Explore the Darcy Group

The latest news stories from the Darcy Group

Meet Team Darcy – Will Nash, Drainage Service Manager

At Darcy Group we’re firm believers that the secret to our success is down to our fantastic team. Over the course of the next year, we’ll be highlighting members of the Darcy team, their backgrounds, roles, and unique perspectives, so you can get to know the people that are working hard for you. For the first instalment of our ‘Meet Team Darcy’ series, meet Drainage Service Manager, Will Nash.

How long have you worked at Darcy and how did you end up in your current role?

I’ve worked for Darcy Group since 2012, originally, I worked under the Aquasentry side of the business which was acquired by Darcy Group in 2016. My current role is Drainage Service Manager, which involves critical day-to-day drainage services and management for our customers. I was promoted to this role from my previous role as Senior Drainage Engineer, after the wealth of experience I had accrued in my 20+ years in the drainage industry.

What does a perfect Saturday night look like for you?

My perfect Saturday night typically involves going on a date night with my lovely wife, subject to enlisting help from a willing babysitter to look after our two children. I also enjoy meeting up with my mates for a couple of ‘cheeky ones’!

How has your role changed during COVID-19?

Before COVID-19, I travelled far and wide for my role. Like everyone else, since COVID there has been a real shift from site meetings to online client calls through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Although COVID-19 has been an incredibly difficult time for individuals and businesses alike, I have enjoyed being able to spend some extra time with my family.

Tell us three things about drainage services that you want your customers to know

1. The first thing I would like them to know is how important CCTV surveying of drainage systems and pipe conditions can be. This is imperative to being able to produce high quality reports.

2. Darcy has, and will continue to, invest in equipment and technology to deliver an unparalleled service for our customers.

3. The third thing is the importance of maintaining interceptors. I can’t stress enough how important it is to regularly audit and assess the condition of interceptor alarms.

If you could invite anyone to dinner who would it be and why?

This is an easy one – it has to be Isambard Kingdom Brunel. For those who haven’t heard of Isambard before, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an Anglo-French civil engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history" and "one of the 19th century engineering giants”. Brunel was also the engineering brains behind the Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. I would find it fascinating to be able to pick his brains on how he achieved so much during his lifetime.

Describe Darcy in three words

Honest, supportive and committed. Darcy are committed to their customers, staff members and to being the ‘best’. I’m also proud to work for an organisation that is committed to investing in its people and technology.

Would you like to find out more about Will? Connect with him on LinkedIn. 

Rain ready: The importance of having a drainage system that can weather the storm

Spare a thought for the humble drain. As essential as they are to the harmonious operation of any site, drainage systems rarely draw much attention, neglected for large parts of the year.

As the nights draw in and the weather turns, however, drains will be expected to step up to their frontline position in preventing unwanted pollutants from escaping into the local watercourse. At this time of year, such risks are amplified in line with the increased threat of storm flooding throughout autumn and winter. In 2020, a number of high-profile names, including Ciara, Dennis and Jorge, hit the headlines to remind us of the potential for these weather events to cause widespread – and costly - disruption.

What’s more, data from the Met Office points to the fact they are likely to be a familiar feature in the future. The records for the highest rainfall levels recorded over two, three and four days, as well as the record for the highest monthly level of rainfall, have all been registered in the past 11 years, and extended periods of extreme winter rainfall are now seven times more likely.

Pressure on the system

These uncomfortable truths place growing pressure on the capabilities of a site’s drainage system. Put simply, if drains are unable to cope, then the chances of polluting or hazardous materials being washed into local waterways is increased when flood events occur. From an environmental perspective, the potential damage is a clear concern; from a financial perspective, the possibility of a significant fine from DEFRA and lost productivity through site downtime is also not to be ignored.

But how do you know if your site’s drainage system is flood-ready? What are the practical measures you should be taking to ensure you’re fully prepared?

