{"id":32776,"date":"2020-05-21T06:25:12","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T06:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?post_type=research_project&#038;p=32776"},"modified":"2023-02-08T09:16:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T09:16:43","slug":"suds","status":"publish","type":"research_project","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/","title":{"rendered":"SuDS"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Research<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=SuDS&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=SuDS&#038;body=Sustainable%20drainage%20systems%20(SuDS)%20are%20drainage%20solutions%20that%20provide%20an%20alternative%20to%20the%20direct%20channelling%20of%20surface%20water%20through%20networks%20of%20pipes%20and%20sewers%20to%20nearby%20watercourses.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/suds\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_Steph_Bricker.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;An example of a sustainable drainage system in Derby. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_87109\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_Steph_Bricker-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Example of a sustainable drainage system\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_Steph_Bricker-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>An example of a sustainable drainage system in Derby. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_Steph_Bricker.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;An example of a sustainable drainage system in Derby. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_87109\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>By mimicking natural drainage regimes, SuDS aim to reduce&nbsp;surface water flooding, improve water quality and enhance the amenity and biodiversity value of the environment. SuDS achieve this by lowering flow rates, increasing water storage capacity and reducing the transport of pollution to the water environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The need for alternative drainage such as SuDS is likely to increase to meet environmental challenges such as climate change and population growth. Provision for SuDS and the national standards required for their design, construction, maintenance and operation is included in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">What are SuDS?<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In natural environments, rain falls on permeable surfaces and soaks into the ground; this process is called infiltration.<\/p>\n<p>In urban areas, where many surfaces are sealed by buildings and paving, natural infiltration is limited. Instead, drainage networks consisting of pipes and culverts divert surface water to local watercourses. In some cases, this has resulted in downstream flooding and deterioration in river water quality. This is caused when foul sewers are overwhelmed by surface water, leading to a release of dirty water into rivers.<\/p>\n<p>SuDS aim to alleviate these problems by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>storing or re-using surface water at source<\/li>\n<li>decreasing flow rates to watercourses<\/li>\n<li>improving water quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">How do SuDS work?<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SuDS use a sequence of techniques that together form a management train. As surface water flows through the system, flow velocity is controlled and pollutants are removed. The management train may include the following stages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>source control methods that decrease the volume of water entering the drainage\/river network by intercepting run-off water on roofs for subsequent re-use (e.g. for irrigation) or for storage and subsequent evapotranspiration (e.g. green roofs)<\/li>\n<li>pre-treatment steps, such as vegetated <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bioswale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">swales<\/a>\u00a0or filter trenches, that remove pollutants from surface water prior to discharge to watercourses or aquifers<\/li>\n<li>retention systems that delay the discharge of surface water to watercourses by providing storage within ponds, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Retention_basin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">retention basins<\/a> or wetlands, for example<\/li>\n<li>infiltration systems, such as <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Infiltration_trench\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">infiltration trenches<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dry_well\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">soakaways<\/a>, that mimic natural recharge, allowing water to soak into the ground<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Our expertise lies in understanding the infiltration capacity of the ground and the potential impacts on ground stability and water quality.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33403\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33403\" style=\"width: 666px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Sustainable_drainage_systems.jpg\" alt=\"Sustainable drainage systems \" width=\"666\" height=\"345\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33403\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Flow of water through sustainable drainage systems into the subsurface. During a storm event, surface water flows through swales and filter trenches that remove entrained pollutants (1). The peak river discharge is delayed and reduced by: storage of water for re-use (2); storage in ponds (3), or infiltration of water to the ground through infiltration basins and soakaways (4). This process improves the quality of water in rivers and decreases peak river discharge (5). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Why are the properties of the ground important for SuDS and infiltration?<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SuDS that infiltrate to the ground rely on the subsurface to accept and store surface water. The properties of the ground are important in deciding where infiltration-based SuDS can be located.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, physical and hydrogeological properties determine how easily water will soak into the ground and whether or not it will have an effect on ground stability and water quality.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will the ground accept water?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For infiltration-based SuDS to drain effectively, the topsoil and the underlying geology need to be free draining.<\/p>\n<p>Sands and gravels, for example, are generally more permeable than silts and clays. Free-draining superficial or bedrock deposits generally have higher porosities and hence more space to provide storage capacity.<\/p>\n<p>Percolating water from SuDS schemes can cause a temporary rise in groundwater level as pore space fills with water. The unsaturated zone (the zone above the groundwater table) must be thick enough to accommodate this groundwater level rise.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the potential for ground stability or water quality problems associated with soaking water into the ground?