We were delighted to learn this week that a major Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency project Retroflo worked on has been awarded a prestigious Water Industry Achievement Award for 2017.

The £7 million flood alleviation project in Brunton Park, Gosforth was awarded the Sustainable Drainage & Flood Management Initiative of the Year at the water ‘Oscars’ event in Birmingham.

The scheme was undertaken to alleviate flooding and pollution issues from the River Ouseburn and surface and foul sewer networks, which had affected more than 100 homes in Brunton Park. To achieve this, the course of the River Ouseburn was diverted away from the main source of flooding and a new storage basin created to drain and store more than seven million litres of surface water.

Retroflo were contracted by the main contractor Seymour Engineering to complete the mechanical and electrical installation of the pumps and pipework for a new 450,000 litre storage tank. The project also involved the construction of 650 metres of flood defences (walls and earth embankment) and the installation of two kilometres of new sewer pipe.

The project was recognised by the Awards committee as an excellent example of sustainable urban drainage (SuDS), which will also help create a valuable wetland habitat for wildlife. Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “The Brunton Park scheme is an excellent example of how working in partnership, and tackling flooding at all its sources, can result in an integrated and sustainable solution.”