Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

What are SUDS?

SUDS are facilities that manage surface water in a sustainable manner to help reduce the risk of flooding. They aim to manage water flow and water quality as well as its amenity value e.g. biodiversity. They can operate at a number of different scales. Facilities making up SUDS can include ponds, detention basins, swales, filter drains and infiltration trenches as well as porous paving.

Find out more

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the statutory agency responsible for the water environment in Scotland and more information on SUDS  are available through their website. A group of interested parties were brought together by SEPA to form the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Working Party (SUDSWP)  in 1997. Further information on training, research and guidance  on SUDS can also be found through the SEPA website.