Building Industry News

Domestic surface water drainage 'needs limiting'

11/12/2009 11:14:42

Domestic surface water drainage needs to be limited in order to reduce the pressure on Britain's sewage system, according to a government-commissioned inquiry.

Anna Walker, chair of the Office of the Rail Regulator, reported this week on the future of the water industry.

While the proposal to extend water meters to more homes grabbed the headlines, Ms Walker's report also recommended that efforts be made to limit domestic surface water drainage and drainage from roads.

"Climate change means we all have to think differently about how we deal with surface water," Ms Walker said.

"Household customers should be incentivised to minimise the amount of water from their properties which goes into the public sewer."

The report suggested that the highways authorities should play a bigger role in limiting drainage from the road network.

Surface water drainage was one of the main causes of the 2007 floods, which were the most severe floods Britain had seen for a generation.

In Hull, for example, one of the worst-hit areas, the drainage system was completely overwhelmed by the record levels of rainfall, described as a once in 150-years event.

Posted by Kim Bardsley

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