A good starting point is an inspection of your drainage assets, incorporating tests where necessary, to check that all aspects are watertight. Working with an expert partner such as Darcy, we can confidently establish whether there are any localised stormwater risks or any blockages in foul drains that are likely to cause problems further down the line. For COMAH and EPR-regulated sites, inspections also provide an up-to-date assessment of compliance levels while highlighting the need for any possible remedial work.

Drain and sewer inspections are managed by our national network of fully trained operatives using cutting-edge equipment and technology. A key aspect is the deployment of remote-operated CCTV crawler cameras in conjunction with WinCan software to capture a detailed, high-quality digital picture of the existing drain network and its condition. The findings are presented in a visual report that flags any pipework defects, signs of premature deterioration or pollution risk points.

Uncovering hidden issues

While more significant problems are likely to become quickly apparent through a leak or even a collapse, detailed inspections help identify more subtle issues at play and support scenario planning for future events. For example, cameras can detect invasive tree roots that may be compromising the integrity of a drain and opening the door to the ingress or egress of pollutants, while pressure-loading profiles provide reassurance that pipes will be structurally sound if required for containment purposes.

Following the completion of a drain inspection and any necessary repair work, site managers can be secure in the knowledge that all drainage aspects, from separators to manhole locations and connectivity pathways, are clearly identified and in a fit and proper condition to handle the particular demands of the site in question. From this vantage point, ongoing maintenance is a crucial and cost-effective part of sustaining performance, conforming to compliance requirements, and managing risk for the long term.

So, while there may be no way of eradicating the pressures on your drainage system, including the likelihood of more extreme weather events, there are measures that can be taken to ensure it is in the best condition to protect your business and the world around you from unnecessary harm – a case of paying attention now paying dividends in the long run.

Speak to Darcy today to discuss your drainage requirements and for more information on how our nationwide team of experts can ensure your drainage system is in the right condition to manage over the coming months.

Separators: Out of sight, out of mind - out of order?

The need for alarm: Why automated monitoring is crucial to separator performance

For the ostriches out there, happy to have their heads in the sand, the phrase ‘what you don’t know, won’t hurt you’ can bring a reassuring sense of comfort.

For the majority of us, however, it achieves quite the opposite effect. Given that we have more information available to us today than ever before, we would rather be safe in the knowledge that we are dealing with a full set of facts and seeing the complete picture.

In the case of site managers, tasked with ensuring pollutants don’t escape into the ground course or local waterways, information is undoubtedly a valuable currency. Being armed with up-to-the-minute data and insights into the changing status of the environment around you provides the means to react quickly when adverse situations arise or, ideally, prevent them from happening in the first place.

The safeguard of separators

As part of any site’s approach to pollution prevention, separators play a key role in safeguarding against unwanted hydrocarbons being washed into the drainage system. It is not realistic to remove all presence of diesel, petrol and oil from a site, but separators ensure they are safely contained underground and do not unwittingly find their way into nearby rivers and streams. The successful operation of separators, however, depends on one important caveat: they must be functioning correctly.

While this might sound obvious, because they are out of sight, there is a danger that separators at some sites are not given the attention they require. At other sites, there is the bigger risk that they are literally out of mind, with staff simply unaware of their presence because they were installed at a long-forgotten point in the site’s history.

In these scenarios, important question marks hang over the condition and maintenance requirements of the separator. The levels of hydrocarbons at the top of the separator will be unknown, as will the levels of silt that collect at the bottom. Without removal, the performance of the separator will be impaired, introducing the risk that oil could escape via the water outlet pipe. Any such escape may in turn lead to serious financial penalties and reputational damage.

Automated monitoring

By adopting best practice measures, these risks are greatly reduced. For new installations, that starts with a separator that fully conforms to the Environment Agency’s European standard BSEN-858-1-2. But it is the addition of a separator alarm that makes the biggest difference in ensuring the separator maintains optimal performance on an ongoing basis.

