SuDS

  • What are sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)? Features, types and design principles

    In many urban areas, rainfall doesn’t soak into the ground. It runs off hard surfaces, overwhelms drainage systems, and contributes to flooding and pollution. SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) are designed to change that. SuDS are designed to manage rainfall in a way that mimics natural processes – slowing, storing, and treating water close to where it…

    Drainage design

  • Drainage designed for nature – and people: GBM’s commitment to SuDS at Fuenlabrada Fairground Park

    Urban drainage is undergoing a fundamental transformation around the world. As cities expand and climate patterns become more extreme, traditional drainage strategies, which are focused almost exclusively on collecting and evacuating stormwater, are proving increasingly inadequate. Capacity constraints, water quality impacts, energy consumption, and flood risk are forcing engineers and planners to rethink how urban…

    Drainage design
  • Cutaway illustration of a constructed wetland showing the inlet pipe, gravel distribution zone, wetland plants, rhizome network, small gravel bed, liner, wet well, and outlet

    Artificial and constructed wetlands: sustainable drainage superstars

    Artificial wetlands are a common feature of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and are widely used in urban drainage design to manage stormwater and rainwater runoff, as well as promote sustainable drainage practices. An artificial wetland is a constructed ecosystem designed to manage water and pollution through engineered processes that are designed to mimic natural processes…

    Sustainability

  • ‘Transforming Drainage Design with AECOM’ using InfoDrainage + Civil 3D

    As climate volatility and urban growth intensify, drainage systems are becoming a frontline resilience challenge. Across the UK and globally, heavier storms and expanding impermeable surfaces are overwhelming legacy sewer networks and increasing flood risk. These are a few reasons why regulation has been shifting toward more sustainable outcomes – and that’s why SuDS (Sustainable…

    Drainage design

  • Best practice in sustainable drainage design: what’s holding SuDS approaches back — and what to do about it

    As urban areas densify and climate-driven flood risk increases, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) have shifted from “nice to have” to essential — and in many places, effectively planning-required. Yet many organisations still struggle to deliver SuDS consistently due to fragmented processes, inconsistent requirements, skills shortages, and slow approvals. In our latest webinar, which was hosted…

    Sustainability
  • Cutaway illustration of a rain garden showing the inlet from a parking area, temporary ponding area, mulch layer, native plants, bioretention soil, gravel bed, overflow inlet, and outflow pipe

    How professionals design rain gardens to effectively control stormwater runoff

    Rain gardens are a common feature of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and are widely used in urban drainage design to manage stormwater and rainwater runoff, as well as promote sustainable drainage practices. In the urban environment, hard or impervious surfaces often block the natural process of infiltration, which means rainwater can’t soak into the ground.…

    Drainage design

  • Our essential guide to the CIRIA 753 SuDS manual for water management

    If you’re a drainage designer in the UK, you probably already know about the CIRIA SuDS manual: To help our customers interpret these guidelines, we’ve created “A Guide to Representing SuDS in InfoDrainage”, which explains all of the settings and options in the software that can help you meet the recommendations of the CIRIA manual.…

    Drainage design
  • Cutaway illustration of a wet pond (retention pond) holding a permanent pool of water, showing base level, initial depth, and exceedance level

    The role of wet ponds and infiltration basins in sustainable drainage design

    Wet ponds and infiltration basins are a common feature of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and are widely used in urban drainage design to manage stormwater and rainwater runoff, as well as promote sustainable drainage practices. Ponds and infiltration basins are two of the most effective strategies in sustainable drainage design, offering multiple benefits beyond simple…

    Storm, sewer, flood
  • Cutaway illustration of a soakaway under a car park, with geocellular crates in a filtration layer storing runoff that soaks into the surrounding soil

    What are soakaways and how should they be designed?

    Soakaways are a common feature of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and are widely used in urban drainage design to manage stormwater and rainwater runoff, as well as promote sustainable drainage practices. Evolving weather patterns and increasing rainfall lead to water and drainage challenges for homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Developers must incorporate drainage systems in their…

    Drainage design
  • illustration of sustainable drainage project. The image shows a bioswale, which is a landscaped feature designed to manage stormwater runoff and promote groundwater recharge. The bioswale includes a variety of plants and grasses that help filter pollutants from the water. The area is green and lush, with various types of vegetation interspersed throughout. The ground has a gentle slope directing water flow toward the plants, which aids in natural water purification and absorption. The setting appears to be part of an urban or suburban environment, with some paved surfaces visible nearby.

    Smart City SuDS: How I built a practical toolbox for evaluating bioswales

    We are pleased to spotlight guest author Mariya Bodylevskaya, who discovered InfoDrainage in the course of her studies around sustainable drainage at HFT Stuttgart. She shares her experience building a framework for better understanding and evaluating the performance of bioswales in urban environments. For several years, I have studied the topic of Sustainable Drainage Systems…

    Drainage design