Jumbo water holder installed at resort zoo

A 55,000 litre rainwater-harvesting tank has been buried beside Blackpool Zoo's new elephant house, and will be used to look after the residents and clean the multi-million pound investment when it opens this summer

Bosses at the attraction said the investment shows the zoo’s commitment to re-using waste water, and said wet stuff collected in the tank will be used to clean the elephant house, wash its residents, power the sprinkler system, and fire the water cannons in the elephants’ 225 square metre pool.

The tank was buried ahead of World Water Day – which takes place today – a UN initiative aimed at reducing the struggle faced by the 660 million people worldwide without access to clean drinking water.

Darren Webster, managing director at Blackpool Zoo, said: “Conservation and sustainability are two key priorities for us here at Blackpool Zoo and this rainwater harvesting tank is just one part of our on-going efforts. For every hour of moderate rainfall the tank should collect 4,500 litres of water, which will go a long way to meeting the water needs of our elephants.”