University Assignment: Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs) Report

This report delves into the realm of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs), exploring various methods for effective water management. It comprehensively examines rainwater harvesting, including the use of water tanks and green roofs to collect and maintain water quality, while also preventing floods. The report further analyzes swales as natural filtration and infiltration tools, highlighting their role in controlling runoff and supporting biodiversity. It also discusses permeable pavements, which facilitate water percolation and prevent soil erosion, and green roofs, which reduce runoff and improve water quality while extending roof lifespans. The report emphasizes the importance of eco-friendly materials and adherence to traffic standards for permeable pavements. The report also provides references to support the information provided.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SUDS) 1
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Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs).
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Question.
SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Rain water harvesting (water tank, Permeable pavements, Swale, Green roof.

SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SUDS) 2
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs)
Water tanks are used to collect rain water directly or through use of roof gutters to
harness water flowing down the roofing material. It’s very important to ensure that the quality of
water is maintained and that pollution of the environment is controlled wherever necessary.
Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the water used for house chores and drinking is of
acceptable standards, by using green roofs in collection of water to the gutters and into the water
collection tanks (ZeleĖáková, 2017). Other methods used include sedimentation which allows
sediments to settle at the bottom of the tank while clean water is collected in a separate water
storage unit or into an extra from of water treatment facility like reed beds, which is highly
effective in removal of pollutants and also a green method of toxin removal. The key concepts in
ensuring sustainable drained systems (SUDs) is maintaining quantity and quality of runoff and
also checking to sure bio-diversity and amnesty. Water tank not only help in collection of runoff
for use but also help in preventing floods as well (Environment Agency, 2017).
Swales are a much more natural process, geared towards ensuring that water collected
from runoff is of acceptable standards in terms of consumption and use. They use vegetation to
filter off pollutants or toxins from chemicals and also control the flow of water by controlling
runoff as well as enhancing infiltration of water into the ground. Swales are taken as infiltration
tools or devices as they allow soakage into the ground depending on infiltration basins and soak
ways, based on design of the naturally designed SUDs and the ground conditions (Feehan, 2010).
Being that swales are more of natural basins, they also serve the wildlife and people in
many ways. The grass acts as a control for siltation and basin blockages while the top soil
provide support to the grass as well as enable infiltration of water. Therefore, this means that the

SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SUDS) 3
swales cannot be too deep in terms of design. Swales are an efficient natural flood mitigation
methods (Anglian Water Services, 2017).
Permeable pavements are structurally engineered pavements that allow for pedestrians
and vehicle traffic use, while at the same time allowing run off water, to flow down (percolate)
through boulders and stone to the underground soil. The rocks and silt are able to trap other
larger particles and oils from passing with the water as it infiltrates the soil. The structures are
able to temporary store water for treatment before it fully infiltrates the underlying soil layer and
also control flow of runoff during storms (National Archives, 2010).
More to that, permeable pavements prevent floods on paved pavements and erosion of
soil as permeable pavements can be reinforced with porous asphalt, gravel surfaces or even
swales which allow for growth of grass beneath the water surface level which greatly acts as a
major prevention and control measure for erosion. It’s important to remember to use eco-friendly
material and at the same time, the pavements must meet the required traffic standards in terms of
design (Environment Agency, 2017).
Green roofs work towards reducing the flow of runoff down to the water storage units,
and they also improve on quality of water collected. They also improve on the lifespan of the
roof as the material is organic like grass amongst other vegetation. They are planted over a water
proofed membrane to prevent leakages into the houses. Much more to treating water, they can
also be used to recycle water and replenish the hydrological cycle. They do need an extra set of
reinforcement and maintenance and therefore, they are required to follow specific guidelines in
terms of design but they are the best type of roofing as they support growing medium and also
most of the water collected is evaporated back to the atmosphere (Bregulla, 2001).

SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SUDS) 4
References
Anglian Water Services, 2017. Towards Suistanable Water Stewardship: Suitsanble Drainage
Systems (SUDs) Adoption Manual. 1st ed. Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: Anglian Water
Services Limited .
Bregulla, J. P. J. B. Y. C., 2001. A simple guide to suistanable drainage systems for housing. 2nd
ed. London: NHBC Foundation.
Environment Agency, 2017. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs): A guide for developers. 1st
ed. Almondsbury, Bristol: Environment Agency.
Feehan, K. A. P. K. A. H. A. B. S. P. D. R. N. S., 2010. Stormwater Management: Rainwater
Harvesting in Residential-Scale Landscapes. Neb Guide, I(1), p. 1.
National Archives, 2010. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) - Guidance. Archives, I(1), p. 1.
ZeleĖáková, M. D. C. D. H. K., 2017. Structural and Physical Aspects of Construction
Engineering: Urban Water Retention Measures. 1st ed. Oslo, Norway: Elsevier, Ltd. .