Separator alarm systems are comprised of a control panel and three probe sensors, each of which is installed within the separator to monitor levels of either water, oil, silt or all three. If the sensor identifies that a specified threshold level has been breached, the alarm activates automatically to notify the operations team that corrective action is required to safely remove the unwanted waste and return levels to the normal range. Alarms can be either specified as part of a new installation or retrofitted, and they are mains, battery or solar powered depending on the particular use case.

Gaining efficiency, saving cost

While the primary benefit of an alarm is the knowledge that the separator is functioning as required and preventing hydrocarbon pollutants from escaping the site, there is a significant associated benefit: efficiency. Rather than committing to separator waste being extracted at regular ‘milk round’ intervals, the alarm can be relied upon to indicate when levels have been exceeded, meaning action is only taken when necessary. This also reduces the levels of intervention by site staff, reducing demands on internal resource.

Sustaining operational efficiency on an ongoing basis depends on the implementation of expert maintenance at regular intervals. This ‘MOT schedule’ gives site management the assurance that separators are operating as expected while enabling any necessary remedial work to be carried out before issues escalate into more significant problems.

In summary, ignorance may be bliss for some, but since we are living in the information age, there is no excuse not to take advantage of smart technologies to keep on top of potentially fast-changing situations. Separators may be out of sight, but with a separator alarm, facilities managers have ‘visibility’ of their status and peace of mind they are operating as expected.

You have only just re-opened – you don’t want to slip up now

After a really tough few months, the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel is beginning to get brighter for many of us. It has been encouraging to see more and more parts of the economy begin to return to the business of doing business.

But while it may be back to business for many, it is clear that it is not necessarily back to business as usual. With social distancing rules still in full effect and many restrictions imposed, there are a series of complications and considerations that need to be addressed before getting on with the need to return to pre-lockdown levels of productivity.

Certainly, it is not as simple as turning up and picking up where you left off. This is particularly true in spill care and pollution prevention, where several checks are required to ensure that a site, having been dormant, is still compliant, fully equipped and operationally ready.

As a starting point, we recommend running through the following three-point checklist:

1. Check your spill kits are stocked: Are you ready for any emergency? Don’t get caught out – there’s nothing worse than going to clean up and finding nothing there!

2. Check your spill response plan is up to date: Have you got measures in place for social distancing? Are the right people available? Is your responder able to respond?

3. Check that pollution control equipment, separator monitors and drain-closure devices are functioning correctly

There is still much to do to get our economy moving again. And there may yet still be a second wave of the virus which could result in the return of restrictions. That means now, more than ever, you need to be as productive as you can be, for as long as you can be. Do not let something simple like a poorly organised spill care plan trip you up.

The 6 Cs of Spill Kit Success

In the future, there may be a time when, thanks to new technologies and approaches, the concept of a spill-free site will become a reality. Right now, however, they are a bit like Bigfoot: very few people can actually claim to have seen one in the wild.

Dealing with spills, therefore, remains a very real part of everyday life on site. Even with comprehensive scenario planning and extensive risk-mitigation measures in place, there is just no way of foreseeing the unforeseeable events that will conspire to create spill-related accidents. Without a crystal ball, facilities and site managers must, therefore, balance their efforts at prevention with an emphasis on appropriate cures so that they are prepared when such circumstances do arise.

The spill kit is typically their first line of defence. While not mandatory in themselves, spill kits form a key part of an emergency response and should be considered essential for any site where polluting materials can cause harm to the workforce or the environment if a spillage should occur.

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that spill kits should be “maintained on a regular basis to ensure that they are always available and fit for purpose”. But at sites across the UK, there are spill kits that, bluntly, are not getting the attention they deserve. Much like the smoke alarms in our homes and the spare wheels in our cars, these are crucial safety items that we depend upon in times of need and yet we often give them little thought when they are not in use.

Here, we consider six key aspects for spill kit success:

Contents

Do your spill kits contain the right mix of items to deal with a spill appropriately? There is no universal checklist of agreed contents but, as a general rule, a spill kit would be expected to contain some form of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, overalls or goggles, alongside absorbent pads, rolls and socks, and also waste bags to contain the spent materials following use. But there are a wide range of absorbent options that can be included, from granules to cushions. It may also be advisable to include Dammit leak-sealing putty for emergency repairs on tanks or pipes as well as hazmat suits to provide suitable protection for site workers. The exact make-up will depend on the user case at hand.

