SuDS Planters in Lower Peover

What was delivered

To help build household resilience against high rainfall events, whilst also providing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to United Utilities customers, a rainwater planter trial was run in Nether Peover to provide rainwater retention capabilities for households and to reduce rainwater entering the combined sewer system.

Rainwater planters were provided to willing households which can store water for use around the garden, encouraging residents to reuse the rainwater which they collect. The planter also featured a tap design, meaning you could release water at any time. Additionally, these new planters have enough space on the top of them to grow flowers to help beautify resident’s gardens.

What was the impact

This initiative helped build household resilience against high rainfall events by providing rainwater retention capabilities for our customers’ households. The planters allow water to either be reused, for example for watering plants, or to be released into the system during non-heavy rainfall periods. This takes the strain off the sewer network by reducing the amount of rainfall which enters the combined sewer system, reducing the likelihood of storm overflows.

A total of 44 planters were installed as part of the trial - a 31% customer uptake - our highest uptake rate yet of a trial of this kind. Assuming each planter is emptied and refilled four times per year, this equates to a total combined 5,280 litres of water available for reuse annually, and 6,600 additional litres of storage created.