Strategic Thinking Needed on Drainage Projects as UK Water Crisis Intensifies
Strategic Thinking Needed on Drainage Projects as UK Water Crisis Intensifies
Following a summer characterised by droughts, hosepipe bans and a ‘nationally significant’ water crisis, a strategic approach is needed to balance green and grey solutions as part of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help mitigate the situation.
The call comes from ACO Technologies, one of the UK’s leading water technology and drainage specialists, and comes in the wake of reports of record high temperatures, quickly followed by hurricane warnings from the Met Office, and predictions of simultaneous floods and droughts.
Local authorities and property developers are being urged to think strategically about how to implement green Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) – such as swales and rain gardens – alongside grey solutions to most effectively store, clean and harvest surface water. Grey solutions are manufactured and include blue roofs, channels, and attenuation tanks and are often a vital part of SuDS implementation.
Available space remains a significant challenge to SuDS implementation, with green solutions often requiring a large footprint that could otherwise be used for commercial, residential or recreational purposes.
However, by implementing green and grey solutions together – with grey supporting and facilitating green (e.g. channels in a carpark directing rainwater to a pond, or channels and filters creating zones for higher pollution areas), ACO argues that stakeholders can optimise the space available while implementing sustainable drainage effectively.
Mike Simpson Lane, Managing Director of ACO Technologies, said:
“In recent years, the UK has experienced more severe droughts and floods than ever before. The way we look after water will soon have a clear impact on life in the UK as more areas face water stress. Expertise on sustainable drainage is niche but vital, so we’re urging all involved in projects that have a drainage component to seek out those with the knowledge, skills and solutions needed to create a drainage system that is right for both the scheme in question and the environment.
“No two projects are identical, so it is crucial that drainage requirements, space limitations, budgets and future changes are carefully considered from the outset. Partnering with experts will lay the foundation for effective and environmentally beneficial drainage and help to mitigate the ongoing water crisis currently afflicting the UK.”