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Release of limited quantities of water into the ground is generally an effective mechanism for surface water disposal.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the nature of the underlying geology, release of water into the ground may increase the susceptibility to ground stability hazards. It may also impact on water quality.<\/p>\n<p>Ground stability hazards and water quality impacts include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>voids and collapse features created by the\u00a0dissolution of soluble rocks and minerals<\/li>\n<li>down-slope waterlogging leading to increased potential of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discover-geology\/earth-hazards\/landslides\/\">landslides<\/a><\/li>\n<li>changes in subsurface water content leading to\u00a0ground compression and subsidence<\/li>\n<li>groundwater quality deterioration, caused by infiltration of surface water containing contaminants that originate from the surfaces over which it flowed prior to infiltration (whilst pre-treatment (e.g. by incorporating swales or filter trenches) is necessary prior to infiltration of surface water, care is necessary in those aquifers that are used for public water abstractions and in those that have limited capacity to filter contaminants.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33394\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33394\" style=\"width: 690px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Ground_stability_hazards.jpg\" alt=\"Ground stability hazards\" width=\"690\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Ground_stability_hazards.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Ground_stability_hazards-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33394\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An example of ground stability hazards formed as a result of water infiltration from a burst water pipe within an area susceptible to dissolution and karst formation. Ripon, Yorkshire. \u00a9 Sealand Aerial Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The BGS SuDS Observatory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our SuDS Observatory was established to identify how SuDS schemes can affect groundwater. The aims of the observatory were to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>assess the effectiveness of permeable paving in improving recharge to the ground, compared to impermeable surfaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>assess how effective these systems are at reducing pollution migration from subsurface activities into the shallow subsurface<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Location<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The BGS SuDS Observatory is located at Howbery Park, near Wallingford in Oxfordshire, where a permeable pavement car park was constructed in 2005 outside the Environment Agency offices in Red Kite House. The car park is made up of permeable paving stone at the surface, with a sand and gravel layer and a geotextile for bio-attenuation. The site was designed so that only the car parking bays are permeable and the rest is standard paving blocks.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Geology<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The underlying geology of the area is made ground and the <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/home.cfmpub=UTMS\">Thames Valley Formation<\/a> (sand and gravel), underlain by the basal <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/lexicon.cfm?pub=GLML\">Glauconitic Marl Member<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/home.cfmpub=WMCH\">West Melbury Marly Chalk Formation<\/a> (formerly Lower or Grey Chalk).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33402\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33402\" style=\"width: 666px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33402\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_observatory-_geology.jpg\" alt=\"SuDs observatory\" width=\"666\" height=\"345\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SuDS observatory location and the\u00a0 bedrock geology. Contains Ordnance Survey data \u00a9 Crown copyright and database rights 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33401\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33401\" style=\"width: 666px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SuDS_observatory_1.jpg\" alt=\"SuDs observatory\" width=\"666\" height=\"345\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SuDS observatory location and the superficial\u00a0 geology. Contains Ordnance Survey data \u00a9 Crown copyright and database rights 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Paving<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Impermeable paving<\/h4>\n<p>Conventional block paving is made of concrete compacted together using sand and is regularly used for car parks, roads and gardens. These areas do not allow water to infiltrate through and water will run over the surface during rainfall events.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50030\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50030\" style=\"width: 499px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50030 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P900519.jpg\" alt=\"Impermeable paving\" width=\"499\" height=\"333\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50030\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example of impermeable block paving. \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Permeable paving<\/h4>\n<p>Permeable paving blocks have uneven edges that create gaps between the blocks. These allow water to flow through them and into the ground below.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50032\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50032\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50032 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P895297.jpg\" alt=\"Example of permeable paving blocks showing the uneven edges\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50032\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example of permeable paving blocks showing the uneven edges. \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Monitoring<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To look at how SuDS affect groundwater, two shallow (about 1 m deep) boreholes have been drilled through and underneath the car park paving blocks and soil moisture probes installed. These have been logged continuously and sensed remotely, so that during storm events it is possible to monitor how quickly water moves through the ground beneath the car park.<\/p>\n<p>In order to understand how the volume of groundwater recharge under a SuDS scheme compares to recharge in natural ground, two similar boreholes have been installed in an adjacent field. It is generally assumed in runoff modelling that there is limited infiltration and groundwater recharge in urban areas. This work helps quantify how recharge is enhanced where SuDS are in place.<\/p>\n<h4>Soil moisture sensors<\/h4>\n<p>The soil moisture probes installed at the observatory are IMKO Pico Profile units, which consist of modular, stackable sections. The units generate a high-frequency pulse, generating an electromagnetic field around the probe. The pulse is reflected back to its source, enabling determination of the propagation velocity, which is primarily dependent on the water content of the subsurface. The units typically measure material about 15 cm outwards from the tubes in which they are mounted and are connected to a datalogger, which can be downloaded either manually to a notebook PC or remotely by telemetry.