Green Recovery
Helping fund the provision of SuDS components in Altrincham.
Rainwater Management
Our Strategy
With 40% more rainfall than the national average, 54% of the combined wastewater network (against a 33% national average) and the most storm overflows in the country, rainwater management is a key strategic challenge for the North West.
Climate change is becoming more intense with a development that may see 1,000,000 people make the region their home by 2050 which will only continue to grow the challenge.
A consequence is that there are less green and permeable spaces within our own homes, in our gardens and within the public realm in town centres.
The impact of this is that rainwater struggles to find places to flow freely, and is instead diverted into the sewer system, reducing the capacity of the network to transport and treat foul flow and increasing the risk of storm overflows to activate and spill into rivers and other water courses.
What are we doing?
We have set targets to enhance, protect, and fortify the natural environment. These include:
- Driving down spill activations
- Getting a head start on future requirements to build traditional concrete storage by investing in blue, green and partnerships
- Increasing network resilience to flooding from the impacts of climate change
What is Rainwater Management?
Rainwater management is the process of capturing, removing, slowing or reusing rainwater before it enters the sewers. This increases capacity in the system and enables time to process any surface water which ultimately reduces any potential negative impact on the environment.
The multiple benefits of this approach includes more capacity in the system to improve flood risk and reduce climate change, water quality benefits from reduced storm overflow activations and treatment of runoff through green infrastructure, amenity value from the green spaces created and the biodiversity impacts as a result of new habitats.
How do we do it?
Capture
This is where we capture rainwater at the source to stop downstream flooding through schemes involving peat restoration, tree planting, and a wide range of Natural Flood Management (NFM) solutions.
Attenuate
This is where we store rainwater through interventions which help to reduce the pressure on the sewers at times of heavy rainfall. Planting trees, raingardens, and a wide range of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) will be done to achieve this.
Disconnect
This is where we disconnect piped surface water from our combined sewer system straight into rivers and canals so rainwater can return to the natural water cycle process as intended.
Reuse
This is where we use rainwater in a wide range of ways and help high water consumers to think more sustainably about how rainwater reuse could benefit them. We will also be helping homeowners to utilise rainwater for household tasks.
How to work with us
Case studies
Property Level Trials
How we're protecting housing with SuDS planters in Lower Peover.
SuDS for Schools
How we're protecting schools from flooding using SuDS.
Staveley SuDS pods
Installing SuDS equipment to reduce spills.
Collaboration in Bridgewater
Showcasing different SuDS methods for a more resilient space.
Unpave the Way Partnership
Transforming gardens to be more resilient and sustainable.