Hydro International’s Stormbloc® Optimum Provides Vital Stormwater Management Around the UK

Posted by Construction Industry News Magazine on 18th January 2021 -

With an additional 1.2m Great British properties being placed at risk of flooding by 2050^[1], the need for better stormwater management systems has never been more important, particularly in remote and challenging urban environments

Hydro International’s Stormbloc^® Optimum geocellular attenuation system, which provides SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) storage and infiltration in a modular storage system, is a great solution for this growing problem. In addition to helping prevent surface water flooding, the Stormbloc^® Optimum stormwater system saves space on construction sites and lorries through its ability to collapse and stack effectively. 

The innovative stormwater system has been adopted widely since it was introduced to the UK in 2018, and today has been installed across the majority of the UK, stretching as far north as the MACBI Community Hub in Mintlaw, Scotland, south to Carbis Bay in St Ives, Cornwall and into North Wales in Bryn Cefni, Llangefni.

Provided exclusively through REHAU – a leader in the building services sector – the two companies are pleased to announce the extension of their exclusive stormwater management deal contract. This will ensure more sustainable drainage systems are available to cope with the impact of the climate crisis, particularly in England where a major flood has occurred almost every year since 2007.

Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU, comments: “While efforts to tackle long-term climate change across the globe are quite rightly coming to the fore, we also need to be putting measures in place to manage the inevitable effects in the not-so-distant future. To address this effectively, technology leaders must diversify and collaborate, and this is the ethos that sits at the heart of our partnership with Hydro International.”

The two companies have seen significant growth for the product since initially signing the exclusivity agreement with Hydro International in late 2017. This success will continue to evolve with the launch of new products into the stormwater range, such as the innovative modular Stormbloc^® Optimum Inspect chamber in 2020.

Andy Kane, Operations Director at Hydro International, says: “At a time when civil engineers and contractors are under immense pressure to do more with less, and to do it faster, having UK stock in partnership with REHAU has helped us improve our lead times immensely. This solution has exceeded our customers’ expectations over recent years, and it is only natural that we continue to offer it.”

Hydro International has over four decades of experience in delivering flow control and storage for SuDS, helping regulators, water companies, developers and contractors to deliver effective and sustainable drainage projects. To date, the company has provided solutions for projects ranging from large flood alleviation schemes to stormwater drainage for residential developments.

Mr Richmond adds: “We are delighted to see this contract renewed. It’s been great working with such a competent and responsible partner that shares such similar environmental values, making this decision a no-brainer from our side.”