We partner with utilities such as water companies to deliver impactful green infrastructure.
At Meristem Design, we partner with utility companies - predominantly water companies - to design, deliver and maintain sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and nature gardens that tackle surface water flooding, reduce pressure on combined sewers, improve the quality of water entering our rivers and waterways all while delivering visible, community-facing green infrastructure
We manage projects end-to-end, from site assessment and design through to installation, community engagement and long-term maintenance, giving utility partners a trusted delivery partner for nature-based solutions at scale.
Reduces surface water flooding
SuDS slow down rainwater at source, easing pressure on combined sewers and reducing the risk of surface water and sewer flooding in urban areas.
Improves water quality
By filtering surface water before it reaches watercourses, our schemes reduce pollutants entering rivers
Enhances biodiversity
Green infrastructure introduces new planting and habitat into hard urban landscapes, supporting pollinators and wildlife.
Makes the most of planned works around utilities
By coordinating green infrastructure with planned streetworks and utility upgrades this reduces cost, disruption, and the need to dig up the same street twice.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for water companies
Retrofitting SuDS into existing urban environments is one of the most effective ways water companies can reduce surface water entering combined sewers and cut the frequency of storm overflow discharges. We work with water company teams to identify high-impact sites such as streets, verges, school grounds and public spaces where SuDS planters and rain gardens can intercept rainwater close to source.
These schemes are designed to be low-maintenance, visually engaging and minimally disruptive to install, making them well suited to delivery at scale across catchments. Beyond their drainage function, they create green, biodiverse spaces that residents can see and benefit from directly, turning an infrastructure investment into a visible community asset.
Partnership delivery for utility companies
Utility companies operate in some of the most complex environments in the built environment. We partner with water companies to roll out green infrastructure and sustainable drainage programmes efficiently and consistently across their networks, with a single point of accountability for design, delivery and aftercare - whether that's one flagship scheme or a rolling programme across hundreds of sites.
Urban greening schemes are most successful when local communities understand and support them. We work alongside water company communications teams to engage residents, schools and local groups throughout scheme delivery - explaining how the features work, why they matter, and how they benefit the local area.
Coordinating green infrastructure with streetworks
Utility works already involve digging up streets to maintain and upgrade pipes, cables and other underground assets. Rather than simply reinstating the surface afterwards, these planned works present a ready-made opportunity to introduce green infrastructure at the same time, cutting costs and avoiding the need to dig up the same street twice.
'Dig Once, Green Twice' is a technical guide published by the Greater London Authority, which we helped develop alongside CIVIC, Stockholm Tree Pits and Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape.
The guide sets out how SuDS and trees can be planned in alongside routine streetworks, so that necessary excavation work leaves a lasting environmental benefit. For utility and water companies, this coordinated approach means green infrastructure delivery can be planned in step with routine maintenance and upgrade programmes, reducing disruption, sharing costs, and unlocking opportunities.
Find out more and read the guidance
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Rain gardens capture and slow surface water runoff, reducing flood risk while creating vibrant, biodiverse planting in streets and public spaces.
Nature Gardens bring vibrant and densely planted greening to utility-led schemes, softening streetscapes and boosting biodiversity alongside SuDS features.
From verges to kerbsides, we transform underused utility-adjacent spaces into greener, more welcoming public realm that benefits residents as well as drainage performance.
We provide ongoing maintenance to ensure SuDS features and planting continue to perform, look good, and deliver drainage and biodiversity benefits for years after installation.
Beyond drainage, our landscaping service brings planting, turfing and tree pits to utility-led schemes, softening streetscapes and adding lasting biodiversity value around SuDS installations.
We partner with water companies and local authorities to deliver SuDS in school grounds - a high-visibility way to reduce surface water flooding while engaging the next generation on sustainable water management
Our design team creates SuDS and green infrastructure schemes tailored to local hydrology, underground constraints and existing utility assets.
Get in touch
If you like what you've seen and want to learn more about how this could work in your setting, please get in touch.
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Latest Utilities news
We are a group of designers, horticulturalists and ecologists who have a shared passion; to turn the grey green.
30th June 2026
News
Dig Once, Green Twice: Launch of new GLA green infrastructure guide
Meristem Design collaborated with CIVIC, Stockholm Tree Pits and Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape to deliver a GLA guide to retrofitting green infrastructure in utility constrained streets....
29th June 2026
News
SuDS project success at the 2026 susdrain awards!
We are delighted that the SuDS through Streetworks Market (pilot phase) project was highly commended by the judges at the susdrain SuDS Awards 2026....
12th June 2026
News
Flood and Coast Excellence 2026 Award Win: Action for Silk Stream SuDS project
We're thrilled to share that the Action for Silk Stream project has won in the Surface Water Management category at the CIWEM Flood and Coast Excellence Awards 2026, held in Liverpool last night....