Help Chipping Sodbury prepare for rainfall
Capture the rain for free and help ease pressure on local drains
What is happening in Chipping Sodbury?
Who? Our Rainwater, South Gloucestershire Council and Resilient Frome are teaming up to bring a free rainwater capture project to residents.
What? Help tackle surface water flooding by getting involved with this free project designed to 'slow the flow' of rainwater.
How? There are 100 free rainwater capture devices available (like a water butt or rainplanter) for residents in eligible areas. They capture and store water before it reaches drains, reducing pressure and can help tackle surface water flooding. More details on specifics coming soon.
Where? The project is available to residents in the St John's Way area. You can find a map of eligible locations below.
Get Involved: Express your interest by signing up in just a few seconds.
Disclaimer: Please note that numbers are limited and devices will be allocated subject to availability.
Brought to you by...
This project is funded by Defra as part of the £150 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme which is managed by the Environment Agency to develop and test new approaches to resilience tailored to local communities
Why is this project important?
Flooding and rainfall have affected parts of Chipping Sodbury in recent years, including the St John’s Way area. Especially during storms like Storm Bert and Storm Claudia.
The River Frome, also comes under increasing pressure during heavy rainfall.
Surface water flooding happens when there is too much rainwater arriving too quickly. When many homes in the same area capture and slow that rainwater at the same time, the cumulative effect is significant.
One device alone won't make much difference.
But together, many devices across the same streets work together to reduce pressure on local drains.
Whilst a single project alone will not cure flooding. Projects like this work as piece of a puzzle to help reduce pressure on drains and tackle surface water flooding.
Taking part couldn't be easier and it won't cost you a penny, keep reading to find out more.
Express your interest in capturing rainwater in just a few seconds!
What's on offer?
We are working with South Gloucestershire Council to offer free rainwater capture devices, like water butts and rainplanters, to eligible households in the Chipping Sodbury area.
Depending on availability, your preferences and available space, there are 3 options to choose from!
- 270L Slim Planter
- 150L Mini Planter
- 210 Wavy Planter
For narrow spaces
Worried about your planter blocking access? The slim planter is great for narrow spaces.
Thin and tall it maximises storage without compromising on space taken up.
Dimensions
- Capacity: 270L
- Height: 105cm
- Width: 79cm
- Depth: 41cm
- Colour Available: TBA
Why take part?
Receive a free rainplanter for your home
Free and professional installation
Free water for your garden
Support flood resilience in Chipping Sodbury
How it works
- Step 1: Register your interest
- Step 2: We will get in touch
- Step 3: We install it for you
- Step 4: Start capturing rain
Register your interest
Fill in the short form below and tell us a little about your property. It takes less than two minutes.
Is my property in the eligible area?
This map shows the approximate eligible area.
Even if your property falls outside of this, it is still worth expressing your interest!
The more people that sign up, the more likely the project could be expanded or a future project could be created.
Find out if you can start capturing the rain now.
Sceptical about the impact a water butt might have?
Sometimes, simple is best.
Water butts capture rainwater from your rooftop before it enters drains. The water is stored temporarily and slowly released. This means:
- During rainfall not all the rain rushes into drains at the same time
- There is always space to capture future rain
Devices are completely free and we handle the installation.
You do not need to do anything except say yes and send us a couple of photos of your downpipes.
Don't just take our word for it
"Service went smoothly, tank works well - really appreciate it." Resident, rainwater capture project
"Brilliant. Super-efficient and I am delighted with my water butt." Resident, rainwater capture project
"Their passion for helping the community improve rainwater capture is fantastic to see." Cllr Lesley Boniface, Lewes District Council
Section 1: About the Project
Why is this project important?
It will help tackle surface water flooding, provide a store of water for dry spells and reduce pressure on local drains. One project alone will not solve the problem, but together with other initiatives they can contribute to better flood resilience.
Is this really free?
Yes, completely. The device and installation are provided free of charge as part of a South Gloucestershire Council funded project.
Will it really make a difference to flooding?
Yes, this project is designed to reduce pressure on local drainage systems. Whilst it won't cure the problem, it is a piece of the puzzle to help make the area more flood resilient.
What difference is your 200 Litre water butt going to make alone?
Not loads you are right. But 100 installed in your area, that is 20,000 litres of rainwater slowed from entering your drains every time it rains heavily.
Who is delivering this project?
This project is delivered by Our Rainwater in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council and Resilient Frome.
Section 2: How Does it Work?
Will it cause any disruption to my home?
Very little. Our installation team connects the device to your existing downpipe: no major works, and no mess. Most installations take under an hour.
How do rainwater capture devices work?
When rainwater is collected in tanks instead of running directly into drains, it lowers the amount of water entering the sewer network during heavy rain. This helps prevent systems from being overwhelmed, which may reduce flooding on streets and in homes.
Do I need a garden?
You need an outdoor space where the device can be placed near a downpipe. This could be a garden, yard, side passage or a space next to your door. Our team will assess the best option for your property when we get in touch.
What if I already have a water butt?
That is great news! You may still be eligible for an upgraded slow release device or rain planter. Or perhaps you have space for a second one. Get in touch and we will talk through the options.
I work during the week, do I have to be in for my installation?
No you don’t have to be in. If you are happy to give access to our installation team, we can take it from there!
Section 3: What about other methods?
Why can't drainage systems just be made bigger or made to handle more water?
Upgrades can be expensive, disruptive and not always practical. Managing rain where it falls is a smarter and a more sustainable way to reduce flood risk.
A project like this works with nature and is a 'natured-based solution'. This usually comes with other benefits like improving biodiversity compared to more construction based methods.
The drains are blocked with leaves and debris, why aren't they just emptied out more regularly?
This is only helpful if where those drains go (ultimately the river) has the capacity to take that water, otherwise they'll back up and cause flooding anyway.
And if the drains back up and flood like this, water can appear in unexpected places, like roads, homes and gardens.
So, if we can, it's important to reduce the volume and rate of runoff into the drains as well as making sure they are clear.
Why aren’t other flood management measures being used?
There is no single solution to flooding. A range of approaches may be needed, including maintaining drainage systems, managing rivers, improving infrastructure and capturing rainwater where it falls.
This project focuses on rainwater capture because it can help reduce the amount of water entering local drainage systems during heavy rainfall and complements other flood resilience measures.
Section 4: Monitors
What are the monitors for?
The monitors record water depth inside the tank. This means we know about the intensity of the rainfall, how the device performed, and if it's blocked, we can assess that without physically coming to check.
Do I have to have a monitor?
It is not a requirement for you to have a monitor and therefore you can opt out before we install. We would recommend not opting out as the anonymised data is incredibly useful for assessing performance. We can also let you know if it's blocked and suggest an easy fix.
Can I move the monitor around?
No, these monitors are the property of Our Rainwater and disturbing them can limit the accuracy of the data they collect.