SuDS in schools – is conventional drainage alone a thing of the past?
Extreme flooding across the UK is something that people are experiencing with increasing regularity, and schools and education authorities are looking for cost effective, long-term solutions which can keep children safe, and avoid closures from these weather events.
Sustainable drainage systems, commonly known as SuDS, are designed to slow the flow of water and mimic nature’s defences. Unlike conventional drainage which directs water underground, SuDS keep the water on the surface and manage water where it falls. Future generations will need to look practically at how water is managed in urban and rural environments, as conventional drainage is creaking under the pressure of increased rainfall associated with climate change and increased urbanisation. SuDS address these issues through blue green design and provide a positive solution in combating climate change.
From recent storm events, schools have been forced to close due to extreme conditions and with having aging infrastructure in place to combat the quantity of water on site.
Funding is available to schools through the DfE website to encourage retrofit SuDS on sites which is recognised as a highly effective way of reducing surface water flooding following the PIT review and Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Natural disasters, flooding and the climate is part of the school curriculum and schools are taking responsibility for their own water management.
What are the benefits of SuDS in schools?
- Landscape legibility and enhance education opportunities
This is where pupils learn to read the landscape they’re observing and understand the flow of water. SuDS bring the curriculum to life by bringing water and biodiversity into the centre of the school and educate pupils so that they have a clear understanding of where the water is meant to go, banishing any misconceptions and raising awareness within the whole community.
- Holistic sustainability
Following the management train approach as demonstrated in the SuDS manual promotes the incorporation of source control techniques to collect, treat, store and control runoff prior to discharge, and improve the biodiversity in the area. By having a space for plants, this creates a nicer environment and helps bring down the temperature in the area. Planters and rain gardens bring the water cycle to life, as a reservoir is available for the plants to drink, and with the correct soil allows the plants to access water without the need for hosepipes, saving costs as well as creating a sustainable environment.
Blue green approaches encourage evapotranspiration and mitigates against the urban heat island effect.
- Maintenance
When water is kept on the surface, we know when it is at its capacity. The visible nature of SuDS means that it is apparent when it needs an outlet, avoiding unexpected problems. Maintaining SuDS is routine work and involves clearing leaves, pruning plants and is a great way to involving pupils. It is hugely beneficial and educational, and less costly to manage.
Phil Williams, Director at the Environmental Protection Group stated, “We have been working alongside schools for over 15 years implementing sustainable drainage designs across the UK, both new and retrofit. The joy it brings to the community is something we’re always thrilled to see, and if we can continue to mitigate the impact of flooding with natural flood management, we should start to see positive changes for our environment.”
The technicalities – how using the right suppliers gets you the right results
Simpler stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder engagement and good consultation is the key to avoiding misconceptions and banishing myths surrounding SuDS. The opportunity to incorporate SuDS in a project should be met with excitement. For planners, architects and engineers, it is their job to communicate and showcase how this vision will become a reality. Dealing with one stakeholder allows for a smooth, simple scheme delivery.
Collaboration
Co-design between landscape architects, SuDS designers, engineers and the schools is important to ensure engagement in the project and understanding. For the very best results, landscape architects need to work in harmony with engineers and then the contractors. With landscape architects working on the aesthetics and visuals alongside the school, the engineers are left to determine the flow rates and quantification of the impact the SuDS features will have for funders and authorities.
Safety
Safety considerations for any project is vital, however it’s important to recognise that for most of the time, SuDS feature will have no water in them, and when raining, only hold a small amount of water, usually between 100ml-300ml. This means no danger for pupils and simply becomes a learning aid. SuDS also work at removing pollutants and sediment from a water flow, all powered by nature.
Take a look at the video below to see how a school in Estcourt School in Hull put this into practice.
The Environmental Protection Group (EPG) co-authored the SuDS manual and is passionate about designing projects which can enrich people’s lives and their surrounding environments for the future. The introduction of SuDS in an area brings enhanced biodiversity, amenity, improves water quality and reduces water quantity. Conventional drainage can’t provide amenity or biodiversity to any area so sustainable measures should be implemented where possible.
Let’s design with nature in mind.
