St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Exmouth

Drought Mitigation

Transforming an unused rainwater harvesting asset into an intelligent water management solution

Overview

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Exmouth had an existing rainwater harvesting system that had been out of service since 2020 following a technical failure. The school wanted to restore the system, reduce potable water consumption and enhance its sustainability credentials while making use of the existing infrastructure.

What We Did

SDS upgraded the system with an Intellistorm® smart rainwater management system and SDS SYMBiotIC™ intelligent monitoring.

The existing underground storage tank was retained, with new intelligent controls and monitoring equipment installed. New break tanks were also added above the toilet facilities to provide automatic backup and ensure a reliable non-potable water supply.

The system provides continuous monitoring of rainwater levels, reuse and performance, allowing the school to track water savings and demonstrate its sustainability benefits.

Results

The upgraded system successfully brought the school’s rainwater harvesting system back into operation, avoiding the cost and disruption of a complete replacement.

Within just a few months of commissioning in April 2026, approximately 50,000 litres of rainwater had been reused for toilet flushing, reducing reliance on mains water and lowering operating costs.

The solution also provides improved resilience and monitoring, while supporting the school’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education.

Torbay Council engaged SDS to reinstate the Rainwater Harvesting System, and appreciated their pragmatic approach to re-engineering the existing assets. By upgrading rather than replacing the existing infrastructure, SDS delivered a cost-effective, resilient solution that extends the life of the original investment while supporting both the school’s environmental objectives and wider sustainable water management goals.

– Andy Baker, Mechanical Building Services Engineer, Torbay Council