Living With Water - Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Summary

Hull and East Riding face significant flooding risks due to their location near the River Hull and Humber Estuary, low-lying land, and climate change. Increasing rainfall and rising sea levels threaten the area’s infrastructure, including drainage systems. To mitigate this, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are being introduced, which mimic natural drainage by capturing and slowly releasing rainwater. These solutions include rain gardens, permeable paving, and green roofs. The community is encouraged to participate in the planning process by providing feedback through surveys and social media, contributing to a more resilient future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hull and East Riding are at significant risk of flooding, with around 100,000 homes affected.
• 🌊 The region's flood risk is exacerbated by its location on low-lying land, near the River Hull and Humber Estuary.
• ☔ Climate change is contributing to rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns, such as hotter summers and wetter winters.
• 🌞 In summer, drought conditions make the ground harder, causing rainwater to run off rather than being absorbed, leading to flash flooding.
• 💧 Heavy rainfall in winter often overwhelms drainage systems, which are not always large enough to handle the influx of water.
• 🚰 Hull and East Riding rely on well-maintained underground sewers, pumps, and storage systems to manage rainfall and prevent flooding.
• 🌱 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) offer a way to improve flood resilience by mimicking natural drainage processes.
• 🌳 Examples of SuDS include water butts, green roofs, permeable paving, and rain gardens, all of which manage surface water more effectively.
• 🌾 Wetlands, swales, and ponds are additional SuDS features that help collect and slowly release rainwater into the sewer system during heavy rainfall.
• 💡 SuDS not only manage flood risk but also reduce pollution and enhance local biodiversity, offering environmental benefits to the area.
• 📅 A survey is underway across Hull and East Riding to explore where SuDS can be implemented, with input from residents and the community encouraged.

Q & A

What are the main factors contributing to flooding risks in Hull and East Riding?

The main factors contributing to flooding risks in Hull and East Riding include the area's location on low-lying land near the River Hull and the Humber Estuary, rising sea levels, climate change, and increasingly severe weather patterns such as hotter, drier summers and wetter winters.

How does climate change affect flooding in the region?

Climate change leads to rising sea levels and more frequent and severe weather events, including hotter, drier summers followed by wetter winters. This results in increased rainfall, which leads to flash flooding when the ground becomes too hard to absorb the water.

What is the role of hard surfaces in exacerbating flooding?

Hard surfaces like roofs, roads, and pavements prevent water from being absorbed into the ground, causing runoff during heavy rainfall. This runoff overwhelms drainage systems and contributes to flooding, especially in urban areas.

What are Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), and how do they help with flooding?

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed to manage surface water in a natural way by slowing down and capturing rainwater before it enters drains and sewers. This reduces the risk of system overload and helps prevent flooding.

Can you give examples of SuDS used to manage surface water?

Examples of SuDS include water butts (which store rainwater for later use), green roofs (which absorb rainwater and reduce runoff), permeable paving (which allows water to seep through to the ground), rain gardens (which absorb rainwater in urban areas), and wetlands, swales, and ponds (which collect and slowly release water into the sewer system).

What is the concept of 'slowing the flow' in relation to SuDS?

'Slowing the flow' refers to the practice of collecting and temporarily storing rainwater in features like wetlands, swales, and ponds. This allows water to be gradually released into the sewer system when it has capacity, reducing the likelihood of system overflow and flooding.

What are the additional benefits of SuDS aside from managing flood risk?

SuDS also help to reduce pollution by filtering rainwater before it enters the sewer system, and they enhance biodiversity by providing habitats for plants and wildlife.

How is the community being involved in the decision-making process for SuDS installations?

Residents are being encouraged to participate in the decision-making process through surveys and consultations. The community can provide feedback on where SuDS should be installed, and share their views on the types of features they would like to see in their area.

How can residents get involved and share their opinions about SuDS in their area?

Residents can get involved by emailing [email protected], engaging with the project on social media via Facebook and Twitter, or visiting the Living with Water website at www.livingwithwater.co.uk to learn more and share their feedback.

Why is it important to implement SuDS in urban areas with a lot of hard surfaces?

In urban areas with many hard surfaces, water cannot naturally soak into the ground. SuDS are essential for capturing and managing this runoff water to prevent flooding and reduce pressure on drainage systems, which may not be designed to handle large amounts of water.