Using water wisely not only saves money, but reduces the demand on a valuable resource. By careful water management and the use of efficient water recycling we can reduce our use of this resource.

The site is located on a watershed that divides the United Kingdom. Our drainage either flows to West coast via the River Arrow or to the East coast by the River Rea.

More locally, we are situated about 1 kilometre from a Site of Special Scientific Interest [SSSI].

To protect our off site receptors, we have a series of interceptors that capture suspended solids and surface oils to prevent them entering the water system, e.g. dusts from our internal roads that are washed away during heavy rain storms.
 
Although we have controls in place to limit our discharges to water, we must maintain our vigilance. In the event of an incident, we have trained personnel within our Company Protection Services on standby to mitigate any further spread. The rivers that run through our site are monitored 24/7 to check for any possible pollution.

We are authorised under the Environment Protection Act to make certain discharges into prescribed waters. These discharges are carefully monitored by ourselves, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency, and we operate well within the consent limits.

The site is geologically located on the Bromsgrove sandstone aquifer, and the potential for groundwater pollution from the site requires careful consideration. Such pollution has a potential for long term effects as contamination of the water table could spread, and we have pollution prevention measures to protect these valuable underground water resources.

Car manufacturing processes are, traditionally, heavy water users. Water is used for cooling of welders; as part of the paint process and the water test bays. Each process needs careful management.

To reduce our water consumption, we have implemented many water minimisation and recycling schemes covering both the clean water supply and our waste water discharges. For example: A particular success has been in the paintshops where our consumption of water has dropped by over 40 percent in a 10 year period due to the introduction of process changes and improved water recycling.

Finally, the site is positioned at the foot of the Lickey Hills. These act as a water catchment area and subsequent run off can be very large.

To help manage the potential for flooding, we have built on site a rainwater retention and balancing system to divert and hold water. This can then be released in a controlled manner to protect our neighbours downstream in the event of heavy rain or a flash flood.