Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) can be used in all types of development to provide a natural approach to managing drainage.
SuDS prevent water pollution and flooding in urban areas. SuDS also create green spaces and habitat for wildlife in towns and cities.
SuDS are a legal requirement for all new developments in Scotland, except for surface water drainage from single dwellings and developments that drain to coastal waters.
This guide describes the different types of SuDS, and how and when you must use them on your site.
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties and other developments.
Read about what are Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
You can use sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to treat lightly polluted water that runs off from your site, reducing the impact on the environment.
Read about using Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
Green roofs
Green roofs are an example of source control. Source control measures deal with run-off at, or close to, the surface where rainfall lands. Read more on Green roofs.
Filter strips
Filter strips are strips of ground where water running off a site can pass, allowing some or all of it to soak away. The rest often enters a swale - shallow drainage channel - or another sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) component. Read more on Filter strips.
Permeable paving
You can use permeable or porous paving as a source control measure for small roads, pavements, car parks and yards. Read more on Permeable paving.
Swales
A swale is a shallow drainage channel with gentle side slopes in the ground where water running off a site can collect and soak away. Read more on Swales.
Detention basins, ponds and wetlands
Detention basins are used to temporarily store run-off from large areas and ponds or wetlands can be used to store water for longer periods of time, Read more on Detention basins, ponds and wetlands.
Construction phase SuDS are used to control and remove silt from the runoff while construction work is ongoing.
Read more about Construction phase SuDS.
Further information is available on SuDS here
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