Why are SuDS important?
During heavy rain, local sewer networks can struggle to cope with the amount of water entering pipes and storage tanks. When they fill up, we use pressure relief valves built into the network, known as storm overflows. These overflows release excess water through outfalls into rivers and the sea to stop homes and businesses from flooding.
The best way to reduce storm overflows is to reduce the amount of water that enters the combined sewer system during heavy rainfall. This is why we’re focussing our SuDS Community Fund on our ‘slow the flow’ initiative, funding your ideas to use nature-based solutions to reduce excess water from entering and overwhelming the system.
How can I create SuDS myself?
There are lots of different types of SuDS, from slow-drain water butts and raingardens to roadside swales and permeable paving. They all help to slow the flow of water into the system, but we need community groups, businesses and households to all get involved if we’re going to tackle the problem long-term. If every household garden in the UK had a slow-drain water butt, it would manage over 4 billion litres of water every time it rains.
We're looking for individuals and community groups who would like to create their own innovative sustainable drainage systems to help slow the flow of rainwater entering the combined sewer or redirect it altogether. This could be encouraging your street to all have a slow-drain water butt, installing a raingarden feature, greening your allotment shed roofs or installing rain planters at your local community centre.
We'd love to know how you would slow the flow of rainwater at your home, business or community group. We welcome applications from individuals and groups that wish to work together on an idea and we're happy to fund projects up to £3000.