Delivering sustainable surface water management in a compact setting
Delivering sustainable surface water management in a compact setting
Project overview
- Materials: 13 Hydrorock D170 attenuation blocks, 100m2 Rolawn® Medallion® Turf
- Attenuation capacity: c.2,100 litres / c.2.21m³ gross volume
- Benefits: Infiltration support, passive irrigation, increased and improved use of garden for pupils due to reduced surface water flooding.
Pelton Primary School’s garden has been transformed from an unusable, flood-prone space into an attractive outdoor education zone, with the help of the Hydrorock system, in a project that brought together organisations and the community.
The challenge
Residential, commercial and community landscapes are increasingly expected to do more than look good. They need to manage surface water, reduce ponding, support planting, improve usability and contribute to climate resilience.
On this project, the challenge was to improve drainage performance and create a more usable garden while keeping the water management infrastructure hidden beneath the surface. Critically, the install had to create minimal disruption to the operation of the school.
The solution
Avove Utilities, working with Northumbrian Water, selected BluWater Solutions to supply Hydrorock natural aquifer blocks on the basis of the attenuation capacity and ability to be installed quickly and easily. The system was made up of 13 x D170 Hydrorock blocks. Based on the typical Hydrorock void ratio of around 95%, the system delivers approximately 2.10m³, or 2,100 litres, of effective attenuation capacity. It was installed within minutes, enabling the surrounding area to be landscaped the same day.
Unlike traditional crate-based systems, Hydrorock is permeable throughout its structure. This allows water to infiltrate through the sides, ends and base of the installation, helping to slow runoff, reduce surface water ponding and support groundwater recharge.
The system also acts as a passive irrigation reservoir. Stored water is gradually released into the surrounding soil, supporting lawns, planting and tree root systems during drier periods.
The structure of the Hydrorock system enables the blocks to be laid within a narrow trench, demonstrating how meaningful storage capacity can be achieved without a large excavation footprint.
The area was returfed using 100m2 of Medallion Turf from Rolawn Limited, a sister company of BluWater Solutions.
Project outcomes
The completed garden retained the drainage and irrigation benefits of the underground system while becoming a more usable and visually attractive landscape. The before-and-after image shown above demonstrates a clear transformation from a tired, uneven garden into a more structured outdoor space with lawn, planting zones and a central gravel path.
“We recently used the Hydrorock product on a community project at Pelton Primary School as the garden was not suitable for the children to play in due to drainage issues. This product is a game changer! Thirteen blocks were quickly and easily installed in 10 minutes; the blocks are light and easy to place in difficult areas and they have provided over 2,100 litres of storage. The garden is now a fun, safe place for the children to enjoy and learn. Thank you to BluWater Solutions and BioScapes Group for supporting this important project.”
Why this matters
This project shows how Hydrorock can be integrated into wider sustainable drainage, retrofit, reinstatement, landscaping and community improvement programmes.
The system is particularly relevant where deliverables include:
- Practical SuDS-style interventions in constrained locations.
- Surface water management as part of reinstatement or public realm works.
- Added environmental and social value on utility, highways, housing or community projects.
- Lower-visibility infrastructure that improves resilience without compromising finished spaces.