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Soil_moisture_profile_proble.jpg\" alt=\"Soil moisture probe\" width=\"690\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Soil_moisture_profile_proble.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Soil_moisture_profile_proble-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Soil moisture profile probe with 3 x sensors (raised out of access tube). \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/p>\n<p>The soil moisture probes were tested in a number of materials (soil; sand; gravel) and were trialled during simulated rainfall events before installation to demonstrate their response to these events.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33400\" style=\"font-size: 16px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Soil_moisture_testing.jpg\" alt=\"soil moisture testing\" width=\"666\" height=\"345\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Soil moisture profile probe testing. \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Groundwater-level data<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Groundwater levels at the observatory have been measured since 2012, using four shallow boreholes that are located on each of the corners of the car park. These help identify how the groundwater is affected by enhanced recharge, rainfall, the River Thames and regional groundwater flows.<\/p>\n<p>This all helps us build up a conceptual model of the hydrological system at the site. We have also carried out two rounds of groundwater-quality monitoring to look at the baseline quality of water underneath the car park.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33396\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33396\" style=\"width: 666px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33396\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Groundwater_levels_RedKite_house.jpg\" alt=\"Groundwater levels\" width=\"666\" height=\"345\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33396\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Groundwater levels at Red Kite House, Wallingford. \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">BGS SuDS data and information     <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We have existing data and information that can support decisions with regards to the suitability of the subsurface for the installation of soakaway-type systems. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/datasets\/infiltration-suds-map\/\">Infiltration SuDS map<\/a>: a national GIS map that provides data indicating the suitability of the subsurface for infiltration SuDS<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.bgs.ac.uk\/Shop\/Product\/GRS_S008\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infiltration SuDS GeoReport<\/a>: this site-specific report provides information on the potential for infiltration-to-the-ground to be used as a sustainable drainage technique<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/download\/guide-to-suds-for-developers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A handy guide for developers<\/a> (9 MB pdf): developed in partnership with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.urbenstudio.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urben<\/a>, this guide outlines what developers should consider when designing SuDS and how geological information is beneficial in the process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">SuDS resources<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/download\/guide-to-suds-for-developers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">A handy SuDS guide for developers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/download\/suitability-of-the-subsurface-for-infiltration-suds-in-great-britain\/\">Suitability of the subsurface for infiltration SuDS in Great Britain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/download\/bgs-suds-corporate-flyer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">BGS SuDS corporate flyer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/nora.nerc.ac.uk\/20840\/1\/Suds%20case%20study_corporate_Dec12v2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infiltration SuDS map case study<\/a> (300 KB pdf)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Key SuDS references<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Archer, N A L, Bell, R A, Butcher, A S, and Bricker, S H. In press. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jfr3.12629\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infiltration efficiency and subsurface water processes of a sustainable drainage system and consequences to flood management<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Journal of Flood Risk Management.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Dearden, R. 2014. <a href=\"http:\/\/nora.nerc.ac.uk\/id\/eprint\/508690\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The science of sustainable drainage<\/a>. <em>Planet Earth<\/em>, Autumn 2014, 22\u201323.<\/p>\n<p>Dearden, R A,\u00a0Marchant, A, and\u00a0Royse, K. 2013. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12665-013-2301-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Development of a suitability map for infiltration sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)<\/a>. <em>Environmental Earth Sciences<\/em>, Vol. 70(6), 2587\u20132602.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-567-block_66ac4f491d43e53ca9cd4ddd494d16e7\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/urban-geoscience\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_urban_pexels_373893-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Cityscape by Burst\/Pexels\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_urban_pexels_373893.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/urban-geoscience\/\">Urban geoscience<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The BGS urban geoscience research group provides solutions for urban land-use planning and sustainable development.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/urban-geoscience\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/datasets\/infiltration-suds-map\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/feature_infiltration_suds-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Infiltration SuDS map\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/feature_infiltration_suds.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/datasets\/infiltration-suds-map\/\">Infiltration SuDS map<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The BGS Infiltration SuDS map dataset is suitable for those involved in the design of sustainable drainage systems and approving SuDS planning applications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/datasets\/infiltration-suds-map\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":38026,"parent":0,"menu_order":38,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"21316,8129,10218,17664,17220,17336","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"tags":[],"region":[8,116],"topic":[26,27],"purpose":[],"area":[19],"challenge":[49],"challenge_topic":[138,136],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - 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