WARRINGTON-based United Utilities is working with housing developers across the North West to improve the health of the region’s rivers through the introduction of sustainable drainage systems which divert rainwater away from sewers, allowing it to soak away naturally.
The water company for the region is leading the industry through its work with housing developers to increase adoption of sustainable surface water drainage systems (SuDS) onto their network.
Ahead of the introduction of new legislation which is expected to make sustainable drainage a compulsory part of all new housing developments, the company is working with developers to ensure these are adopted and become part of their network.
The first three SuDS have already been adopted which means they will now be managed and maintained by United Utilities. A further 35 schemes across the region are in the pipeline.
Together the first three schemes enable almost 37 million litres of water – enough to fill nearly 15 Olympic sized swimming pools – to drain away naturally instead of entering the sewer network.
Sustainable Drainage Systems deliver environmental benefits and improve river health by slowing down rainwater runoff and mimicking natural drainage. By reducing the amount of rainwater entering the sewer network, they relieve pressure on the system and play a significant role in helping to reduce the need for releases from storm overflows during times of heavy rainfall.
Graham Morley Developer Services Manager at United Utilities explained: “We’ve been working with developers for several years to offer incentives to those who build homes that are either water efficient, or drain surface water sustainably since 2018.
“Across the region, 58,000 homes that feature measures to divert rainwater away from the sewer network have either been already built, or are in construction. Now we are ramping up our efforts and working with developers from the outset of projects to ensure that the SuDS they build can be adopted onto our network.”
“As well as easing pressure on the sewer network, managing rainwater creatively through sustainable drainage supports nature in urban spaces, improves visual amenity, creates natural habitats, and benefits wildlife.”
The first two SuDS systems adopted by United Utilities were built by Story Homes at developments in Carlisle and Wetheral, followed by a third system developed by Wrenman Strategic Land in Lancaster.
All three feature solutions which store excess rainwater and allow it to soakaway naturally. As well as creating attractive green spaces, these also help increase local biodiversity.
Graham Parker, Head of Technical for Cumbria and Scotland at Story Homes explained: “We have created numerous SuDS schemes in the past so when we heard that United Utilities were keen to explore early adoption, we were keen to jump on board to work with them.
“As well as providing a good solution for dealing with surface water and relieving pressure on the sewer network, they also create a good environment for customers as they provide nice open green spaces for residents to enjoy, not to mention the boost to the local ecology.”
Warren Cadman, Managing Director of Wrenman Strategic Land added: “We see SuDs as a key strategy to mitigate the risks of climate change and improve the resilience of developments to flooding and other environmental hazards.
“As the developers of one of the first sites in the North West to progress to adoption of our sustainable urban drainage scheme, our experience demonstrates that the early assessment of surface water management needs is crucial in the identification and promotion of strategic land opportunities for residential and mixed-use development.”
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with United Utilities and support the need for investigation of surface water management requirements into early phase land development plans.”
United Utilities continues to offer a 90% reduction in infrastructure charges for properties that do not connect surface water drains to existing sewers.
A short film about the project has been produced and can be found here.
United Utilities has also awarded £1.5m to increase sustainable drainage levels at schools across the North West through its Water for Schools programme.