Colours

In its guidance, HSE highlights the importance of process-specific spill kits being readily available in tandem with corresponding personal protective equipment (PPE) and supporting procedures. This means that kits need to be stocked with relevant products that account for the type of liquid or material at risk of being spilled, including whether it has acid or alkali properties as well as its toxicity and flammability. Typically, this breaks down into three key application areas - oil-based spills, chemical spills and general-purpose spills – with colour-coding used to clearly identify the intended use: yellow for potentially hazardous chemical applications, blue or white for hydrophobic oil-based applications, and grey for general use.

Capacity

Having the right type of absorbents and associated items to deal with a spill is one thing, but they must be present in sufficient quantities or at the relevant size to manage the realistic threats that are present. This may mean the inclusion of larger booms to contain spills on water or appropriate amounts of drain-blocking materials to cover the needs of a localised area, for example. Spill kits are available with a capacity of anything from 10 litres to 1,100 litres, and gauging the correct capacity means spills are more likely to be dealt with quickly and at source, avoiding a slower, costlier clean up and, in the worst case scenario, environmental damage and a fine.

Checks

One of the most common issues with spill kits is stock depletion. In emergencies, it is crucial that a fully loaded kit is available but, frequently, site staff find that absorbents have been removed over time, having been used on an ad hoc basis and not replaced. There is also the very real possibility that the spill kit has found a secondary purpose, such as a home for litter. With this in mind, it is vital that spill kit checks are carried out as part of regular site maintenance to ensure they are fully stocked – something that can be managed by an approved supplier such as Darcy. For additional peace of mind, there is also the option to incorporate anti-tamper mechanisms to deter unwanted misuse.

Causes

As referenced above, speed is of the essence to minimise the impact of a spill, which means kits should be available and accessible in locations where they are needed most. There is a heightened risk around deliveries, for example, which means proximity to storage areas and vehicle routes is important. These considerations can be factored into site-specific assessments of spill kit placement, with additional flexibility provided the option of movable bins.

Capabilities

Even if your spill kits are ideally situated, appropriate for use and fully stocked, do you have the skills on site to deploy them quickly and effectively? Training is a crucial aspect of a spill kit strategy and at Darcy we equip users with a best-practice approach that means they are able to calmly manage any unexpected situations that arise. We provide training for users, accredited by both the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) and UK Spill, that blends classroom sessions on theory and relevant legislation with applied practical sessions. We can also upskill leadership staff to a level where they can provide instruction to the wider team themselves, and our video training offering ensures efforts to enhance on-site processes in relation to spills is not hampered by the current climate.

Overall, with thought given to these six elements, site managers can be safe in the knowledge they have the requisite first line of defence in the event of an unforeseen spill. Arguably, that brings two of the most important Cs into the equation for spill kit success: confidence and control.

View our comprehensive range of spill kits and order online.

Health preservation: Marc Rotmans of DarcyNL on helping businesses fulfil their environmental responsibilities

As the events of recent months have shown us all, business priorities can change fast. But one area that has continued to gradually rise up the agenda is the environment.

For two decades, I have supported companies looking to limit their risk and control their impact on the world around them. In that time, I have provided consultancy services and managed a diverse range of activities, from soil and water surveys to protective flooring, asbestos removal, and licensing, which all form part of a growing environmental consciousness.

In 2017, I was introduced to Darcy by Leo Braat and was immediately impressed by their range of spill kits, absorbance products and other technical equipment. A year later I met Richard Proctor, the Group Managing Director, and his enthusiasm and energy gave me real insight into the company and its ambitions.

Fast forward to 2019 and DarcyNL was born. Based in new offices and warehousing facilities in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht near Rotterdam, we work closely with our colleagues in the UK and, together, we are bringing Darcy Group’s market-leading pollution prevention products and services to companies across the Netherlands.

