Rainwater management

The North West is one of the wettest regions in the country receiving more than 25% higher than average rainfall.

In most cases, rainwater that falls onto roofs and highways drains into the sewer system and combines with the foul water from our homes. In fact, 54% of our sewer network in the region is combined.

In dry conditions, our sewer system is no more than 15% full, but during heavy downpours the system can become quickly overwhelmed and the volume of water reaching our treatment works often exceeds the treatment capacity.

This is when storm overflows come into use – to avoid the system backing up and flooding homes and businesses the foul water mixed with rainwater is discharged into water courses.

We are embarking on an ambitious rainwater management programme at United Utilities to stop rainwater entering, or to remove it from our sewer system.

Through the removal, diversion, capture and reuse of rainwater we will boost the resilience of our existing infrastructure alongside our unprecedented capital delivery programme that will see improvements and expansion of our network and treatment assets.

Take a look at some of the projects we have delivered and some of the schemes we’ve supported so far.