SuDS Model Case Study: Living With Water
Living With Water is a partnership between Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Environment Agency and the University of Hull – all of which play a role in managing water in Hull and the East Riding.
They are working together to build flood resilience, develop innovative water management systems, and build understanding about the threats and opportunities that water brings to the region.
Hull is the second biggest flood risk area in the UK outside of London. 98% of the city is defined as at ‘high risk’ of flooding, and this risk will increase with climate change.
There are multiple sources of flood risk: tidal, river, surface water, ground water and sewer. In some areas the risk will be predominantly tidal, in some river, and in some surface water and sewer depending on location. Flood defences along the Humber, River Hull and Holderness Drain reduce the probability of flooding, but can increase the consequences of flooding.
Part of the vision of Living With Water is to work with communities, with a comprehensive community engagement plan that spans the region. Having the right tools to deliver meaningful and interactive engagement assists engagement in participatory conversations about flood risk and building community resilience.
In 2018, Living With Water conducted a baseline survey of various groups of residents who had been flooded. Whilst many of the residents surveyed had made changes to their homes and understood the flood risk, there was a need for ongoing engagement around the subject and ways to bring the risk to life.
Living With Water asked EcoStyle for a model that shows ways in which residents can take simple actions to mitigate surface water damage and to bring the benefits of sustainable drainage to life.
Lynnsey Pilmer, Communications and Engagement Manager for Yorkshire Water said: ‘Having the SuDS Model to take to community events and schools has been invaluable to the way we engage with residents.’
‘Over the past three years we have engaged with over 6,000 residents, using the SuDS Model at community events, scout groups and schools to educate around the risk of flooding we face in Hull and East Riding.
‘We have used the model to have quality conversations with communities about their flood risk and what they can do to become more resilient.
‘Flooding and flood risk can be a difficult conversation to have with anyone - whether you have been flooded directly or indirectly - but interactive, relevant tools such as the SuDS Model have helped us raise awareness, educate communities about the work we are doing and increase the number of flood warning sign-ups over the five years that we have been using the model.’