Our goal is to help them manage their own responsibilities to support a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for us all. 

Visit our Netherlands website for more information and get in touch to discuss how we can help you.

There is a perfect storm brewing (so order yourself a Dammit Mat)

Quite understandably there is a change of emphasis now from protecting our health to ensuring our health while protecting our wealth. But for many sectors it is not as simple as that. And that is because there is a growing vacuum in the supply chain, a vacuum that will take some time to fill.

Demand drives supply, and when demand dissipates, then supply dries up faster than one of our spill kits.

Quite simply, no one has bought very much in the last three months and that creates two challenges. First the supply chain has reduced or completely curtailed production. Second, no sales means poor cashflow. And poor cashflow means the supply chain does not have the means to buy the raw materials or fund the surge in production to satisfy the growth in demand.

Of course, nothing is forever and the supply chain, like the rest of the economy, will be back firing on all cylinders – the question is how long that takes. And what to do in the meantime.

We have recently witnessed the rationing of yeast, loo roll and anti-bac in all forms, and perhaps rationing is one way to manage supply. Market forces dictate that the scarcer the product, the higher the price – perhaps that is something we all need to accept, at least in the short term. Or we all rush out and empty the shelves now, before someone else gets there first.

So, here comes the perfect storm. A need to return to doing business. A need for the materials to help do that. And a shortfall in the materials available. Here at Darcy Group we have been resilient in our commitment to maintain our UK manufacturing operation and as a result our comprehensive portfolio remains as available today as it ever has. 

Visit www.darcy.co.uk and protect yourself against storm damage. 

Product Insight: 30th April 2020

Dealing with spills is easier if you have the right kit. Be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently with a correctly positioned Emergency Response Spill Kit. 

  • Are your spill kits suitable for your stored materials? 
  • Readily available? 
  • Stored near potential spill sites?

View our comprehensive range of spill kits and order online https://www.darcy.co.uk/category/spill-kits/

Engineers Update: 28th April 2020

Darcy Group and its team of Environmental Engineers are still busy installing, servicing and maintaining Pollution Prevention and Control equipment.

Here our engineers are in Surrey undertaking essential annual maintenance of a battery powered separator alarm for one our customers within the education sector.

We are following all the guidelines ensuring everybody’s safety and helping our customers meet with environmental legislation and prevent pollution of the watercourse.

Our specialist team can assist with the servicing and maintenance of your pollution monitoring equipment. Find out about our range of Environmental Services by contacting Darcy Group Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01732 762338.

Technology and the timely response

"Technology and the timely response" - read the latest article from Kirk Meikle, our Sales and Marketing Director, in Envirotec Magazine: Click here 

Separators: Out of sight, out of mind - out of order?

The need for alarm: Why automated monitoring is crucial to separator performance

For the ostriches out there, happy to have their heads in the sand, the phrase ‘what you don’t know, won’t hurt you’ can bring a reassuring sense of comfort.

For the majority of us, however, it achieves quite the opposite effect. Given that we have more information available to us today than ever before, we would rather be safe in the knowledge that we are dealing with a full set of facts and seeing the complete picture.

In the case of site managers, tasked with ensuring pollutants don’t escape into the ground course or local waterways, information is undoubtedly a valuable currency. Being armed with up-to-the-minute data and insights into the changing status of the environment around you provides the means to react quickly when adverse situations arise or, ideally, prevent them from happening in the first place.

The safeguard of separators

As part of any site’s approach to pollution prevention, separators play a key role in safeguarding against unwanted hydrocarbons being washed into the drainage system. It is not realistic to remove all presence of diesel, petrol and oil from a site, but separators ensure they are safely contained underground and do not unwittingly find their way into nearby rivers and streams. The successful operation of separators, however, depends on one important caveat: they must be functioning correctly.

While this might sound obvious, because they are out of sight, there is a danger that separators at some sites are not given the attention they require. At other sites, there is the bigger risk that they are literally out of mind, with staff simply unaware of their presence because they were installed at a long-forgotten point in the site’s history.

