Southern Water to install sustainable drainage in local schools

In a joint initiative with the Department of Education, Southern Water is to install sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) at dozens of schools across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex over the next few months.

The SUDS will slow the flow of water from hard surfaces including classroom roofs and playgrounds, so sewers are less likely to receive huge jumps in volume in over brief periods which can trigger storm water releases into the sea and local rivers. 

The project is in its second year after what Souther said was a successful first year where more than 40 schools benefitted from having SuDS. 

The project forms part of the work by Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force aimed at significantly reducing storm overflows across the south east. The team is using “innovative nature-based and engineering solutions”, to slow the flow of ground and surface water into the sewer network.