Closing The Water Loop: Smarter SuDS Design

The UK's water industry is facing a pivotal moment. Recent warnings from the Environment Agency point to a future shaped by warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers and more intense rainfall events, reinforcing the challenge of managing water in an increasingly unpredictable climate. As growing populations place additional pressure on urban infrastructure, traditional drainage systems are struggling to cope with the dual risks of flooding and water scarcity.

These challenges are prompting a rethink of how surface water is managed across the built environment. Rather than treating surface water as something to move away as quickly as possible, there is increasing recognition that water should be retained, managed and, where possible, reused. The goal is a more resilient approach that works with the natural water cycle rather than against it.

Smarter designs

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are playing an increasingly important role in this shift. These solutions collect water and release it back into the environment at a controlled rate or save it for use during dry spells, rather than simply channelling it away as quickly as possible.

Attenuation tanks are among the most effective components of a SuDS. Installed beneath new developments, these engineered systems store surface water and help relieve pressure on public drainage infrastructure during periods of heavy rainfall.

Aquacell NG is Wavin's newest attenuation tank, featuring a modular design that simplifies installation and enables designers to tailor the system to the specific requirements of each project.

These next generation tanks are also now designed to tackle another big issue within the UK’s water industry – water quality. The introduction of Wavin Certaro Lamella Hydrodynamic Separator (HDS) is the latest update to the system. This advanced separator filters water from drains before it enters the tank, capturing finer particles and significantly improving the quality of stored water to make it cleaner and safer for potential reuse.

By combining lamella technology with hydrodynamic separation, Wavin’s new HDS delivers high-performance sediment separation within a compact footprint. This makes it particularly well-suited to locations where space is limited but the need to improve water quality is urgent. Designed to help planners meet stricter environmental standards without compromising on space or budget, this HDS is also cost-effective, quick to install, and simple to maintain - making it a smart, sustainable choice for modern drainage infrastructure.

Closing the loop

The availability of this new product is a small but crucial step when it comes to closing the water loop, and moving towards a new relationship with surface water in which we treat it as an asset, rather than an inconvenience. We need only look to success stories in cities such as London, where large-scale sustainable drainage initiatives have enabled surface water to be retained and reused to keep urban green spaces healthy and buildings cool.

Although transforming the UK's drainage infrastructure will be a long-term undertaking, innovation across SuDS is already delivering tangible benefits. New products are making it easier to incorporate sustainable water management into developments of all sizes, helping the built environment take practical steps towards a more circular approach to water.

For more information on Wavin’s latest SuDS offering, visit: https://wavin.com/gb/solutions/urban-climate-resil...