In this episode of  Waterfall Karen is joined by Matt Wheeldon, Infrastructure Development Director at Wessex Water, to explore how we can rethink our relationship with one of nature’s most overlooked resources: rain.

Matt explains why we should see rain not as a problem to drain but as a valuable resource to harness. Together, they discuss the Rainwater Management Platform, a major collaboration transforming how the UK manages rainfall sustainably. From cutting carbon and reducing storm overflows to building climate resilience, this conversation reveals how managing rain better where it lands can help create a water-wise future.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introductions

01:25 – The Rainwater Management Platform

05:17 – Lessons from drainage history

09:14 – Climate change and local action

12:45 – Smarter infrastructure and policy

16:04 – Practical steps at home

22:54 – The need for national strategy

30:00 – Rethinking storm overflows

36:36 – Water use, homes, and future planning

40:00 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up