Southern Water has launched a new fund to harness ideas to help cut storm overflows on the Isle of Wight.
The water company is looking for community groups and businesses who can help slow the flow of rainwater from roofs or driveways – and stop it overloading sewers.
The new Community SuDS Fund will offer up to £3,000 grants to those who come forward with ideas that help keep rainfall out of the network.
SuDS, or Sustainable Drainage Schemes, can include rain-gardens, adapted water butts, wetlands, and other innovative solutions that capture water and release it slowly back into the environment – rather than allowing it to race into drains and sewers from hard impermeable surfaces.
Southern Water said allowing flows to rapidly enter sewers can overload pipes and wastewater treatment sites, leading to the use of storm overflows into the environment to stop homes and businesses from flooding.
The utility’s teams on the ground on the Isle of Wight are working to improve network and reduce storm overflows through nature-based and engineering solutions - but the company also wants to help customers implement their own solutions which can make a difference too. Financial and technical support will be on offer to successful applicants.
Partnerships Delivery Manager for Southern Water, Joanne Wood, said:
“We know how passionate customers on the Isle of Wight are about the local environment and waterways, and this is why we want to work with them and hear about their ideas to collectively slow the flow of rainwater.
“Any idea can have a wider benefit of reducing storm overflows to ensure that the Isle of Wight can have clean rivers and seas.”
Southern Water is suggesting the following examples of SuDS schemes to customers:
- Raingardens – these manage rainwater runoff from hard surfaces after downpours by planting an attractive, low maintenance, wildlife-friendly space
- Swales – These use the landscape to create a natural way to slow-the-flow of water. One of these is in use at Nettlestone Primary School
- Water butts – Could you create a project for a street or community to all have a slow drain water butt? They slow-the-flow of water entering our sewer to reduce storm overflows and also help save water.
The water company is inviting customers to find out more about the fund and different SuDS solutions at a drop-in event on Friday 4th October, between 12:00 and 16;00 at The Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Rd, Cowes PO31 7NP.
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