Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) will play a key role in resolving some of the UK’s flood problems as climate change issues continue to hit the headlines.
That’s according to Jay Fox, HBPW’s geoenvironmental engineer, who believes that industry professionals like himself should be involved in the construction process much earlier than they traditionally are.
“Whenever there is a storm event, or prolonged spell of rainfall, Britain’s man made piped drainage systems – many of which are ageing and perhaps less well maintained than they used to be – cannot cope and quickly become overwhelmed. New ways of thinking are needed if this scenario is to change,” said Jay.
“SUDS aim to mimic slower natural drainage to the ground. Water can be ‘captured and slowed down’ using a range of measures such as water buts, storage tanks, rain gardens, attenuation ponds, swales and permeable paving. Outfall to sewers or water course is then better controlled.
“But geoenvironmental professionals need to be included early in the planning process. SUDS is the future for drainage design, however, I am not so sure that the Environment Agency ‘build a snow man’ thaw attenuation scheme will be quite so successful!”