Community Flood Equipment Scheme Pilot
Herefordshire Council is piloting a new scheme which provides communities at known risk of flooding with flood resilience equipment to help minimise the disruption from flooding.
While residents are responsible for looking after their own property, including reducing the risks of water entering the home causing damage, in response to recent flood events and to support community flood resilience, Herefordshire Council is taking a proactive approach to support communities.
As local communities understand how flooding impacts their area, we would encourage flood groups and parish councils to assess which equipment offered through the scheme would best help reduce the impact of flooding.
As the scheme is targeted at communities, it is expected that any equipment will be stored in a central location - accessible by multiple members of the community. Use of the resources should not be monopolised by individual households.
While utilising equipment to help protect domestic property is justified, shared community assets (such as community halls, key roads through villages) should be prioritised.
Equipment
Both the HydroSnake and alternative sandbag arrive flat packed, taking up minimal space and weighing 500g or less. This enables them to be stored until needed in preparation of a flood event.
Before deployment, the products need to be inflated by water. This process takes less than 10 minutes, in which time 13-20 litres of water is absorbed. The products can then be deployed as an effective barrier against flood water.
Modern sandbag alternative
Look similar to traditional sandbags but instead of being filled with sand are filled with an alternative super absorbent material.
- Dimensions: 50 cm x 15 cm
- Weight: Less than 500g dry/13-25kg wet
- Use and disposal: Absorbs 13-20 litres in less than 10 minutes. Can be stacked to form a higher barrier. Can stay in place typically 1.5-3 months. Product is largely biodegradable
Please note the above is indicative and subject to change.
HydroSnake
Typically five modern sandbag alternatives stitched together to form a longer impermeable barrier.
- Dimensions: 25cm (w) x 145cm (l). Flood water protection depth - 5cm
- Weight: 500g dry/15-20kg wet
- Use and disposal: Absorbs 15-20 litres in 2-3 minutes. Can be stacked to form a higher barrier and can remain in place for up to 3 months. The outer lining should be disposed of as general waste. The contents can also be disposed of as general waste or deposited onto soil without any harmful environmental effects. This is possible as HydroSnakes do not absorb the waste, sewage and toxins which may be present in flood water
Eligibility criteria
Essential
- Community flood group or parish council (not individual)
- Capacity to store equipment in a secure central location, accessible by multiple members of the community. For example, a container with a shared access code lock
- Flood groups in receipt of equipment agree to feedback on future council programmes about climate change impacts in the county
Preferred
The initial equipment supplied will not be replaced or replenished in the future by Herefordshire Council and is a one-off contribution. In the event of the scheme being oversubscribed, the following will be prioritised:
- Communities with Flood Action Plans which demonstrate that they know what to do should flooding be forecast
- Areas that have experienced flooding in the past and/or are recognised as being vulnerable to flood risk
Information on how to create a Flood Action Plan.
How to apply
Register your expression of interest
Please submit your expression of interest by Tuesday 22 April 2025.
If you have any questions regarding the Community Flood Equipment Scheme Pilot please contact Floodrisk@herefordshire.gov.uk