The use of end-of-line SUDS for residential development

As new housing developments continue to increase, traditional methodsof managing surface water are not sustainable, as watercourses cannotcope with the increased surface water run-off partnered with the impactof climate change. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) act as analternative method to directly channelling surface water flows throughthe traditional pipe and sewer system. SUDS utilise a series ofmanagement techniques to recreate the natural drainage routes by aimingto intercept at source. It has been identified that optimum methods ofmanaging surface water are rarely achieved due to the number anddifferent priorities of stakeholders involved in the approval process. Theaim of this study was to identify the driving factor influencing the end ofline (EoL) SUDS features being implemented within residentialdevelopments across central Scotland with focus on stakeholders’influences. Mixed method approach was adopted via an electronicquestionnaire to collect qualitative and quantitative data in tandem. Casestudy approach was also taken to identify common SUDS features withintwelve existing residential developments and redesign an existing sitebased on the principles of the SUDS philosophy. The data collectedconfirmed that end-of-line SUDS such as basins and swales are mostfrequently implemented within residential developments and there aremany organisations involved in the design and approval process. The datahighlighted that end-of-line SUDS are specified as this is a cost-effectivesolution that usually avoids encountering unnecessary problemsthroughout the approval process with the local and water authorities. There-design of a representative case study showed that by implementing theprinciples set out in the SUDS management train, managing the volumeand quality of surface run-off will be easier as this will be captured atsource initially. However, there is a lower construction cost associatedwith installing an end-of-line detention basin within residentialdevelopments compared to a cellular storage system, and this could be acritical factor for developers when designing SUDS features as they oftenlook to keep construction costs as low as possible.