The challenge
Like every Premier League club, Aston Villa uses a lot of water across Villa Park and its training ground. Under the club’s Claret, Blue & Green sustainability commitment, cutting water use became a strategic priority, with high match-day footfall and a large washroom estate adding to the pressure.
- Water costs and match-day water pressure demand
- Maintenance problems typical of flushing urinals
- Honouring the club’s ESG commitments
“We have seen our total water consumption at Villa Park reduce by around 50% with the conversion to Smarti Technology and our reactive maintenance has gone to zero.”
How we did it
- 01
A side-by-side trial
In 2023 we surveyed the site (washrooms, dead legs and baseline use), converted one seven-position washroom and fitted an automatic meter reader in the flushing washroom next door, for a like-for-like comparison over a month.
- 02
The whole stadium converted
The metered flushing washroom proved significantly more expensive to run, while the Smarti system performed faultlessly. The club asked us to convert all of Villa Park and the training ground: over 230 urinals and troughs.
- 03
Built for match day
Half-time volumes could submerge a standard valve in the troughs and slow drainage, so we developed the Vortex Trough Valve for Villa Park.
“From the 1st valve we purchased to the current model supplied, we have seen a much more efficient and practical way of coping with the volumes that are produced in short stints in a stadium environment.
I have been contacted by other sporting venues and have gladly passed on my positive dealings with Smarti.”
ALSO AT VILLA PARK
A new water main for match days.
In summer 2026 we replaced the old pipe that fills Villa Park’s storage tanks with a new, larger water main, and managed the project from survey to reinstatement. The result: better water pressure in the stands and much faster tank refills on match days.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
In our clients’ words.
From race days to colleges, breweries and multi-site estates, here’s what the people who run the buildings say.
Smarti’s solution is different. There’s clearly been real thought and development behind it. … It hasn’t caused a single issue – no smells, no problems – it just works.
Tim AkeroydGroup Facilities Manager, Evo Group
“We now have close to 30 locations across the UK. Where we have urinals, Smarti are rolling it out across those sites.”
Our biggest test came during our largest fixture of the year. With our traditional system, the infrastructure simply wouldn’t have coped due to water demand and tank refill limitations. With the Smart Urinal system, we didn’t have a single concern around the urinals.
John BakerChief Executive Officer, Newton Abbot Racecourse 
We have used Smarti’s Smart Urinals since 2015 and have always found the product to perform well with no customer complaints. We have enjoyed great service and supply from Smarti’s team.
Pete McWilliamHead of Maintenance, Technical Services & Utilities, Castle Rock Brewery 
We’ve had the Smarti system installed for over 3 years in the College. We chose Smarti based on price, service and the overall quality of their product. I’m happy to say they continue to excel in all three areas – and we have just converted a further facility to Smarti’s Smart Urinals.
Tony MillardEstates Manager, Sandwell College
MORE OF OUR WORK
Most of our work stays between us and our clients.
We work across stadiums, healthcare, offices, industrial sites and water companies. Tell us about your site and we’ll talk you through results from projects like yours.
