Waterscapes publishes irrigation troubleshooting guide

Waterscapes publishes irrigation troubleshooting guide

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Waterscapes publishes irrigation troubleshooting guide

Waterscapes, the UK specialist in commercial irrigation systems and water feature maintenance, has published a practical troubleshooting guide to help facilities and estates teams diagnose the irrigation faults that surface in high summer. The guide arrives as the industry marks Smart Irrigation Month, the annual July campaign promoting water-efficient irrigation.

Waterscapes publishes irrigation troubleshooting guide

Waterscapes publishes irrigation troubleshooting guide

Written with Maintenance Contracts Manager Ed Harwood, the guide covers the faults behind most summer callouts: low pressure and weak coverage, leaks, controller and valve faults, electrical issues, and systems that coped in spring but struggle in July. For each, it sets out what site teams can safely check in-house and where specialist diagnosis becomes the cheaper option.

The guide is built around three diagnostic questions: whether a fault affects one zone or the whole system, whether it is new or recurring, and whether anything on the site has changed. According to Waterscapes, answering these before calling a specialist regularly turns a half-day investigation into an hour.

“The most useful thing a site team can do is narrow a fault down before they call,” said Ed Harwood, Maintenance Contracts Manager at Waterscapes. “If we arrive knowing it’s one zone, it’s recurring, and it started after the groundworks went in, a half-day investigation becomes an hour. The checks a team does in ten minutes are worth more than any part they might have replaced.”

The guide draws a firm line on electrical faults, which Waterscapes identifies as the category where in-house troubleshooting wastes the most money. Intermittent wiring faults impersonate failed components, and sites can spend a full season replacing parts without touching the underlying fault.

Marking Smart Irrigation Month, the guide also notes that flow monitoring, remote alerts and weather-based controllers change when faults are found rather than how they are fixed, and it follows the company’s June guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves.

The full guide is available on the Waterscapes website at waterscapes.co.uk.

https://waterscapes.co.uk/blog/irrigation-troubleshooting-a-practical-triage-guide-for-commercial-sites

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TenCate’s Pure PT™ achieves FIFA certification

TenCate’s Pure PT; achieves FIFA certification

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TenCate’s Pure PT™ achieves FIFA certification

TenCate’s Pure PT™ system, offered in the UK through the TigerTurf portfolio, is the first non-infill artificial turf to achieve FIFA certification as part of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, the global benchmark for football surface performance.

TenCate’s Pure PT™ achieves FIFA certification

TenCate’s Pure PT™ achieves FIFA certification

A recent announcement made by FIFA confirmed that any surface system meeting the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme is eligible for certification, regardless of construction method. Previously, FIFA certification was only available for systems designed around traditional performance infill.

Pure PT™ has subsequently been judged by the FIFA Basic assessment to meet FIFA Quality product approval and field certification. The certification enables Pure PT™ football pitches to be used up to step three of the FA National League System in the UK.

Charlie Haynes, Managing Director, TenCate UK, said: “Becoming the first non-infill artificial turf football pitch to gain FIFA certification is a significant milestone and one that endorses the quality, performance, and durability of TenCate’s Pure PT™ product.

“This certification demonstrates our continued commitment to developing surfaces that meet recognised international standards and signals the start of a new era in artificial football pitches. Pure PT™ is designed to support consistent play, long-term reliability and high-quality football experiences at every level of the game.”

Already installed at some of the most successful clubs in world football, including at the training grounds of Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, Olympique Marseille, Real Valladolid, and PSV, Pure PT™ has demonstrated it is trusted at the elite level. The surface is also installed at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curaçao, where the Caribbeans became the smallest nation to reach a FIFA World Cup.

Pure PT™ enables predictable lifecycle planning through reduced maintenance requirements, fewer replacement cycles, and lower material dependency. The simplified maintenance and consistent surface behaviour is optimal for high-use, multi-sport environments, such as schools and community leisure facilities.

