CIWEM has issued a new Sustainable Drainage Position Statement which is calling for no loss of government commitment and greater leadership on SuDS.

CIWEM: Floods, drought, nature decline and polluted water running off our land are growing problems in the face of climate change, development and land use change.

Part of the solution to all these challenges, particularly (though not exclusively) in the urban context are Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). SuDS mimic natural processes and reduce flooding – particularly surface water flooding associated with sudden downpours – by managing rainfall close to its source and wherever possible at, or near the surface. By building in rain gardens, permeable paving, green roofs, swales, soakaways or ponds, SuDS slow, store and treat water that could cause damage.

Alongside flooding, we also face increasing pressures from road runoff pollution and sewage pollution of rivers from storm overflows that are exacerbated by climate change and development. Well-delivered Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) can help respond to these challenges, build climate resilience, enhance urban beauty, improve air quality, human health and wellbeing, and contribute to nature recovery.

CIWEM’s new Policy Position Statement on SuDS includes the folowing ten recommendations to improve SuDS implementation in England and an overview of the key issues affecting SuDS delivery.

The position paper sets out the following 10 recommendations to improve SuDS implementation in England:

1. Cross-government, Ministerial recognition of SuDS as a key enabler of managing surface water flood risk, tackling sewage pollution from storm overflows, cleaning up polluted road runoff, delivering nature recovery, place-making and Levelling-up.

2. Commence Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

3. Make the right to connect to the sewer conditional on having delivered an appropriate drainage hierarchy, in line with mandatory standards.

4. Ensure clear standards for SuDS design and delivery are mandated as part of Schedule 3.

5. SuDS rules to apply to all new developments.

6. Develop a clear approach for adoption and provision for long-term maintenance.

7. Direct and enable extensive retrofit of SuDS as a means to manage local surface water flood risk, highway runoff pollution and storm overflow discharges.

8. Review the range of funding mechanisms available to deliver SuDS and their requirements to ensure that they are appropriately geared to enable extensive SuDS retrofit schemes.

9. A review of the effectiveness of partnership working in urban areas.

10. A clear signal from government on its ambitions for SuDS delivery to mobilise development of SuDS skills and capacity amongst appropriate organisations and professions

Two major drivers for improved levels of quality and quantity of SuDS delivery have emerged since 2021: Firstly, Government’s recommendation that Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 should be implemented in England from 2024, enabling improved SuDS delivery within new development.

Secondly, requirements set under the Environment Act 2021,the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan for water companies to achieve significant and progressive reduction in discharges from storm overflows, and statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans. Delivering against these requirements will need considerable increases in large-scale SuDS retrofit programmes in combined sewer catchments.

As these drivers are implemented, we need to see government’s commitment and ambition-levels against the use of SuDS remain and increase. To tackle the wide range of water challenges experienced in this country, we need a far more sustainable approach to drainage.

CIWEM says that whilst SuDS have been delivered for decades, they remain far from the mainstream approach to surface water management. To change this, skills and capacity will need to be expanded across a range of organisations.

This need will be greatest in lead local flood authorities associated with implementation of Schedule 3 and water companies to deliver their next round of asset management plans.

There will also be a need to increase capacity and skills within highway authorities.

Professional bodies such as CIWEM can be instrumental in delivery of this but it will need to be in response to a clear signal from government that it wants to support a step-change in the extent, pace and quality of SuDS delivery

Click here to download CIWEM’s Sustainable Drainage Policy Position Statement in full