In these scenarios, important question marks hang over the condition and maintenance requirements of the separator. The levels of hydrocarbons at the top of the separator will be unknown, as will the levels of silt that collect at the bottom. Without removal, the performance of the separator will be impaired, introducing the risk that oil could escape via the water outlet pipe. Any such escape may in turn lead to serious financial penalties and reputational damage.

Automated monitoring

By adopting best practice measures, these risks are greatly reduced. For new installations, that starts with a separator that fully conforms to both the Environment Agency’s latest PPG3 guidelines as well as the European standard BSEN-858-1-2. But it is the addition of a separator alarm that makes the biggest difference in ensuring the separator maintains optimal performance on an ongoing basis.

Separator alarm systems are comprised of a control panel and three probe sensors, each of which is installed within the separator to monitor levels of either water, oil, silt or all three. If the sensor identifies that a specified threshold level has been breached, the alarm activates automatically to notify the operations team that corrective action is required to safely remove the unwanted waste and return levels to the normal range. Alarms can be either specified as part of a new installation or retrofitted, and they are mains, battery or solar powered depending on the particular use case.

Gaining efficiency, saving cost

While the primary benefit of an alarm is the knowledge that the separator is functioning as required and preventing hydrocarbon pollutants from escaping the site, there is a significant associated benefit: efficiency. Rather than committing to separator waste being extracted at regular ‘milk round’ intervals, the alarm can be relied upon to indicate when levels have been exceeded, meaning action is only taken when necessary. This also reduces the levels of intervention by site staff, reducing demands on internal resource.

Sustaining operational efficiency on an ongoing basis depends on the implementation of expert maintenance at regular intervals. This ‘MOT schedule’ gives site management the assurance that separators are operating as expected while enabling any necessary remedial work to be carried out before issues escalate into more significant problems.

In summary, ignorance may be bliss for some, but since we are living in the information age, there is no excuse not to take advantage of smart technologies to keep on top of potentially fast-changing situations. Separators may be out of sight, but with a separator alarm, facilities managers have ‘visibility’ of their status and peace of mind they are operating as expected.

Engineers Update: 22nd April 2020

Darcy Group and its team of Environmental Engineers are still busy installing, servicing and maintaining Pollution Prevention and Control equipment.

Here our engineers are in Wrexham undertaking essential annual maintenance of a mains powered drain pollution control device for one our customers within the manufacturing sector.

We are following all the guidelines ensuring everybody’s safety and helping our customers meet with environmental legislation and prevent pollution of the watercourse.

Our specialist team can assist with the servicing and maintenance of your pollution monitoring equipment. Find out about our range of Environmental Services by contacting Darcy Group Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01732 762338

Business Update: 21st April 2020

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the business world right now, and one reason for that is supply chain disruption.

That’s why we want to let you know that the Darcy Group is still operating.

We’re only one link in the supply chain, but doing our part allows those dependent on us to do their part, so you know you can rely on us now as you have in the past.

Engineers Update: 16th April 2020

Darcy Group and its team of Environmental Engineers are still busy installing, servicing and maintaining Pollution Prevention and Control equipment.

Here our engineers are in Manchester undertaking essential annual maintenance of a solar powered interceptor alarm unit for one our customers within the education sector.

We are following all the guidelines ensuring everybody’s safety and helping our customers meet with environmental legislation and prevent pollution of the watercourse.

Our specialist team can assist with the servicing and maintenance of your pollution monitoring equipment. Find out about our range of Environmental Services by contacting Darcy Group Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01732 762338.

Engineers Update

Darcy Group and its team of Environmental Engineers are still busy installing, servicing and maintaining Pollution Prevention and Control equipment.

Here one of our engineers is in the North West of England undertaking essential servicing and maintenance of pollution prevention products for one our customers within the chemical and paint manufacturing sector.

We are following all the guidelines ensuring everybody’s safety and helping our customers meet with environmental legislation and prevent pollution of the watercourse.

