AHEAD of World Water Day (22 March), construction professionals are being urged to review their understanding of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) amid a global climate and water crisis.
ACO Technologies, an ambassador for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation – is highlighting the way water treatment and containment on site can contribute to the macro-objectives of protecting water and ensuring it continues to be a renewable resource.
The surface water management specialist said re-evaluating water capture, storage, treatment, and release is essential for many reasons, from ensuring clean water is returned into ground water and water courses, to maximising use of land whilst also enhancing the associated environment.
“We’re seeing progress in infrastructure designs incorporating sustainable drainage,” said Dr David Smoker, technical director at ACO Technologies. “As SDG 6 ambassadors, we recognise the advancements in sustainable drainage, and we are passionate about championing uptake in design and implementation.
“The climate crisis persists, and with the UK’s goals for new towns and infrastructure, there’s a critical need to ensure today’s developments are sustainable for future generations. Developers and engineers can elevate their designs by understanding available solutions and techniques, improving sustainability and the project quality by maximising space.”
At a new-build supermarket or distribution centre, for example, ACO said rainwater landing on the rooftop requires little treatment and can be managed via blue or blue-green roof systems which allow for the reuse of water.
In contrast, car park runoff – often contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals — demands more robust treatment. Linear drainage systems can keep water levels elevated, allowing controlled transfer to nature-based solutions such as swales.
David added, “Partnering early on with experts, such as those at ACO, is a key part of understanding the best way of facilitating sustainable drainage and maximising space – whether through hard engineered solutions such as blue roofs, nature-based solutions such as swales and ponds, or a combination of both approaches.”
