The project was a unique trial, forming part of our Green Recovery Programme – giving us a chance to test how we can all reduce flood risk in the future and to improve the river and watercourse quality of the region in the process.
We designed and installed hundreds of SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) across Mansfield, having chosen the town not only because of the risk of surface water floods, but also because the ground conditions there are perfect for SuDS to get to work.
What are SuDS?
SuDS are designed to help alleviate flooding, which protects our community, infrastructure and local rivers.
When it rains, thousands of litres of water fall on towns like Mansfield. And all that water needs to go somewhere. With more roads, roofs, parking and pavements, rain has fewer places to drain away, creating a greater risk of flooding.
Designed to help sewer networks work better in inclement weather, the SuDS work by storing rainwater or infiltrating it into the ground. Using nature, SuDS help to soak up, filter and slow down the rainwater flowing from hard surfaces around us.
SuDS use plants, soil and several different layers of materials to slow down and store rainwater. They then let the filtered water soak into the ground – or if this isn’t possible they send it slowly back to the sewerage network.
Making magic in Mansfield
We have completed over 300 SuDS within Mansfield, providing over 31m litres of storage (that’s over 14 Olympic sized swimming pools!) and providing 90,000 people with increased flood risk protection.
Watch the video below to learn more about the project, the considerable impact on the town and how we worked with the local community.
Rain gardens
Rain gardens use plants and soil to hold onto the water.
When it stops raining, it slowly releases it back into the ground or the sewer network - making the community cleaner, greener, and with less risk of floods.
Detention Basin
They may look like big dips in the ground, but detention basins are a vital solution to local flooding.
Like rain gardens, detention basins use plants and soil to capture and store rainwater, then release this back into the ground and/or the sewer network when the rain subsides.
As well as soaking up water, detention basins are a great place for nature, utilising plants and grasses that are drought and heat-tolerant.
Additionally, detention basins are large in volume - able to hold hundreds of litres of rainwater.
Permeable paving
Used for carparks, walkways, and other hard surfaces, permeable paving contains lots of tiny holes.
These holes allow water to pass through and soak slowly into the ground beneath - making the streets more flood-resilient while maintaining parking and access to residents, businesses and visitors alike.
Bioswales
Similar to detention basins, bioswales store water and release it slowly into the ground or drainage network in the same way.
Filled with plants that help to filter and hold the water, they have shallow channels with sloping slides.
Bioswales are usually dry but during heavy storm events, can fill up with water, storing this before filtering back into the drainage network.
The benefits of SuDS
SuDS come with many tangible benefits, for Mansfield’s inhabitants, the wider community and the environment.
For communities
For the environment
Working in partnership
The project would not have been possible without essential collaboration with others, such as local councils and the highways agency. Working together, we were able to achieve design approval, adhere to road safety requirements and obtain important legal agreements.
Our partners:
SuDS and the future
Our work in Mansfield has created a blueprint for sustainable flood development in towns and cities. By openly sharing our learning with the water sector, regulators and wider bodies, we can work together to set policies and evolve moving forwards.
Urban development and climate change, together with individual behaviour like paving over gardens, is having an impact on networks and increasing the risk of flooding.
We believe our experience in Mansfield gives us an opportunity to help bring the benefits of SuDS to more communities in the years to come- opportunities for SuDS in other areas across our network are already being identified.
Life-long maintenance
Severn Trent will look after maintenance of these SuDS in Mansfield for life. This commitment is designed to give local authorities long-term reassurance.
We think it’ll be the blueprint for how we manage flooding in the future. And at the same time, it makes Mansfield an even fresher, greener place to live for our customers and communities.
Look out for our examples of SuDS across Mansfield! For further information on this project, don't hesitate to get in touch.