Design Buy Build Issue 17 2015 | Page 72

With Flooding becoming more common place Formpave looks at why installing Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems is now a must. In the last eight years over 200,000 new homes have been built on flood plains and with increasingly wet winters, the amount of homes affected by flooding is on the increase. Even those that are not in areas which have been highlighted as being at the high risk of flooding can still suffer if there is a large amount of rain in a short period of time. It is important then that adequate drainage is taken into account early on in the design stage of any new property. Installing Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) is one solution to help prevent the problem, and many local authorities are also now stipulating its use as part of planning permission. The concept behind SuDS is to replicate natural systems and processes using cost-effective solutions with low environmental impact to clean and drain surface water run-off in a controlled way. Our Aquaflow system is capable of dispersing up to 9,000mm of run-off per m2/ph. This is done through collection, storage and cleaning before the water is slowly released back into watercourses or directly into the ground. However, just as it is important to drain water away, it is also important to consider ways of saving it. A SuDS system can help here too as it can also incorporate a rainwater harvesting system: Instead of the water being released into the ground it can be stored and used – for example to flush lavatories, clean cars or water plants. Incorporating rainwater harvesting can reduce household’s requirements for mains water and can be used when hosepipe bans are in place. You may think that adopting SuDS is expensive but, when designed well, they can prove to be much cheaper than alternatives. Also when the Flood Water Management Act finally comes into force it will compel builders to consider SUDS at the earliest stage of the development as the Act removes the right for Householders to connect their drains to sewers, and approval will be required before a connection can be made. To help you choose the right system, Formpave offers a comprehensive free Aquaflow design service to suit all requirements, includes technical and professional advice, preparation of draft 072 proposals and validation of the clients own designs. All designs that have been provided by Formpave are covered by our professional indemnity insurance and benefit from the company’s 20 years’ experience in designing permeable paving systems. Established in 1989, Formpave is a world-leading authority on permeable paving, Standard and specialist concrete block paving, kerb systems and ancillaries and is part of Forterra (formerly Hanson Building Products), one of the top providers of building products in the country. For more information please visit www.forterra.co.uk or follow us on twitter @formpave [email protected]