Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
We can help you deliver an effective SuDS solution
ACO has unrivalled experience in designing, creating and advising on fully-integrated and sustainable surface water management systems. Whatever your requirements, we can help you deliver an effective SuDS solution and support you with best practice, relevant information and dedicated resources on an ongoing basis.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) aim to control surface rainfall run-off by controlling the rate and volume of runoff from site, relieving pressure on sewerage systems and mimicking natural drainage as closely as possible. Used effectively, SuDS can help local authorities, planners, architects and developers deliver greener infrastructure.
ACO believes that the best SuDS will be cost effective to operate and provide efficient drainage throughout their life. Rather than being inherently ‘soft’ or ‘hard’, they will instead include an optimized and integral mix of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ components that will combine to bring out the best in each other.
The SuDS philosophy has 4 key pillars to it; water quality, water quantity, amenity and biodiversity. Water quality is about controlling the quantity of runoff to support the management of flood risk, and maintain and protect the natural water cycle. Water quality is about managing the quality of the runoff to prevent pollution. Amenity refers to creating and sustain better places for people and Biodiversity is about creating and sustain better places for wildlife. ACO have their own Wildlife range that helps protect wildlife habitats around developments.
ACO have developed their own unique model to reflect adoption of SuDS thinking – Collect, Clean, Hold and Reuse – which embraces the entire surface water management cycle, from the point where rain lands right through to where it re-enters the natural water environment.
