Balfour Beatty has demonstrated its commitment to the London 2012 sustainable legacy by donating two water tanks from the Aquatics Centre spectator stands to be reused in the village of Cheptiret, Kenya.
The Balfour Beatty-sponsored project has seen the tanks travel 3,500 miles to Central Africa to provide clean water for a community of over 4,000 people.
After promising “the first sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games”, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) set ambitious recycling and reuse targets for the Olympic Park site. Originally built by Balfour Beatty using sustainable methods to meet these targets, the Aquatics Centre has been successfully remodeled into legacy mode with 100% of deconstructed materials reused or recycled, including the two water tanks donated to the Kenyan village.
After being carefully dismantled, the tanks, which included a third tank from the Water Polo Arena, were transferred to Cheptiret via ships, lorries and trains. Once on site, the tanks were installed above a new 225m bore hole by a team from Balfour Beatty supported by a group of charity workers and volunteers. Taking just two weeks to install in temperatures reaching 31°C, they will provide fresh water at a rate of 12m3 per hour.
As part of the initiative, a booster set was also installed in the pump house adjacent to the tank, while additional lighting from the Aquatics Centre spectator stands replaced a single 40W lamp in the local school’s classroom. With classes until 9pm, the children will benefit from a much improved lighting system that runs off a mains supply instead of a small generator.
Stuart Fraser, Balfour Beatty Special Projects Director, said: “By considering material selection at design stage, we were able to build a state-of-the-art Olympic venue with elements that could be dismantled and sustainably reused. The reused water tanks will have a huge and lasting impact on so many people’s lives, with a community of 4,000 plus now having the ability to wash in, cook with and drink clean water.
“The ODA’s approach to the London 2012 programme and its sustainability targets set new benchmarks for the industry. Leaving a lasting positive legacy upon communities and individuals is an essential part of our approach to sustainability and it’s great to see materials reused in such a constructive and significant way.”
Balfour Beatty continues to support local communities all over the world in its role as a major employer. Taking part in and supporting organisations and activities that aim to improve social cohesion and inclusion and contributing to charitable causes, Balfour Beatty strives to ensure that its work improves the quality of people’s lives all over the world.