What is Rainwater Management?
It's strange to think that rainwater needs "managing", but it can be as simple as collecting and storing rainwater!
- rainwater management
- rainwater harvesting
- stormwater management
- rainwater conservation
What is Rainwater Management?
Managing rainwater, what does that mean?
It's strange to think that we need to "manage rainwater".
All this really means is planning, controlling and using rainwater to help prevent damage, flooding, and harness it as a precious resource.
What does rainwater management involve?
Managing rainwater includes:
- Collecting rainwater for reuse in devices like water butts
- "Slowing the flow" to help reduce rain rushing into drains
- Creating green areas or rain gardens, so rainfall soaks into the ground
Why is rainwater management important?
Although it feels like it rains all the time in the UK, rainwater needs to be treated as a precious and limited resource.
By looking after it well, we can help tackle:
- surface water flooding
- sewer spills
- run off and pollution
- water stress
This is especially important in urban areas, where there are more people and hard surfaces. Surfaces like concrete and tarmac causes water to move much faster, which can make surface water flooding worse.
What other names does rainwater management have?
There are other names that refer to rainwater management and associated practices that you might have heard of. These include:
- Stormwater management
- Rainwater harvesting
- Urban water management
- Rainwater conservation
- Sustainable water practices
You might also hear the term "sustainable drainage" or "SuDS", which refers to green ways of looking after rainwater.
Here are some examples of rainwater management
- Water Butts and Rainplanters
- Rain Gardens
- Green Roofs
- Permeable Paving
- Tree Pits
Instead of rainwater flowing directly into drains, connecting a water butt or rainplanter to your downpipe holds back rainwater. This helps reduce pressure on sewers, by releasing it back slowly. Water can also be used for gardens, plants and outdoor spaces.
3 ways you can get involved with rainwater management
Managing rainwater might be easier than you think!
Collect Rainwater
Use water butts or repurposed barrels to catch rainwater. Connect them to your downpipes to really make a difference!
Keep Green Spaces
Try not to pave over gardens or driveways. Or add in green spaces and trees to your outdoor areas to help reduce runoff.
Join Community Initiatives
Community action is essential to create a more sustainable future for our water resources. There's often projects available to get involved with!