SuDS & Hydrosystems Engineering Training

Course overview

SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems / Schemes) are used to manage rainwater drainage from new developments, highways schemes and as a method to reduce spills from storm overflows. There is a need for cross-skilling in a range of areas for the engineering professionals who carry out SuDS scheme approvals. This training will provide detailed examples of schemes to support in discussions throughout the pre-application, full application and validation and determination stages. Upon course completion, delegates will be able to:

• Create or sign off designs that meet the pillars of SuDS in the context of the local site requirements.
• Think long term and ensure required evidence is gathered to approve schemes that bring local benefits tailored to local needs.
• Select the appropriate scheme for the site that reduce the installation costs and long-term financial burden of maintenance.
• Ensure that resilient rainwater management systems are in place that will be able to cope with the extremes of weather and provide all the benefits of SuDS.
• Include site specific climate change adaptation and mitigation in SuDS designs.

For whole teams looking for more comprehensive training programme in this area, we can offer: an optional site visit to a UK partner organisation (1 day); an add-on module in Soils (half-day); and/or a Q&A session with SuDS industry specialists - please see below for more information.

Who can benefit?

Delegates may include those experienced practitioners who need to improve their technical working knowledge of SuDS. For example: Drainage Engineers; Highways Engineers & Technicians; Design Engineers; water company staff; consultants; developers; Lead Local Flood Authority staff; SuDS Approving Body (SAB) staff; Flood Risk and Climate Adaption teams.

Training outline

This course is interactive, with a mix of lecture, group discussion, and exercises to facilitate an engaging learner experience. An online assessment and certificate demonstrates effective knowledge transfer. 1 day of learning will extend your core SuDS skillset to give you confidence in the following topics:

• Water quality and water pollution: Appropriate and effective pollution management in SuDS; Nature-based solutions and devices; Maintenance requirements to retain pollution control capacity.
• Hydraulics: Utilising rainwater as a resource; Schemes with pipe to pond - rainwater collection throughout site; Combining SuDS features with planning requirements through maximising multi-benefits in green spaces.
• Groundwater protection: Risk assessment of local geology; Source-Pathway-Receptor model; Performance of devices and nature-based solutions to prevent groundwater pollution
• Resilience of SuDS in drought and heatwave conditions: Drought tolerant planting schemes; Irrigation systems
• Resilience of SuDS during Flooding: Flood Risk Management; How systems function to maintain treatment services even with prolonged inundation.
• Case study: Mansfield rainwater management interventions for Severn Trent Water detailing the buildability, ground investigation and how these influence design considerations.

• Soils: Soil description; Soil selection (local / imported); Soakaway Testing to BRE Digest 365; Rain gardens and bio-retention systems (0.5 day).
• Site visit: Immersive demonstration to gain practical learning of SuDS on-site, provided by one of our Partner organisations situated across the UK (1 day).
• Q&A session: Online annual event for delegates to dial-in to meet SuDS mentors from WRc and our Partner organisations (1-2 hours).