Rainwater planters helping to ‘slow the flow’ in Ingthorpe
United Utilities is working with the local community and Blackpool Council to support flood resilience in Ingthorpe with the help of rainwater planters.
The water company is offering free rainwater planters to selected suitable homes in the area. The planters help slow the flow of rainwater that enters the sewer network during wet weather and can play an important role in easing pressure on the sewer network and boosting flood resilience.
The project is being delivered as part of United Utilities’ region-wide £280 million Rainwater Management programme.
United Utilities’ Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Lancashire Iain Pilling explained: “We are working with partners across the North West to introduce measures which will help manage rainwater where it falls. Capturing, removing or re-using rainwater before it enters the sewer network increases capacity in the system and means it can be channelled into green spaces to benefit communities and the environment.”
“Ingthorpe was selected because most homes are connected to the combined sewer network. When it rains, the water hitting roofs runs straight into the drains. As well as putting extra pressure on the network, it means that rainwater is sent to a wastewater treatment works for treatment that it doesn’t need.”
A typical house roof gathers around 30,000 litres of rainwater every year – equivalent to 300 bathtubs of water.
The planters provide a simple and effective way of helping manage surface water and enhancing Ingthorpe’s flood resilience. They will also give gardeners a helping hand during dry spells.
Cllr Jane Hugo, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said:
"This is a fantastic opportunity for residents in Ingthorpe to directly help their community become more resilient to flooding. As we continue to see the impacts of extreme weather, it's important we use all the solutions available to limit or prevent problems arising.
"We are really pleased to be working with United Utilities to provide residents with the opportunity to help reduce flood risk. The free planter not only helps manage surface water, it can also brighten up residents' gardens and collect rainwater to re-use on drier days. By working together with United Utilities and local residents, we're taking practical steps to manage surface water and reduce flood risk."
The attractive planters are made in the North West and will be installed onto a rainwater downpipe on eligible properties. They feature an area at the top for plants and are provided with four different low maintenance plants which have been selected for their capacity to retain water.
The multi-purpose planters feature a 150-litre tank that holds back rainwater to prevent it all hitting the sewer network at the same time. There’s also a 30L rainwater storage tank which acts like a mini water butt, perfect for use around the garden.
Through this scheme there is potential to stop up to 65,000 litres of excess rainwater from immediately entering the drainage network during just one heavy rainfall event – that’s the same as 434 bathtubs.