Nationwide, incidences of rapid, successive rainfall leading to localised flooding are becoming more commonplace, but it isn’t the rainfall causing the problem, merely the lack of means to disperse it without disruption.
The principle of traditional drainage design is to collect water and transport it by the quickest method to the nearest water course. However this doesn’t take into account the volume of water involved, and when volume becomes unmanageable, flooding is inevitable.
In contrast, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) incorporate a series of techniques devised to imitate the natural drainage process by slowing the dispersal of rainfall and controlling its release into the natural environment.
Key to the success of the SUDS process is the control of stormwater runoff at, or near, its source. The Building Regulations (Part H) state that, whenever possible, infiltration should be the method for discharging stormwater. This is further endorsed by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, both of whom are committed to this highly effective source control technique.
Forest Drainage Products Ltd was established in 2004 to provide a cost-effective solution to stormwater management. The resulting Polybed product range has been specifically designed to replace traditional drainage methods with a sustainable, high-performance alternative.