoff more effectively, while also engaging the local community in sustainable practices.

Benefits for Great Abington: St Mary the Virgin

Water Quality & Disease Prevention

Properly treated rainwater is safe for all intended non-potable uses at Great Abington: St Mary the Virgin. Untreated roof runoff can carry bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Legionella from bird and animal droppings, along with parasites like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Standing water in tanks can also harbour mosquito larvae if left unprotected. Rainwater Doctor systems are designed to eliminate these risks.

Every community scheme installation includes:

• First-flush diverters to discard the initial contaminated runoff from the roof
• Fine mesh leaf filters to remove debris and organic matter
• UV sterilisation to neutralise bacteria, viruses, and cysts
• Calmed inlet and sediment management to prevent stagnation and algal growth
• Mosquito-proof mesh on all tank inlets, overflows, and vents
• Routine maintenance schedules to verify ongoing water quality

The system complies with the UK Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and British Standard BS 8515 for rainwater harvesting. With these safeguards, the harvested rainwater is perfectly safe for garden irrigation, toilet flushing, cleaning, and community allotment use, giving the congregation and local community complete peace of mind.

Get Involved

Interested in setting up a Rainwater Saving Community Scheme at Great Abington: St Mary the Virgin? Our team can provide a tailored assessment and help design a system that meets the specific needs of your church community.