The expansion of cities leads to a progressive waterproofing of the soil and the impossibility of rainwater infiltration into the natural ground. As a consequence, aquifers are no longer recharged beneath them and collection systems deteriorate. Moreover, many of today’s sewerage systems in urban areas convert a natural resource such as rainwater into wastewater. In the case of heavy storms, the collection networks become saturated and serious problems are caused by flooding and degradation of natural watercourses (rivers, streams, etc.).
To solve these environmental problems inherent to the growth of cities, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) have been developed. These systems aim to avoid as far as possible the interference of urban development and human activity in the natural hydrological water cycle. In this way, SUDS capture rainwater within cities and redirect its flow from the surface to the subsoil. In doing so, they activate some natural processes for sanitation and purification.
SUDS include green roofs, filtration pits or ditches, green gutters, permeable pavements, sand filters, infiltration or retention basins, artificial wetlands and others. It is a mistake to consider SUDS as complex systems that can only be applied in large-scale urban developments. On the contrary, they are suitable for any scale, from a water park, a campsite, a city square, small gardens or even single-family houses.
SUDS are effective systems for reducing the environmental problems of runoff and water pollution. At the same time, they contribute to simplifying and reducing the size of some sewerage networks and therefore to optimising resources and infrastructures. Finally, beyond these advantages, SUDS bring an undeniable aesthetic value to the areas where they are located.
By Ángel Ibáñez Pérez, senior MEP engineer in the Architecture Department of Amusement Logic
