CUE: SUDs Flashcards
What are Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs)?
- environmentally friendly; replication of natural drainage systems.
- Holds back and slow surface runoff from any developments and allow natural processes to break down pollutants
What is the SUDs Swales technique?
wide, shallow drainage channels that are normally dry
Whats another SUDs technique on implementing permeable roads and pavements?
Creating porous paving and concrete
What’s a SUDS technique of infiltration trenches?
gravel filled drains
What’s another SUDS technique of Bioretention basins?
gravel filled or sand filled filtration layers beneath reed beds and other wetland habitats to collect, store and filter dirty water
How is Detention habitats a SUDS technique?
Excavated basins to act as holding ponds for water storage
How is Rain-gardens a SUDS technique?
shallow landscaped depressions with flowers and shrubs (allows some water storage)
How is Green roofs a SUDS technique?
Minimises runoff from building roofs.
What are some of the benefits of SUDS?
- Slow down surface run-off and therefore reduce the risk of flooding
- reduce the risk of local sewers flooding during heavy rain.
- Prevent water pollution by encouraging natural processes to purify runoff
- Recharge groundwater to help prevent drought in areas prone to water shortage.
- provides valuable habitats
- creates green space
What’s a good SUDS case study?
Manor Ponds, Sheffield
What are the reasons for the project?
The main existing surface water sewer near to the site was found to be inaccessible through a shallow sewer network within the new housing. Alternative solutions were presented including the installation of a permanent pump to transfer water upwards to the main sewer and the tunnelling of a new connecting sewer 15 metres below the surface. Both were deemed too expensive. The opportunity of using the adjacent developing park, with its watercourse, to store and treat water seemed more appropriate and an opportunity to display better practice.
What was the aim of the project?
A new (regenerated) housing estate. The SuDS scheme is located on adjacent council owned public
open space.
Who were the parties involved?
- One of the key partners in regeneration in the area is Manor and Castle Development Trust. Through negotiation they have acquired the freehold on all private housing allowing them charge residents. This money is earmarked for land management including the District Park. Although this charge could be increased to cover the SUDS scheme there has been great concern over reliability in acquiring the charge.
-The Park project seeks to gain maximum regeneration benefit from all its processes. Delivery of the capital works, although managed by Bellway Homes, included a nominated local landscape social enterprise, the Green Estate company. It is envisaged that the actual delivery of management will be through this company as contractor to the Council. This means local employment and ownership and the spreading of an understanding of the scheme.
What were the main features of the project?
A series of ponds and basins to attenuate and treat road runoff from a new housing estate on brownfield land. All drainage enters the Park at one point and is then managed through a series of basins dropping down the contours of the site.
The top basin acts as the main management tool for silt collection and pollution interception. Below each of the top basins are sand filters behind stone walling - These filters manage flow. This low flow passes down to the next basin through a shallow low flow channel. If the upper basins are unable to contain/release water through their filters, overflow occurs through an alternative grassed channel route down to the next basin. The third basin has a volume release control, out to an existing dry valley which leads to the water course. If the third basin is unable to handle flow this overflows onto a grass arena as shallow flow and exits through a further control device down to the dry valley.
What are some of the benefits and achievements of the project?
At no cost - they were able to:
- Reclaim 2 hectares of land to improved landscape
- Construct an events arena/recreational space in the form of a storm basin on difficult topography
- Enhance the wetland ecosystem of the site
- Bring extra management finance into a Park
- Provide an engagement/educational opportunity for all the community which could promote ownership
