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Water
As UK weather continues to become more unpredictable due to climate change , there is an increasing focus on the critical role of effective surface water management systems in new and existing developments . At the same time , urbanisation and a growing population means that many projects often need to be delivered in tightly-spaced locations , without much room for manoeuvre – presenting project teams with a pressurised situation .
It ’ s no secret that our urban areas are continuing to expand in both size and density , at a far quicker rate than supporting infrastructure . This is especially true in the case of water management , where much of the infrastructure in the UK dates to the Victorian era . Clearly , the challenges we face now differ drastically from over a century ago , highlighting the urgent need to upgrade water management systems in our towns and cities . le
Closing the loop : getting urban water management right
Being at one with nature
The conventional approach has often been to remove excess surface water from urban areas as quickly as possible , with little consideration for what the natural drainage process looks like , which places an unmanageable strain on our sewer network . Now , developers are turning to sustainable drainage systems ( SuDS ) that mimic the natural water cycle , to mitigate flood risk in their projects .
The most effective SuDS combine natural elements , such as ponds , soakaways and swales , with artificial below ground systems like attenuation tanks . These are essentially large tanks that sit below the ground to prevent systems from becoming overwhelmed during periods of extreme rainfall and can offer the robust protection that we ’ re likely to need in years ahead . However , their capacity to store
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