Northumbrian Water is progressing with its plans for a sustainable flood scheme to invest nearly £900,000 in Northumberland as part of an innovative green initiative to help manage surface water and reduce flood risk naturally.
Working in partnership with Northumberland County Council, Northumbrian Water’s Rainwise initiative in Ovingham will reduce the risk of flooding by reducing the amount of surface water (rainwater from roofs, roads and surrounding land) that flows into the sewer network.
Historically, Northumbrian Water would have used traditional methods such as building bigger pipes and concrete storage tanks to hold surface water back to reduce flood risk.
However, through Rainwise, the water company is exploring opportunities across the North East to increase capacity in the sewer network by working with communities and partners to manage rainfall in the natural environment.
The proposed scheme at Ovingham, which is funded by both organisations, will include the creation of four grassed storage basins created together with the installation of a swale – a shallow grassy channel to divert rainwater – which will capture surface water flows from farmland in the north.
Northumbrian Water Project Manager, Ian Davison, said:
“Our sewer network is being put under increasing pressure from heavier rainfall, increasing amounts of hard surfaces that don’t absorb rainwater and growing populations.
“Removing surface water from our network by managing the flows in a more natural way, will help to increase capacity in our sewer pipes, and ensure the area is more resilient to flooding in future. It also allows us to improve the local environment and create green spaces where wildlife can flourish.”
The work is expected to start in mid-October and take around six months to complete. This is the final part of the Rainwise initiative in the area which has also seen work carried out in Wylam and Prudhoe to improve the resiliency of the sewer network that serves the three villages.
Representatives from both Northumbrian Water and Northumberland County Council will be on hand to talk through the proposals in detail at an information session on 28th September.
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