Schools are ideal locations for sustainable drainage systems as part of flood and storm overflow reduction strategies, says Lorna Davis, director, SuDSPlanter Ltd, who details a recent community partnership with Yorkshire Water.

Yorkshire Water has partnered with sustainable drainage and engineering specialist SuDSPlanter® to install rainwater planters in 15 schools and one urban farm. A total of 49 specialised planters were installed in towns and cities across Yorkshire, including Leeds, Rotherham and Doncaster, in March 2025.

SuDSPlanter systems are designed to capture rainwater run-off from roofs by rerouting the downpipe into the planters instead of directly into the drains. The water is held in the SuDSPlanter unit within the storage area and the soil and taken up by the plants. This is then slowly released back into drains, reducing the risk of sewers becoming overwhelmed during inclement weather.

Each planter comprises a series of layers, acting as both a sponge and a natural filter, attenuating flow and removing sediment as the water soaks through to a reservoir below. Specially formulated soil mixes provide the optimum environment for supporting healthy plants and holding water.

Low maintenance and hard-wearing, the planters also store excess water to keep plants thriving during dry spells. The SuDSPlanter team comprises surface water management and engineering specialists who carry out in-depth consultation with partners, to identify how a network of planters can protect sewers and prevent flooding.

Climate challenge

Climate change is bringing unpredictable weather patterns, with both drought and floods occurring more frequently and intensely. In many areas, urban development and concrete surfaces have replaced natural, absorbent landscapes. As a result, rainwater run-off is reaching sewers faster and in greater volumes, increasing risk of floods, pollution and combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges.

Schools can be particularly prone to flooding, due to their extensive hard-surfaced areas, such as playgrounds, sports pitches and car parks. In 2021, the UK government warned that nearly 15,000 schools would be at significant risk from flooding by 2050 due to anticipated climate change impacts.

Water companies must reduce CSO spills by 2030 and regulatory expectations place strong emphasis on nature-based solutions, as well as community engagement and climate resilience - making schools ideal partners for sustainable drainage projects.

Spill reduction

As part of its Storm Spill Reduction Programme, Yorkshire Water provided free stormwater planter systems to 15 primary schools and one city farm, in areas where wider flood alleviation measures were undertaken.

Yorkshire Water has partnered with SuDSPlanter® to install rainwater planters in 15 schools.

SuDSPlanter was chosen as the equipment provider, building on successful partnerships with schools, local authorities and utilities across the UK.

Each system was bespoke in design, comprising between one and five planters. Installations took place over four weeks in March 2025, generally taking between one and two days per site, followed by one day for education engagement and planting.

Now fully connected and in operation, the 49 planters can capture a total of 18,700 litres of rain – a significant volume to be kept out of the sewers during storms. Not only has this reduced the risk of localised flooding, pollution and CSO spills, new wildlife habitats have also been created in each of the 16 locations.

Outdoor learning

The green spaces and enhanced biodiversity have potential to positively impact the health and wellbeing of users, encourage physical activity and enthusiasm for nature and the outdoors. They also provide a new space for outdoor lessons, gardening and eco clubs.

The provision of educational resources supports learning in topics such as the water cycle, water-saving, weather and climate change, gardening, growing and caring for the natural world.

Omair Khan, lead project manager, storm spill reduction programme, at Yorkshire Water said: “The SuDSPlanter schools’ collaboration is a fantastic project which will have long-term benefits for all partners and the environment.

'By capturing stormwater, the planters are not only reducing localised flood risk, they’re helping build resilience to dry spells in the summer months by storing water, then slowly releasing it into the soil when needed.'

Adam Ogilvie, chief executive, Meanwood Urban Farm, Leeds, said: 'The SuDSPlanters provide the potential for a learning tool when teaching our outdoor, nature-based learning activities to 3,000 – 4,000 children per year.'

SuDS in Schools Funding Relaunched

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the Schools Water Strategy is inviting applications for the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Schools Grant Scheme. The aim of the project is to reduce surface water risk in schools.

Over the past two years, SuDSPlanter has supported hundreds of SuDS in Schools installations - from simple setups to larger-scale green infrastructure projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to reduce flood risk, improve biodiversity, and provide valuable outdoor learning opportunities.

Apply here for the 2026-2027 scheme: https://find-lb.find-a-grant-support.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/grants/sustainable-drainage-systems-suds-in-schools-202627-1

Closing date is 20 October 2025, 9am.