Innovative landfill liner transforms sustainable drainage systems for Yorkshire flood resilience

A waterproof lining system traditionally used for landfill leachate containment is proving its value in the water industry after being successfully deployed in a major sustainable drainage system (SuDS) project in Yorkshire.

According to Jason Hemmingway, Sales Director at SIG Infrastructure, the innovative application demonstrates how proven geotechnical technologies can help improve flood resilience while reducing installation costs and carbon emissions.

Landmark SuDS project protects communities from flooding

The £8.4 million Derringham Aqua Greens Project forms part of the Living With Water (LWW) partnership, bringing together Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Environment Agency and the University of Hull.

Delivered by construction partner Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), the scheme was completed in August 2025 and represents a significant milestone in Hull's long-term flood mitigation strategy.

Designed as a nature-based sustainable drainage solution, the project features six large stormwater storage basins that temporarily capture heavy rainfall close to where it falls. Water is then released gradually into the sewer network once capacity becomes available, helping reduce flood risk across surrounding communities.

Three of the basins were lined using Naue's SecuDrain structured waterproof lining system, supplied by SIG Construction Accessories (SIG CA), while the remaining three were left unlined to evaluate how the underlying clay soils naturally filter stormwater.

Early supplier collaboration delivers better SuDS design

SIG Construction Accessories became involved during the earliest stages of design after being invited by principal contractor JN Bentley to review the proposed lining specification.

Working alongside engineering consultants at Mott MacDonald, SIG CA identified that the originally specified lining solution would not fully meet the demanding performance requirements of the flood storage basins.

Instead, the team proposed SecuDrain—a structured drainage composite typically used in landfill engineering for leachate containment—as a technically superior alternative.

The project presented several engineering challenges. With insufficient time available for long-term groundwater monitoring before construction, designers had to assume groundwater levels could reach ground level. This required an additional drainage layer beneath the waterproof liner to prevent flotation.

Jason Bland, Head of Power & Utilities at SIG Construction Accessories, explained:

"Due to the high water table at the site, an additional composite drainage layer was required. When our German supply chain partner Naue completed the hydraulic calculations, the project team was confident that SecuDrain could accommodate the required groundwater flow rates and deliver the best technical solution."

Waterproof lining reduces costs and carbon

Unlike traditional drainage systems that rely on thick layers of gravel or crushed stone, the SecuDrain structured drainage composite delivers equivalent hydraulic performance while significantly reducing material use. By replacing mineral drainage layers, the system cuts material consumption, lowers transport requirements, speeds up installation and reduces embodied carbon, while maintaining the drainage performance needed for demanding SuDS applications.

The waterproof lining system was installed between December 2023 and January 2024 during particularly wet weather conditions. Engineers from both SIG CA and Naue provided on-site technical support throughout the installation, ensuring quality control from specification through to completion.

The project's success has since encouraged JN Bentley to specify the solution on additional water industry projects across the UK.

Landfill technology finds a new role in sustainable drainage systems

The Derringham project marks the first known use of the SecuDrain liner within a UK SuDS application, highlighting how technologies developed for environmental containment can be successfully adapted for stormwater management.

Jason Bland said:

"The crossover of SecuDrain from landfill leachate containment into sustainable drainage schemes makes perfect sense. Rainwater runoff contains contaminants and requires the same Environment Agency approval process, making this an ideal application."

Blueprint for future AMP8 flood resilience projects

For Mott MacDonald, the project demonstrates how early engagement with specialist suppliers can unlock innovation and improve infrastructure delivery.

Fiona Booth, Design Lead at Mott MacDonald, said:

"The Derringham Aqua Greens Project is a flagship flood resilience scheme for the Living With Water partnership. By engaging early with our framework partners and supplier community, we quickly identified the Naue SecuDrain lining system proposed by SIG Construction Accessories.

This is the first time the liner has been used within a sustainable drainage application, but with significant investment in nature-based drainage solutions through water companies' AMP8 programmes, we expect to use it on similar projects in the future."

Nature-based drainage delivers long-term community benefits

Since completion, the Derringham Aqua Greens scheme has already demonstrated its effectiveness during periods of heavy rainfall, helping protect hundreds of homes in one of Hull's highest flood-risk areas.

The blue-green infrastructure approach provides a lower-carbon alternative to traditional concrete flood defences while delivering wider environmental benefits, including improved biodiversity, enhanced green spaces and greater community access to nature.

As UK water companies continue investing in sustainable drainage systems and climate resilience through AMP8, the Derringham project provides a proven blueprint for future flood management.