Our specialist team can assist with the servicing and maintenance of your pollution monitoring equipment. Find out about our range of Environmental Services by contacting Darcy Group Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01732 762338.

Business Update: 30th March 2020

Darcy Group are still providing products and services.

We continue to operate and are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm to provide support, advice and product supply.

Our 24/7 Emergency Spill Response Service remains operational throughout this period via our dedicated number 01732 441019.

We will endeavour to keep you up to date through our LinkedIn Company Page and we will also post updates on our news page.

It goes without saying that we are following all the guidelines ensuring everybody’s safety.

Finally, a thank you to customers, the Darcy team and to all those at the frontline of the NHS.

Stay safe

Richard Proctor

Group Managing Director

DarcyNL website

Our Rotterdam office is officially open. Take a look at our exclusive website for DarcyNL to see how we can help you:

Visit https://darcynl.nl/

Introducing DarcyNL

The Darcy Group are pleased to announce that the UK's leading provider of environmental pollution prevention products and services has opened new facilities in the Netherlands. 

This heralds a new phase in the positioning of The Darcy Group as a Global provider of pollution equipment. Our new offices and warehousing facilities in the Netherlands are borne as a result of our need for geographical expansion owing to the companies continued success in providing solutions to an ever growing customer base worldwide.

Aquasentry BWCU passes Midel oil test

The Aquasentry bund water control unit has successfully passed independent UKAS accredited testing confirming a discharge of under 1ppm of oil to water.

The objective of the test was to monitor the operation and performance of the control panel under conditions that replicate the system’s operation and use within bunded containment systems and to monitor the quality of water discharged by the BWC unit under operating conditions.

During the test the bund water control unit operated as would be expected in site operating conditions with the pump unit being activated when the tip of the pump start probe came into contact with water as water levels rose and stopping when the tip of the pump stop probe came into contact with water as water levels dropped.

Hydrocarbon was detected in water samples collected from the water discharge at initial pump activation. It was concluded that this oil originates from lubricants applied to the pump during manufacture. The levels detected were very low, at 0.06ppm.

What is a bund water control unit

Ideal for manned and unmanned sites bund water control units are low maintenance automatic pumping systems that constantly monitor the contents of a bund, detecting the difference between oil and water and safely pumping the water (rainwater containing less than 1ppm of oil per litre) only out of the bund into the surface water drainage system.

Further details

Please visit our website http://www.darcymonitoring.co.uk to view our range of bund dewatering systems and for full information on the bund water control unit test and results.

Mining Industry Passport to Compliance

As a leading provider of practical pollution control products and services, Darcy Spillcare, has created a Mining Industry Passport to Compliance to assist the mining industry to achieve environmental compliance and reduce waste management costs.

Inside you can find information and advice on how to minimise the risk of pollution on your site. From spill response to product selection, our guide has information to help you keep your site safe. Contents covers:

  • Spill response
  • Absorbents
  • Spill kits
  • Skimmers
  • Pumps
  • Storage tanks

Emergency Spill Response Information Pack

When in a state of emergency you want things to happen quickly and efficiently.

Our handy Emergency Spill Response information pack contains details on our emergency spill response service and guidance on reducing your spill risk. Also included are some stickers and cards containing our emergency spill response number.

For further details and to speak with us regarding our spill response service please call 01732 762338.

New Darcy Group Website

Darcy have recently launched a new website to represent the full range of pollution prevention products and services on offer.

Focused on the spill prevention measures we offer all that industry can adopt to control, contain and clean up spills on land and water.

Food & Drink Industry Passport to Compliance

As a leading provider of practical pollution control products and services, Darcy Spillcare, has created a Food and Drink Industry Passport to Compliance to assist the food and drink industry to achieve environmental compliance and reduce waste management costs.

