It is not just drains that benefit from Lanes’ cleaning skills. Earlier this year, the team was asked to help spring clean the Grand Cascade, a spectacular water feature at The Alnwick Garden, one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK.
The Grand Cascade is the largest water feature of its kind in the country, with 7260 gallons of water per minute tumbling down a series of 21 weirs and elaborate displays every half hour.
Having run every day for a decade, the impressive centrepiece was in need of some TLC. The RPS Group, who specialise in water treatment, enlisted Lanes Drainage Services UK to help.
Robin Hugill of RPS explains: “The Grand Cascade is computer-controlled by state-of-the-art equipment in the pump rooms below the main water features, where the water is filtered and recycled.
“We carried out a study which showed that the built-in cleaning and treatment systems were not running at maximum efficiency. The media in the sand filters needed to be renewed and the water quality improved. Other general maintenance was required too, so we agreed with The Alnwick Garden team on a full shutdown.
“To clean out the tanks we brought in Lanes who not only submitted a competitive quote and was available for the appropriate dates but, crucially, had technology which would solve the access issues. On top of that, the company had a good reputation, which was also important to us.”
Lanes’ Paul Matthews explains: “Our job was to remove ten years of organic material which had slipped through the filter system and accumulated in the holding tanks.
“It was quite straightforward for us, but access was tricky. Not being able to bring the jet vac tanker any nearer, we had to run hoses for 120-metres across the garden so that we could use the high-pressure water jet and vacuumation facilities.”
The Grand Cascade was then thoroughly cleaned and the pumps and filters serviced by The Alnwick Garden team, before the feature was switched back on, ready to wow the public once more with its energetic water shows.
Said to have brought £150 million to the local economy, The Alnwick Garden has had over 3.8 million visitors thanks to a reputation for unconventional garden designs, which includes growing cannabis and opium in a high-security ‘Poison Garden’ and building the world’s largest wheelchair-accessible tree house. In fact Paul was so impressed he has been back with his family: “The kids loved it — and I was delighted to see the Cascade flowing at full strength again!”
Robin concludes: “The Lanes’ team did a great job. I was more than happy with the way the work was carried out and the final result — a clean and perfectly functioning Grand Cascade. Just as it should be!”
More information about The Alnwick Garden can be found at: www.alnwickgarden.com.