Craigleith Flooding Project Sees Residents Helping to Capture Rainwater

A new project in Edinburgh’s Craigleith area has seen free water butts and stormwater planters installed at 27 properties, to help reduce the risk of flooding. 
 
The work aims to reduce the amount of rainwater entering the urban drainage system during periods of heavy rainfall and is one of two pilot projects delivered by Scottish Water to date. 
 
The water butts and planters are designed to capture rainwater running off the roofs of the properties, stopping around 1363 m2 of roof area from flowing straight into the sewers – with the aim of reducing flooding risk further downstream. 
 
Scottish Water project manager Ed Ptolomey said: “This pilot is part of a series of work that is being planned and undertaken to tackle flooding issues in the Craigleith area through the Edinburgh and Lothian Strategic Drainage Partnership, of which Scottish Water is a key member. 
 
“We are facing increasing challenges from more frequent and intense rainfall events due to climate change in Scotland. By utilising nature-based solutions like these to reduce the amount of rainwater that enters the public sewer system, we can reduce the frequency and severity of flooding from the sewer network when it becomes overloaded.” 
 
He added: “As well as helping to support our traditional infrastructure, these schemes also create attractive green spaces for people and wildlife to make use of.”  

Resident Katie Gibson, who had two water butts installed at her property as part of the pilot, said: “I was aware that flooding has been an issue within the area over the last two to three years and it is good to see Scottish Water targeting flooding without it being a large scale infrastructure project.  
 
“I’ve really enjoyed being part of the scheme, it was really easy from start to finish and I’ve found it very useful to have access to water in three places in my garden now, not just the outside tap which has made watering my plants easier. During the long dry spells this summer, it has also allowed me not to use as much mains water as I otherwise would have.”

She added: "I'm really interested to see how the project does affect flooding in the area."

Experts at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) were also involved in selecting appropriate plants to be used in the project, to ensure they offered a range of benefits to customers, as well as being visually attractive and resilient to varying weather conditions. 

Isla Kendall, PhD student at RBGE and Heriot Watt University, said: “It was great to be involved in the Craigleith stormwater planter and water butt pilot project with Scottish Water.  
 
“Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh scientists and horticulturists collaborated to design planting palettes for residents, that offer biodiversity, beauty, and food-growing benefits. Plants play a crucial role in these systems by helping water soak into the soil and releasing it back into the air through transpiration.” 
 
Feedback from the residents who took part in the project will inform how similar projects are rolled out elsewhere by Scottish Water in the future.