Three mountains. One manhole cover. Less than 24 hours. In September 2026, the team behind Envirotech Drainage Solutions took on a different kind of challenge: the UK National Three Peaks, with a drainage-industry twist, to raise awareness and funds for WaterAid and Forth Rivers Trust.

We called it Sewers to Summits. The idea was simple enough to explain, but considerably harder to put into practice: take a heavy manhole cover into the mountains while tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in a single demanding journey.

A challenge with a purpose

At Envirotech, drainage is what we work with every day. Sewers to Summits was a chance to do something outside our normal working environment and support organisations connected to water and the environment.

The beneficiaries were WaterAid, which works to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and Forth Rivers Trust, which supports the health and restoration of rivers and catchments. We wanted the challenge to be memorable, and carrying a manhole cover made the connection to our industry impossible to miss.

Three Peaks, one very unusual piece of kit

The manhole cover weighed approximately 24 kg. Combined with mountain terrain, changing weather, long climbs and the driving between peaks, it turned an already demanding endurance event into something quite different.

The challenge began at Ben Nevis on Saturday 5 September 2026. From there, the route continued south to Scafell Pike in England and finished at Snowdon in Wales. It meant moving through daylight, mist and darkness, while managing the fatigue that builds over three consecutive mountains.

Some of the most memorable moments were the simple ones: reaching a summit in poor visibility, pressing on with tired legs, and seeing the cover make it to another peak.

Finishing the challenge

After the final mountain and the descent to the Snowdon car park in the early hours of Sunday morning, Envirotech co-founder Callum recorded a time of 23 hours, 25 minutes and 57 seconds — inside the 24-hour target.

The finish brought a mixture of relief, exhaustion and satisfaction. Carrying a manhole cover over the Three Peaks was an unusual way to spend a weekend, but that was the point: to take on something people would remember and use it to highlight causes worth supporting.

Thank you for the support

A big thank you to everyone who followed the challenge, offered encouragement, shared the fundraising campaign or contributed to the two charities. The support helped keep us moving when the climbs were at their hardest.

Sewers to Summits was a reminder that the values we rely on in our business — determination, preparation, teamwork and seeing a job through — matter just as much beyond the working day.

To find out more about Envirotech and the people behind the business, visit our About Us page. You can also explore our drainage projects across Scotland.