SDS enhances golf course sustainability and environmental credentials with intelligent rainwater management.

Overview
Aqualate Golf Centre is a community-focused golfing facility near Newport, Shropshire, set within an 80-acre managed landscape. With a 9-hole course, floodlit driving range and year-round operation, the centre places strong emphasis on sustainable land management, biodiversity and efficient use of natural resources.

Commissioned by Shropshire Council through the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) programme, SDS was appointed to deliver an intelligent rainwater management system to enhance irrigation capacity, reduce reliance on mains and borehole water, and improve flood resilience within the River Strine catchment.

What SDS Did
SDS supplied and installed six Intellistorm® smart rainwater harvesting tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 litres. Four tanks capture roof runoff from the clubhouse and maintenance buildings and feed directly into the site’s man-made irrigation pond, supporting routine watering of greens and fairways. Two additional tanks provide a dedicated supply for compost-tea production, supporting the club’s chemical-free turf management strategy.

Each tank features wireless monitoring, automated level control and predictive release capability based on weather forecasts. This allows the system to create storage capacity ahead of heavy rainfall, reducing surface water accumulation on site and limiting runoff entering the River Strine during storm events.

Results
The Intellistorm® system has significantly improved water security at Aqualate Golf Centre, reducing dependence on potable supplies while supporting consistent irrigation during dry periods. Predictive storm release has enhanced flood resilience, helping to manage intense rainfall more effectively across the site.

The project demonstrates how intelligent rainwater management can support sustainable sports facilities, delivering environmental benefits, operational efficiency and improved landscape resilience within a rural setting.

Testimonial

Managing water across an 80-acre golf course has always been a careful balancing act. We need reliable supplies to keep greens and fairways in top condition during dry spells, while also managing heavy rainfall in a way that protects the course and surrounding environment. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, that challenge has only intensified. The Intellistorm® system supplied by SDS has fundamentally changed how we approach it. By giving us greater visibility and control over water capture, storage and reuse, it allows us to respond proactively rather than reactively. We’re now better equipped to maintain course quality during drought conditions while managing stormwater responsibly and sustainably.

– Dan Groome, Centre Manager, Aqualate Golf Centre

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