GM SuDS for schools

Schools across Greater Manchester are introducing green spaces into their grey playgrounds to help manage the impact of rainfall and attract wildlife.   

15 schools in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale have had special ‘thirsty’ planters and raingardens installed as part of United Utilities £280 million, five-year region-wide investment programme to manage rainwater more sustainably through increased use of natural methods.

The water company for the North West is working with schools, local authorities, charities, community organisations and regulators including the Environment Agency to introduce more blue green infrastructure such as sustainable drainage systems.

Head of Rainwater Management at United Utilities, Tim Armour explained: “Although rainwater is usually in plentiful supply in the North West, it is an important resource and our aim is to value every drop by managing it productively to deliver environmental benefits and, reduce flooding risks, as well as help  customers reduce their bills by using rainwater creatively and stop it going down the drain.

“Schools are a great place to start as many have large impermeable playground areas where the rainwater can’t soak through. This can cause pooling or even flooding during heavy rainfall which makes them unusable and puts extra pressures on the drainage network.  

“By using nature and giving it a helping hand with some clever engineering, we can give the rainwater somewhere to go and at the same time create rich habitats for wildlife, increase biodiversity and create vibrant spaces for children to enjoy and learn about the natural world.”

Planters are attached to downpipes and divert water from the roof, while raingardens have a hidden underground system to capture surface water that would otherwise run straight into the drains. They store and filter the water before slowly releasing it back to the sewer network, into nearby streams or the ground where it can drain away naturally.   

The clever solution provides a place for plants to grow and attracts species including bees, birds and butterflies. It also creates living educational spaces providing an opportunity for children to learn more about the water cycle. 

So far, 136,000 litres of additional water storage – the equivalent of more than 900 bathtubs - has been added through almost 100 installations at 11 schools across Manchester, two in Rochdale and two in Salford. Seating was also included in the design to further enhance play spaces and encourage social interaction. 

Tim Armour added: “As well as slowing the flow of water into the network and enhancing otherwise grey spaces, these projects collectively contribute reduce the amount of precious rainfall needlessly entering our sewer systems or overwhelming them.” 

The schools were also given a complimentary water audit to identify and repair leaks from taps and toilets. This is saving more than 15,000 litres of lost drinking water every day and helping schools save money on their water bills.

A short film about the project is available here

More school projects are already in development with United Utilities aiming to reach 200 schools in the Greater Manchester area alone by 2030.