The new pump house is a crucial element in an overhaul of the campus water infrastructure, which will protect the future resilience of the water supply.
A new pump house and replacement water pipes on the University of Sussex campus will improve the reliable supply of water to students and staff and add capacity to accommodate additional demand in the future.
The concluding stages of a major two-year project involved the connections of new pipework from the pump house by Pavilion Road (near the Falmer Sports Complex) into the existing campus water infrastructure.
Francine Hill, Deputy Director of Estates, says: “We’re delighted to see the completion of this major project, which has involved detailed planning and close collaboration with key partners including Southern Water.
“The pump house is a crucial element in our overhaul of the campus water infrastructure, which will protect the future resilience of the water supply.”
The modern, automated valves and fittings in the new pump house operate efficiently and reliably, reducing the chance of water leaks and interruptions to the water supply.
And because the replacement pumps use less electricity than the previous ones, they will contribute to the energy efficiency of campus and a reduction in the University’s carbon footprint.
The new pump house also has its own generator, which can provide back-up electricity in the event of any power outage, ensuring continued water supply to the campus (including fire hydrants).
These improvements mark a new milestone in the ongoing development of the Sussex campus. Francine says: “Both for normal operational requirements and in the event of any unplanned disruption, our works have aimed to ensure maximum security of the water supply for students and staff.
“The new pump house and pipework will increase plant efficiency and resilience of the water supply, because they are less likely to become overloaded; this will reduce the risk of service disruptions.”
The project has provided vital new infrastructure for both current and future needs. The demand for water on campus has increased in recent years with the construction of a new student village on the East Slope, which houses about 2,000 students. More residents will also be living on campus in future if the University’s plans to develop student accommodation on the West Slope go ahead.
Francine explains: “We have considered carefully the potential impact of increased demands on the supporting infrastructure for campus, including the supply of water.
“By replacing the water pump house and the pipework connections across campus, we’ve now upgraded this supply.
“Without the improvements that the new connections will provide, the scale of our planned development on campus could not be supported by the available water supply.”