Market-leading supplier of water infrastructure systems SDS has announced the acquisition of the water recycling division of Waterscan Ltd and affirmed its strategic vision to advance the development of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) for water reuse.

The acquisition includes Waterscan’s well-established commercial rainwater recycling business and its innovative Intellistorm® smart rainwater management system. A significant step in SDS’s plans for business growth, the deal will help accelerate the development of SDS’s sustainable water management technologies.

Following the agreement, SDS will take on immediate responsibility for Waterscan’s current and planned rainwater recycling projects covering design, supply, installation and maintenance of commercial greywater and rainwater recycling systems.

Recognising the synergies between Intellistorm® and SDS’s market-leading stormwater attenuation systems, the acquisition provides access to a well-developed ‘smart’ technology that maximises rainwater and greywater reuse.

SDS sees an opportunity to further innovate and refine planning-compliant SuDS systems so they can combine the advantages of rainwater reuse and flood water attenuation on new developments, said Patrick Cullen, Managing Director of SDS Ltd.

“The realities of a climate change emergency demand a committed and determined response to build flood resilience and reduce water consumption.

“We have to change the way we think about sustainable drainage systems and treat rainwater first and foremost as a resource, not as a problem to be managed or mitigated. Climate change will lead to more intense storms and flooding in future. So, our priority should be to reuse collected rainwater and prevent it from entering an already-overloaded sewer network.”

Kevin Reed, Water Recycling Manager at Waterscan, has transferred to SDS in his current capacity and will continue to provide unbroken service to existing Waterscan customers.

The SDS has a broad product portfolio that includes solutions for the surface water, wastewater and industrial cooling water industries.

Established in 2002, the privately-owned company has recently invested over £2 million in extending and modernising its design, engineering and manufacturing facilities in nearby Highbridge. The new operation has enabled the company to create the industry’s first closed loop manufacturing facility for post-consumer PVC waste to be fabricated into finished goods and accounts for 50% of the company’s manufacturing output.