Residential SuDS Retrofit – Southern Water IOW Pathfinder Project
Project Details
Sector: Residential
Location: South East England
Client: Southern Water
Date: October 2023
Situation
In residential areas prone to flooding across Southern Water’s service region, there was a critical need for retrofitted drainage solutions to address excess surface water runoff, which contributed to combined sewer overflow events during heavy rainfall.
Task
Sudsplanter Ltd.’s task was to:
- Develop SuDS retrofit solutions that could be easily and rapidly installed in residential properties across high-risk areas.
- Minimise disruption to homeowners while improving flood resilience and water quality within local catchments.
- Create green, low-maintenance infrastructure to improve urban biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Action
For the residential segment of the project, SuDSPlanter Ltd took the following steps:
- Targeted Installation: Conducted surveys to identify high-risk residential and communal areas. Installed SuDSPlanter® units across multiple properties to intercept rainwater at source, reducing the volume entering sewers.
- Flexible Supply Chain: Established a streamlined supply chain capable of handling rapid deployment and varied order sizes to meet residential needs effectively.
- Environmental and Community Benefits: The SuDSPlanter® units were designed to filter pollutants, increase water retention, and provide a visually appealing, low-maintenance green feature that residents could enjoy.
- Circular Economy Practices: Integrated a waste recycling program to collect and reuse plastic from the manufacturing and installation processes, reducing the environmental footprint of the retrofit installations.
Result
The residential SuDS retrofit program yielded significant outcomes:
- Flood Risk Reduction: Helped manage water from over 8 hectares of impermeable land, reducing overflow volumes and the risk of pollution to rivers and seas.
- Scalability and Replicability: The approach serves as a scalable model for other catchment areas facing similar flood risks, setting a precedent for effective residential SuDS retrofits.
- Biodiversity and Community Value: Provided habitat for pollinators and green spaces for residential neighbourhoods, enhancing urban ecology and improving the aesthetic value of communal spaces.
- Sustainable Innovation: Created a long-term, circular economy process that Southern Water could replicate, underscoring the environmental benefits of integrating SuDS into urban planning.
Homeowner Testimonial from Deal
“Friendly, flexible, courteous staff, who were very helpful when I changed my mind about the size of planter and the plants themselves. We found there to be a good choice of good quality plants. It’s good to know that you are doing your bit to prevent local drainage systems being overwhelmed in heavy rain. We found once planted with trailing plants the planter blends in with the front garden. The planter almost looked after itself with just a little water needed in the driest weather. We are very happy to have taken part in the trial.”
Residential SuDS Retrofit – Southern Water IOW Pathfinder Project
Project Details
Sector: Residential
Location: South East England
Client: Southern Water
Date: October 2023
Situation
In residential areas prone to flooding across Southern Water’s service region, there was a critical need for retrofitted drainage solutions to address excess surface water runoff, which contributed to combined sewer overflow events during heavy rainfall.
Task
Sudsplanter Ltd.’s task was to:
- Develop SuDS retrofit solutions that could be easily and rapidly installed in residential properties across high-risk areas.
- Minimise disruption to homeowners while improving flood resilience and water quality within local catchments.
- Create green, low-maintenance infrastructure to improve urban biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Action
For the residential segment of the project, SuDSPlanter Ltd took the following steps:
- Targeted Installation: Conducted surveys to identify high-risk residential and communal areas. Installed SuDSPlanter® units across multiple properties to intercept rainwater at source, reducing the volume entering sewers.
- Flexible Supply Chain: Established a streamlined supply chain capable of handling rapid deployment and varied order sizes to meet residential needs effectively.
- Environmental and Community Benefits: The SuDSPlanter® units were designed to filter pollutants, increase water retention, and provide a visually appealing, low-maintenance green feature that residents could enjoy.
- Circular Economy Practices: Integrated a waste recycling program to collect and reuse plastic from the manufacturing and installation processes, reducing the environmental footprint of the retrofit installations.
Result
The residential SuDS retrofit program yielded significant outcomes:
- Flood Risk Reduction: Helped manage water from over 8 hectares of impermeable land, reducing overflow volumes and the risk of pollution to rivers and seas.
- Scalability and Replicability: The approach serves as a scalable model for other catchment areas facing similar flood risks, setting a precedent for effective residential SuDS retrofits.
- Biodiversity and Community Value: Provided habitat for pollinators and green spaces for residential neighbourhoods, enhancing urban ecology and improving the aesthetic value of communal spaces.
- Sustainable Innovation: Created a long-term, circular economy process that Southern Water could replicate, underscoring the environmental benefits of integrating SuDS into urban planning.
Homeowner Testimonial from Deal
“Friendly, flexible, courteous staff, who were very helpful when I changed my mind about the size of planter and the plants themselves. We found there to be a good choice of good quality plants. It’s good to know that you are doing your bit to prevent local drainage systems being overwhelmed in heavy rain. We found once planted with trailing plants the planter blends in with the front garden. The planter almost looked after itself with just a little water needed in the driest weather. We are very happy to have taken part in the trial.”
Recent Residential Properties Case Studies
Housing Association Extension
Leadon Court, Cwmbran
Due to the constrained nature of the site, innovative and efficient sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) were necessary to manage surface water while maximising the space available for housing and pedestrian access.
Southern Water IOW Pathfinder Project
More questions?
Why not drop us an email if you have any further questions or require any more information.
More Questions?
Why not drop us an email if you have any further questions or require any more information.