REFRESHING THE APPROACH TO HOW WATER IS MANAGED
Water is too precious to be wasted - let’s work together to make the most of every drop.
It’s UNUSED,
Not UNWANTED
In an area that receives such limited rainfall, having too much water isn’t the issue.
Reclaim the Rain is a pioneering scheme run by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, set up to investigate ways we can capture and harness water before it becomes a problem.
To succeed in our goals, we need to speak to all water users who could benefit from a new source of sustainable water to help their home, business or local environment. Big or small, everyone’s input is welcome.
By working together we can come up with new ideas and concepts to reclaim excess water. We will then develop these initiatives and use the funding to put them into practice. This exciting new project has massive potential to help rural communities, businesses and organisations gain multi-year funding to reduce flood risk and capture much needed water that is currently going to waste. It’s also your chance to get involved with a scheme that has the potential to shape local and national policy on water resilience for years to come.
Much of our economy relies on having a consistent source of water.
On average 16% of all water used in our area is for agriculture, in comparison to 1% in the rest of the country. The East of England grows more than a quarter of the country’s wheat and barley, nearly a third of all potatoes and well over half the country’s entire sugar beet crop. Norfolk and Suffolk are also rich in natural habitats, crucial for wildlife and tourism - more than 10% of each county is subject to a special environmental protection status due to the high quality of the habitat. Notable protected areas containing fresh water dependent habitats include The Broads, RSPB Minsmere and Dedham Vale AONB.
By harnessing as much water as possible, we will not only be reducing the risk of flooding, we will be securing a water supply that is vital for our area.
Want to get involved?
Becoming part of Reclaim the Rain is easy. Here’s how:
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The more people we have working on Reclaim the Rain, the better. By collaborating with communities rather than individuals we have a far greater chance of achieving our goals, so tell your neighbours, your colleagues and anyone you see walking down the street and get them involved!
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Once you have a team together who want to help make these changes, contact us and let us know you’re ready to go. We can then talk to you in depth about your community and what the next steps are.
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It’s never too soon to start coming up with ideas. Use your local knowledge to start considering ways in which you can Reclaim the Rain. From waterbutts in gardens to largescale drainage systems, the more ideas we have, the better!
COUNTIES CONNECTING
Reclaim the Rain is a pioneering project set up by Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council working together.
It’s been funded to test new ways to reduce flooding in small, rural communities.
To begin with, Reclaim the Rain will connect with selected communities that have the potential to benefit from the scheme. Water users will work with the team contributing ideas and using their local knowledge to come up with ways to manage floodwater and find new uses for it.
Case studies which will be created from these initiatives will then be used to take the project to the next level, shaping policy that will guide water resilience at a local and national level.
11% of rivers and 35% of groundwater aquifers in England are
“probably at risk” of environmental damage due to water abstraction.
Environment Agency