Milbank Concrete Products Unlocks On-Site Water Source with New Borehole Initiative

• New borehole supports Milbank’s commitment to reducing environmental impact and conserving water resources
• On-site water source helps cut reliance on mains drinking water, protecting local supply
• Closed-loop system ensures water is captured, treated and reused across operations
• Future plans to directly incorporate borehole water into concrete production, further strengthening sustainability performance

Milbank Concrete Products has successfully completed testing on a newly installed borehole at its Head Office in Earls Colne, Essex, marking another step forward in the company’s ongoing work around sustainability and resource management.

The borehole reaches around 20 metres below ground. Water was identified at approximately 10 metres, with the pump positioned at 16 metres. While the borehole is capable of generating up to 75,000 litres per day, current site usage is approximately 15,000 litres per day, remaining well within the 20,000 litres per day threshold that can be supplied without the need for a licence. The system will now move into day-to-day use on site.

In the first instance, the water will be used across the prestressed concrete factory for tasks such as cleaning, jet washing and general housekeeping. This water is then captured, treated and recycled for use within the concrete mix, where recycled water already accounts for approximately 80% of the mix, with the remaining 20% currently supplied by mains water. Planned system upgrades in the coming months will enable this remaining 20% to be sourced from the borehole, meaning all concrete mix water will ultimately be supplied on site.

It’s well known that concrete production relies heavily on water, not just within the mix itself but across day-to-day operations on site. From batching through to cleaning and maintenance, it’s a constant requirement. Even a standard concrete mix uses a significant amount of water, and when you factor in everything else that goes on around it, the volumes quickly add up. It’s one of the reasons why finding more sustainable ways to source and manage water is becoming increasingly important across the industry.

The idea for the project came from internal conversations around how quarry-based operations maintain reliable water supplies. That led to a simple question. Could something similar work at Milbank? From there, the concept developed into a practical on-site solution that reduces reliance on external sources while making better use of what’s already available.

Speaking on the project, Managing Director Lee Cowen said:

“This is a really important step for us. Water plays a big part in what we do, so having more control over our supply makes a difference. It strengthens how we operate day to day, but it also supports the bigger picture in terms of reducing our environmental impact. It’s a practical change, and that’s what matters.”

The initiative was led by Innovation and Strategy Director David Costin, who added:

“It started off as a conversation. We were looking at how other parts of the industry approach water supply and asking why we couldn’t explore the same idea. Once we looked into it properly, it became clear there was an opportunity there. It made sense to push it forward. There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point, so it’s good to see it up and running.”

Milbank will now monitor how the system performs over the coming months and contaminates in the water will be tested for periodically. If everything progresses as expected, there are plans to take it a step further by using borehole water directly within the concrete production process.

The company has already made a number of investments in water management over the years, including systems that recycle and treat process water on site. This latest project builds on that approach, with a continued focus on reducing waste and making better use of existing resources. Looking ahead, there is also potential to extend the borehole supply to the precast factory, making use of an additional 5,000 litres per day that is currently untapped.