Golborne school gets rain-ready
As the North West soaks up the sun, Golborne Community Primary School is getting ready to soak up the rain when it returns.
United Utilities is working with the school to install a range of measures including raingardens, trees and rainwater planters – all designed to soak up rainfall like a sponge to reduce flooding and ease pressure on the local sewer network.
The work is being funded by the water company as part of its £280m Rainwater Management Programme which is using nature and smart engineering across towns, cities and rural uplands to manage rain where it falls.
As well as reducing flooding within the school grounds, the project will also play a key role in reducing the operation of storm overflows in the local area and improving water quality in nearby Millingford Brook.
Steve Kenyon, United Utilities’ County Business Lead for Wastewater Services in Merseyside explained: “We are working with schools across the region to look at where the introduction of rainwater management interventions can have a positive impact for them and the environment.
“Schools tend to have large roofs and areas of hard surfaces which leads to a lot of surface water run-off – this makes them great places to introduce sustainable drainage. As well as managing the rain where it falls, they also deliver benefits for the school by creating attractive areas to learn and play.”
Golborne School is benefitting from the introduction of five raingardens that absorb rainwater and allow it to slowly trickle away, two tree pits that act as huge sponges underground and provide seating areas above ground and seventeen rainwater planters that capture rain from the roof and slow the flow of water into the sewer network.
Together these measures replumb 74% of the school’s grey spaces back into nature. The school will also benefit from savings on their surface water charges through the sustainable drainage incentive.
Andy Hunt, Headteacher at the school said: “This will enhance our outdoor areas even more and both the fantastic staff and our amazing children, are very excited about this sustainable project. We have had a lot of problems with surface water flooding when it rains, and some parts of our grounds become inaccessible, reducing the children's access to being outdoors. Furthermore, our wonderful Eco-Warriors will be able to further develop the school's commitment to being environmentally friendly."
“As well as managing that, these garden areas give our children new areas to play, develop and learn. They will support our curriculum, and we are looking forward to using them for outdoor activities and learning.”
The project also supports work being carried out through the Greater Manchester Integrated Water Management Plan which sees the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Wigan Council, the Environment Agency and United Utilities working together to manage water rainwater differently.