Managing Stormwater: From Aspirations to Routine Business

Stormwater management is a requirement for all urban areas, associated with the high degree of imperviousness of cities, towns and industrial/commercial developments. The origins of innovations are a combination of the need to address serious problems (pollution and flooding) allied with a desire to use rainwater as a resource. Resource use includes amenity and allowing nature a place in the urban environment by creating functional green space. Aspirations are easy, realising them is challenging. The SUDS concept in the UK developed from combining urban BMPs techniques with the need to creatively address pluvial flooding risks, with the overall aim of trying to mimic natural hydrology. A combination of innovative environmental regulation, together with partnership working and education including technical guidance has resulted in SUDS being routine business in Scotland, contrasting with the situation elsewhere in the UK and much of Europe. But this widespread application of the technology is novel; there are still many challenges to achieving effective, attractive and fit for purpose features where they are needed, including retrofits.