DRAINAGE
Managing the storm Future-proofing our urban environments
N
ecessity is the mother of invention’. This phrase has never been more relevant as we experience the growing impacts of climate change. Global temperatures are rising and as a result, intense rainfall is becoming more frequent and extreme. Without widespread intervention, the results may prove to be catastrophic, particularly for our urban infrastructure. Therefore, embracing innovations in stormwater management are crucial to the resilience of our towns and cities. Here, Martin Lambley looks at how sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) will help. This country is building at an impressive pace. Latest ONS figures1 show that construction output rose in the three months to February 2022, but with that comes a need to ensure that the growth results in health, sustainable environments for everyone. That means renewed
6
focus on rainwater management. In a country which is struggling to combat flash flooding, developers and civil engineers must give priority to SuDS, as they can help relieve the pressure from increased rainfall, while offering a host of other benefits. The approach to integrating SuDS into urban environments has evolved over time and works at an optimum level when they combine naturally occurring filtration systems with artificial mass water systems. A holistic SuDS solution will recreate the process of soil percolation to keep negative environmental impacts to a minimum, and we would always suggest the most effective system is one which includes both natural and artificial elements.
SuDS: What you need to know Traditional rainwater management solutions in the UK have historically consisted of a network of rigid pipes that channel large
volumes of surface water from storms of floods into our rivers or sewers. While this might have worked at the point of installation, they are simply no longer fit for purpose – especially with the rapid growth our towns and cities have seen over the past two centuries, and the greater level of rainfall we’re experiencing. With more pressure on our ageing infrastructure and rapidly changing weather patterns, SuDS offer a lifeline for urban infrastructure. Natural landscaping, such as ponds, swales, and soakaways, offer a decent level of protection, but in order to make SuDS most effective, we advise installing below ground solutions as well, such as attenuation tanks. These innovative storage tanks release water back into the surrounding environment at a controlled rate and can work out of sight and out of mind, slotting nicely underneath the green landscape and wider infrastructure.
