Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Design
Efficiency in water management and flood protection
Civil Engineering Expertise for Sustainable Drainage System Design
Our team of professionals have the experience necessary to design drainage systems that are both functional, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. We offer a broad range of civil engineering services suitable for a variety of construction projects, having completed SuDS design work for both rural and urban sites.
The Home Engineers are a leading engineering company providing consultancy and planning services across the UK. Whether you need a SuDS design for domestic improvements, residential projects, or a commercial development, we can help.
What is included in SuDS?
Designing systems for sustainable drainage involves considering long term social and environmental factors. Civil engineers utilise SuDS to manage rainfall close to where it falls, with approaches intended to manage surface water.
These parameters are essential for evaluating existing sustainable drainage systems and when designing new SuDS. In most cases, this involves designing a variety of above-ground components to manage rainfall and environmental benefits.
SuDS design functions within the following overarching principles:
Water quality
Prevent pollution by monitoring the quality of water runoff and putting measures in place to improve water quality when necessary.
Water quantity
Control the effect of the development on the natural water cycle and support flood risk management.
Amenity
Using drainage to create and sustain better places for people to live and use.
Biodiversity
Drainage features that help create and sustain better environments for nature.
Above-Ground SuDS Design
Above-ground sustainable drainage should be prioritised when existing surface water drainage solutions fail or they are unable to meet one or more of the sustainable principles associated with SuDS.
Our above-ground SuDS solutions account for any constraints which might be on the site, such as steepness, root barriers, or the presence of high groundwater.
Briar Close, Darlington
The Home Engineers played a key role in transforming a bungalow into a modern pool room and gymnasium.
Farm, St. Breward
The Home Engineers (SW) were commissioned to undertake a structural design for a side extension at a farm in St. Breward.
Bird Hides, East Chevington Nature Reserve
The Home Engineers provided the structural modifications of 2 bird hides at East Chevington Nature Reserve in Northumberland.
Sultan House, Bermondsey
Sultan House is an existing residential block within the Bermondsey district, London.
Why We’re Right For You
Our commitment is to provide informed solutions which are effective and delivered on a reliable timeframe. To this end, our team features detail-oriented professionals committed to offering a reliable service throughout every single project. This is something that is felt by new and returning clients alike, from initial consultation to final sign-off.
When it comes to finding sustainable solutions to drainage issues, our forward-thinking engineers work constantly to stay ahead of the latest developments in site sustainability. This applies to the wider home engineering sector as well, whether it’s a simple extension or a large scale conversion project.
We are committed to achieving the best outcomes for our clients by utilising the latest technologies and sustainable approaches. This creativity has allowed us to leverage the surrounding environment of a site to create SuDS design solutions that are entirely bespoke.
We understand the value of clear and responsive communication in civil engineering projects. To keep everything running smoothly and according to schedule, we ensure that a member of our team is available to address all of your inquiries, concerns, and questions without delay.
Get in Touch
If you need an expert hand that’s knowledgeable in SuDS, The Home Engineers have the right team for you. By making an enquiry we can familiarise ourselves with your project and understand its needs before providing recommendations.
Through our attention to detail we are able to offer our clients a service that is both authentic and reliable. If we believe work needs to go ahead, it’s always because we believe it will secure the best outcomes for you. From there, we’ll provide support to ensure all sustainable designs are implemented.
Get in touch now by emailing or using the contact form below.
FAQs
The main objectives of SuDS are to reduce the risk of surface water flooding, improve water quality, and enhance amenity and natural health of the surrounding environment. This is achieved through a variety of measures to manage drainage, which may include: water retention systems, infiltration systems to allow water soakage, pre-treatment before discharge, other methods to decrease water volume entering river or sewer network.
It is often recommended that engineers designing SuDS consider landscaping. This is because the most effective SuDS are complementary to its natural surroundings. For instance, landscaping can help emphasise basins and create low flow channels to help direct water and manage sedimentation.
On larger sites where phased construction is due to take place, a temporary SuDS may be added to remove additional surface water build-up and improve sustainability on-site. This system is incorporated into the permanent land surface water drainage management system.
All experienced civil engineers and landscapers should be able to construct an SuDS with minimal difficulty. Although the exact process will depend on the project phase where the SuDS is required, a majority of the work will be relatively straightforward groundwork. This includes the likes of excavation, cutting, filling, grading, topsoiling, silt removal, seeding, planting, and more.
Incorporating a SuDS into your development can lead to many benefits. This may include lower costs compared to piped systems, minimal disruption to natural hydrological processes, the management of flood risk in key areas, the enhancement of the value of an area through amenities, and support for green practices.
Yes. A key aspect of SuDS is that the system relies on the ability of the ground to allow infiltration. In addition, the subsurface must be able to accept and store land water. Physical and hydrogeological properties will establish how easily water will soak into the ground. For an infiltration-based SuDS to drain effectively, water must be able to pass freely through topsoil and the underlying geology.
As an example, ground that’s heavy in clay and silt will generally be less permeable than ground containing sand and gravel. Importantly, the properties of the ground can also have an impact on site ground stability and water quality.