Beyond on-field performance, the system is engineered to address key environmental challenges by eliminating infill-related microplastic release, lowering transport and maintenance emissions, and simplifying end-of-life recycling. The absence of infill also reduces the cost of ownership across installation, operation and end-of-life stages.

Years of research and development at the Center for Turf Innovation included over 500,000 Lisport cycles, more than 50 development cycles, and benchmarking against 145 stadium-quality natural grass pitches, with player testing and feedback shaping every decision.

The unique fibre technology ensures a soft yet stable surface, optimising ball roll, grip, and player movement. With its high-density fibres and advanced yarn composition, TenCate’s Pure PT™ guarantees long-lasting durability while requiring minimal maintenance. This makes it a cost-effective and environmentally responsible choice for football clubs and sports facilities.

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Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK's Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK’s Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

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Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK’s Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

Mitie and Kress have announced a strategic partnership that will see 24 autonomous Kress Voyager ‘mowbots’ deployed across customer sites throughout the UK, representing one of the largest investments of its kind within the facilities management and landscaping sector.

Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK's Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK’s Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

The rollout combines Mitie’s landscaping expertise with Kress’ advanced autonomous mowing technology, creating a new model for grounds maintenance that blends intelligent automation with skilled human oversight.

Mitie colleagues are developing new digital capabilities as ‘Robot Pilots’, programming and managing the Kress ‘mowbots’ using digital tools to map sites, monitor performance and optimise operations in real time. Working alongside landscaping teams, the autonomous Kress Voyager units safely navigate sites using advanced AI and positioning technology, undertaking routine grass cutting operations throughout the day.

As fully electric machines, the Kress Voyager fleet supports both Mitie’s and Kress’ shared sustainability ambitions by producing zero direct emissions during operation. Unlike conventional petrol-powered mowing equipment, the Kress ‘mowbots’ operate entirely on battery power, helping improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions across customer estates. Battery-powered operation also eliminates the risk of fuel and oil spills, supporting cleaner and safer site management.

The autonomous Kress Voyager units are significantly quieter than traditional petrol machinery, making them particularly well suited to sensitive environments such as schools, healthcare facilities, corporate campuses and public spaces where noise reduction is important.

Beyond operational benefits, the ‘mowbots’ contribute to healthier and more sustainable grounds management. Through a process known as ‘grass cycling’, the robots mow little and often, naturally returning fine grass clippings back into the soil. This improves soil health, reduces reliance on fertilisers and helps create stronger, more resilient lawns.

Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK's Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

Mitie and Kress Launch One of the UK’s Largest Autonomous Mowing Deployments

The deployment of the Kress Voyager fleet is the latest innovation within Mitie’s growing robotics programme, joining its successful cleaning robot (‘cobot’) initiatives, including the deployment of 32 autonomous cleaning robots at Heathrow Airport. Together, these technologies are supporting frontline colleagues, enhancing service delivery and helping customers achieve their sustainability goals:

Tim Howell, Managing Director, Landscaping, Mitie, said:

“This rollout marks an important step forward in how we deliver grounds maintenance services. Through our partnership with Kress, we are bringing innovative autonomous technology into our landscaping operations while creating new opportunities for colleagues to develop valuable digital skills as Robot Pilots. The Kress Voyager platform supports our commitment to sustainability through quieter, zero-emission operation, while allowing our teams to focus on higher-value landscaping activities.”

Spencer Funnell, Managing Director,Kress, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Mitie on this landmark deployment of Kress Voyager autonomous mowing technology. This collaboration demonstrates how robotics and AI can work alongside skilled landscaping professionals to transform grounds maintenance. By combining Mitie’s operational expertise with Kress’ autonomous technology, we are delivering a safer, more sustainable and highly efficient solution that benefits customers, colleagues and the environment alike.”

About Kress Voyager

The Kress Voyager is a fully autonomous commercial mowing platform designed for large-scale grounds maintenance applications. Combining advanced AI navigation, electric power and autonomous operation, Voyager helps organisations reduce operating costs, lower emissions and improve productivity while maintaining exceptional turf quality.

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

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