SUDS

1.- Introduction
1.1.- Sustainable drainage systems

- Environmental risks from urban runoff

- Environmental enhancement

replicate, as closely as possible, the natural drainage from a site

before development
Control of urban runoff through small, discrete units

Through control at source, large control estructures should be minimized

Filter strip
Filter strip

Typical cross-section through a filter strip

Swale under construction
Swale under construction
Typical cross-section through an infiltration basin
Wet pond under construction
Flow control through attenuation of stormwater runoff
Some settling of particulate pollutants
A detention basin schematic
A wetland after initial planting
trenches
Trench
Trench under construction
Bioretention
Sand filters
Bioretention

Shallow, depressed landscape areas which are typically underdrained and rely on
engineered soils and enhanced vegetation and filtration to remove pollution and
reduce runoff downstream. They are principally aimed at managing frequent rainfall
events.
Typical cross-section through a bio-retention facility
Sand filters

Treat surface water runoff through

filtration using a sand bed as the primary
filter medium.

Typically used where high pollutant

removal is required.
Typical cross-section of a pervious pavement

Geocellular systrems (media)

Geocellular system under construction
Typical cross section of a green roof
1.2.- Drivers for a shift to sustainable drainage

1.2.1.- Drainage – an historical context

- Combined sewers (CSO: combined sewer overflows)

- Separative systems (drainage discharges directly to receiving
media = importante pollution events)

1.2.2.- The impact of urbanisation

- Flooding
- Channel erosion downstream
- Decreaase in percolation
- Low baseflow in watercourses
- Reduced aquifier recharge
- Damage to in-stream and streamside habitats
Pre- and post- development runoff hydrographs following storm
rainfall over an urban area
Water quality

Urban diffuse pollution

Loss of topsoil
1.3.- SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

1.3.1.- The SUDS philosophy

+ sustainable than conventional drainage methods:

1.- reducing runoff rates

2.- reducing additional runff volumes and runoff frecuencies
3.- encouraging natural groundwater recharge
4.- reducing pollutant concentrations in stormwater
5.- acting as a buffer for accidental spills
6.- reducing CSOs
7.- enhanced amenity and aesthetic value
8.- providing habitats for wildlife in urban areas (biodiversity)
1.3.2.- The SUDS management train

1.- Prevention
2.- Source control
3.- Site control
4.- Regional control

The SUDS management train

1.3.3.- Runoff quantity control processes

(a) Infiltration

(b) Detention / attenuation

(c) Conveyance

(d) Water harvesting

1.3.4.- Runoff quality control processes

• Sedimentation
• Filtration and biofiltration
• Adsorption
• Biodegradation
• Volatilisation
• Precipitation
• Uptake by plants
• Nitrification
• Photolysis
Removal mechanisms for each pollutant category
1.3.5.- SUDS techniques

There is a wide range of individual techniques of components that can be

used to form part of the management train. These can be categorised
broadly by whether their primary use is considered to be pre-treatment,
conveyance, source, site or regional controls, and can be ranked in a
simple manner, based on their hydraulic and water quality performance
potential.