Whitstable Library in Kent has introduced new sustainable drainage features as part of a wider partnership project aimed at reducing pressure on the local sewer network and supporting environmental resilience.
Southern Water has been working with Kent County Council and Canterbury City Council to roll out Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) at the Oxford Street, Whitstable site, with a bespoke raingarden planter.
The library’s eco-upgrade is helping slow the flow of rainwater into the sewer system, making it less likely that volumes will overload the network and lead to storm overflows that prevent flooding of communities.
The first phase of the project involved the previously disused back garden area at the library being transformed. The next part of the project will involve putting in SuDS at the front of the building. This work is likely to start early next year.
Sustainable drainage is a key part of our larger £1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan to drastically cut these releases across our region.
In the Whitstable area, Southern Water has already seen a 30% drop in spills over the past two years due to a redesign of Swalecliffe Wastewater Treatment Works, and the rollout of various SuDS like water butts.
Southern Water is anticipating more spills to be prevented through using artificial intelligence. Similar schemes are now being developed in neighbouring Kent communities such as Queenborough, Sittingbourne, Faversham and Herne Bay.
Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force pathfinder project manager Jerome Corcoran said: “This is a brilliant example of how small changes can make a big difference. By giving Whitstable Library a green upgrade, we’re helping protect local rivers and seas whilst also enhancing the public space and giving back to the community.”
Paul Webb, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “This is a fantastic example of how our community spaces can lead the way in innovation when working alongside commercial partners like Southern Water.
“By integrating this new system into Whitstable Library, we’re not only protecting our local rivers and seas, but also increasing the role the library building itself plays in the community. It demonstrates how libraries can be hubs for learning, information and sustainability.
“This project reflects our commitment to building resilient, forward-thinking communities across Kent.”