Inside you can find information and advice on how to minimise the risk of pollution on your site. From spill response to product selection, our guide has information to help you keep your site safe. Contents covers:

  • Spill response
  • Training
  • Absorbents
  • Spill kits
  • Site equipment
  • Plant trays
  • Spill containment
  • Secure storage
  • Drain mats

Eliminate the risk of fire from spills

As part of our range of spillcare products we have designed a range of oil anti static absorbents and emergency spill response kits to remove the risk of fires and explosions that may be caused by static charge in standard products.

If a company needs to clean up a spill they can eliminate the possibility of electricity sparks by using Antistatic absorbents such as Darcy’s hydrophobic anti static range of absorbent pads and rolls. 

The Drizit Antistatic range manufactured from specially treated meltblown polypropylene offers maximum absorbent capacity with rapid capillary action. 

The Drizit Active Antistatic range provides added strength and reduced lint, through its reinforcing cover stock that is applied and bonded to the meltblown core, making it ideal for use in demanding situations. 

In flammable spill risk areas Darcy’s range of Antistatic emergency spill response kits contain these absorbents along with antistatic socks, cushions and booms. These spill kits are stored in containers with static dissipative wheels. As well as making the products portable, this ensures ultimate safety when transporting the kit to the hazardous spill.

Our anti static products contain static dissipative properties to eliminate the possibility of electricity sparks, protecting your employees whilst working with potentially hazardous liquids and keeping your environment safe.

OHSAS 18001:2007 achieved

We are proud to announce we have been awarded OHSAS 18001:2007 in recognition of our health and safety management system.

ISO 14001 achieved

We are proud to announce we have been awarded ISO14001:2004 in recognition of our Environmental Management System.

Constructors Passport to Compliance

As a leading provider of practical pollution control products and services, Darcy Spillcare, has created a Constructors Passport to Compliance to assist the construction industry to achieve environmental compliance and reduce waste management costs.

Inside you can find information and advice on how to minimise the risk of pollution on your site. From spill response to product selection, our guide has information to help you keep your site safe. Contents covers:

  • Spill response
  • Training
  • Absorbents
  • Spill kits
  • Site equipment
  • Plant trays
  • Spill containment
  • Temporary bunds & tanks
  • Drain mats
  • Oil & debris containment
  • Filtration systems
  • Dewatering
  • Oil water separation

New Darcy Drainage Website

Darcy have recently launched a new website to support the range of drainage services.

Focused on the prevention of water and ground pollution from liquid spills the Darcy range of drainage services are at the forefront in eliminating pollution of the environment due to spills passing through site drainage systems.

These services extend from the critical day to day drain maintenance and conformance through to site modelling and full project delivery for spill and fire water containment enabling our clients to meet the emerging licence permit needs of COMAH and EPR regulated sites based on Ciria C736.

The website can be found at: www.darcydrainage.co.uk

Flood Prevention Measures

With the increasing risk and documented increases in flooding it is vital that you take all available steps to ensure the continued running of your business and protect your premises and stock against the risk of water damage due to flooding.

With this in mind, Darcy Spillcare Manufacture provide a range of solutions for flood prevention

Spillstop

Spillstop is a rapidly deployable, multi-functional liquid barrier defence and bunded containment system. Widely used to protect high risk utilities, businesses and households from flood water.

Spillstop is an inexpensive and highly effective modular barrier system that requires no construction civil works for installation.

Industrial Flood Barriers

The flood protection boom is a versatile and flexible flood protection barrier that can be used on water levels of between 30cm and 2 metres over an unlimited distance.

It is an ideal system for creating a barrier to protect your premises in the event of a flood warning.

Equipped with standardised fittings and easy to store, set-up, use and dismantle after use the flood protection boom protects traffic routes, industrial, historic or strategic sites.

Super Absorbents

As part of our range of Spillcare products we have expanded our selection of super absorbents. Ideal for use with non-hazardous liquids where space is of a premium.

Super absorbents have a number of benefits:

  • Increased absorbency capacity
  • Use less product to absorb a higher volume of liquid
  • Less storage space required as absorbents “swell” to absorb more

Our range includes:

  • Socks
  • Flat Socks
  • Cushions