Northumbrian Water is holding an event today to enable people in Cramlington to find out more about proposals to create a novel solution to help prevent flooding in the Megstone Avenue area of the town.
The water company plans to create a detention basin - a landscaped area shaped in such a way that during intensive storms it will store excess surface water.
The project is the first of its kind undertaken by Northumbrian Water and is seen as a sustainable alternative to increasing the size of sewer pipes or installing underground storage tanks to hold storm water.
The excess surface water will spill into the detention basin via an overflow pipe. When the storm has passed, the basin will drain back into the public sewer system.
It is proposed to locate the basin on open land in the area. The shape, size and landscaping of the basin is yet to be determined and Northumbrian Water is inviting input from residents as part of the planning stage.
Beatrice Brindley, Northumbrian Water’s project manager for the scheme, said:
“We fully appreciate the upset and devastation that flooding can cause, that is why reducing the risk to customers’ homes and businesses is one of our top priorities.”
“We are working with our consultants, Amec, and Northumberland County Council to develop a sustainable option to store surface water during heavy rainfall.
“It is hoped that this work can be carried out later this year, however before progressing the scheme we would like to consult with those people who are directly affected by the proposals.”
Next week the utility is due to start work on a £450,000 flood protection scheme for Whitley Bay via an upgrade of the sewer network. The work, which is being carried out by contractor Lumsden and Carroll, involves the installation of 160 metres of new sewer pipe and is expected to take about 11 weeks to complete. Ian Davison, the company’s project manager for the scheme, said that reducing the risk of flooding to customers’ homes and businesses is one of Northumbrian Water’s top priorities.