Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): Planning, Design and Flood Risk Management Training Course

Module 1: Fundamentals of Sustainable Drainage Systems

• Definition and principles of Sustainable Drainage Systems.
• Objectives of sustainable stormwater management.
• Conventional drainage versus SuDS.
• SuDS hierarchy and treatment trains.
• Relationship between drainage, flood mitigation, and water management.

Module 2: SuDS Planning and Site Assessment

• Site investigation requirements.
• Catchment characteristics and drainage constraints.
• Rainfall, runoff, and impermeable-area assessment.
• Soil conditions and infiltration potential.
• Groundwater and environmental considerations.
• Planning considerations for urban developments.

Module 3: SuDS Design Principles

• Surface-water flow and runoff management.
• Hydraulic design fundamentals.
• Storage and attenuation requirements.
• Infiltration and discharge controls.
• Conveyance and exceedance routes.
• Designing for resilience and long-term performance.

Module 4: SuDS Components and Applications

• Permeable and porous surfaces.
• Swales and filter strips.
• Bioretention systems and rain gardens.
• Detention and retention ponds.
• Infiltration systems.
• Constructed wetlands.
• Green roofs and rainwater harvesting.
• Selection of components according to site requirements.

Module 5: Flood Risk Management and Mitigation

• Principles of flood-risk assessment.
• Surface-water flood mechanisms.
• Flood pathways and critical drainage areas.
• Peak-flow reduction and storage.
• Exceedance management.
• Flood mitigation measures for urban environments.
• Integrating SuDS with wider flood-management strategies.

Module 6: Urban Drainage and Water Quality Management

• Urban drainage challenges.
• Pollutant sources in surface runoff.
• Water-quality treatment through SuDS.
• Sediment and contaminant management.
• Sustainable water-management strategies.
• Integration of drainage systems with urban infrastructure.

Module 7: Construction, Commissioning and Project Completion

• Translating SuDS designs into construction requirements.
• Quality control during installation.
• Inspection and testing requirements.
• Commissioning, punch lists, documentation, and project completion.
• Handover requirements and asset information.
• Identifying construction defects and incomplete works.
• Preparing systems for operational use.

Module 8: SuDS Maintenance and Operational Management

• Routine inspection and maintenance.
• Vegetation, sediment, blockage, and erosion management.
• Maintaining hydraulic performance.
• Asset condition assessment.
• Maintenance scheduling and records.
• Monitoring system performance.
• Corrective actions and long-term operational planning.

Module 9: Practical SuDS Applications and Case Studies

• Residential and commercial developments.
• Roads, car parks, and transport infrastructure.
• Urban regeneration projects.
• Public spaces and landscape schemes.
• Flood-prone urban areas.
• Practical evaluation of SuDS design and management decisions.