LATEST NEWS
Sustainable water management: time to focus on a timely partnership
March 6, 2024
As the UK Government moves to make sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS, mandatory on the mainland, T&G explores opportunities to increase local focus on this important matter.
What’s to worry about water? It tumbles from the sky, disappears down the drain, and, eventually, flows into a handy reservoir or out to sea. At least that’s the tried and tested cycle in this part of the world.
The worry is what’s changing to affect the delicate balance.
A warming climate increasing rainfall volume. Creeping urbanisation covering absorbent green spaces. Population growth pressurising drainage systems. And a heightened risk of water contamination as flash flooding threatens to overwhelm sewerage containment.
There’s no quick fix to combat any of these challenges. And wishful thinking won’t make them go away. It’s the reason why terms such as ‘water management’ and ‘sustainable drainage systems’ are becoming more frequently used and commonly understood.
UK Government moves on water
The value of sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS, within new property developments is widely recognised.
Through incorporating features including soakaways, grassed areas, permeable surfaces, green roofs and wetlands, SuDS help reduce the amount of rainfall flowing straight off the property and into the surface water system.
What’s more, SuDS help enhance any development, creating green areas, promoting wellbeing for residents and enhancing natural biodiversity.
Such benefits largely stand unchallenged. The only point of debate is how firmly and quickly SuDS become ‘the norm’ rather than ‘nice to have’.
The UK Government recently made up its mind on this matter. In 2023, it announced an intention to make SuDS mandatory for all new developments in England of over 100m2. The Welsh Government took the same step several years earlier.
Local commitment, global expertise
Channel Islands-based engineering firm T&G is closely monitoring national developments on water management.
‘The impact of overwhelming surface water sewerage systems is all too obvious,’ advances Director Marcus Taylor, ‘with often awful outcomes for residents in locations affected by catastrophic flooding. The unfortunate reality is such events could become increasingly commonplace as our climate warms and rainfall increases.
‘As engineers committed to finding innovative building solutions, we’re fully aware that sustainable water management needs to be a central consideration for the local construction industry. This is not just a national or global issue – climate change, creeping urbanisation and growing populations are threats equally impacting our Islands.
‘The solutions to minimise that impact exist. We’re expecting local government commitment to ensure widespread adoption. And building on our partnership with internationally recognised water management experts EPG to ensure T&G has access to the expertise needed for implementation at any scale.’
Sustainable partnership opportunities
The Environmental Protection Group (EPG) has built a deserved reputation through coupling advanced engineering excellence with applied innovative thinking.
Strongly focused on sustainable water management solutions, the firm’s global clients include government agencies, major developers and many smaller private companies across the construction sector. Thanks to a partnership with T&G, clients in the Channel Islands are now also benefitting from EPG’s excellence and innovation. And there are plans to go further.
‘As the Islands embrace SuDS, we’re expecting demand for water management services to expand,’ Marcus continues, ‘creating further opportunities to involve EPG in local construction projects.
‘We’re also actively looking at T&G providing its engineering expertise to EPG for some of its projects. While we may operate in relatively small markets, the range of developments here means our teams collectively possess a wider breadth of engineering knowledge than many comparable national companies.’
Managing water may be a significant future challenge for our Islands. But one to be overcome through an effective, joined up effort. And one that also holds the potential to create opportunities through innovative partnerships alongside any threats.
We’d love to discuss further with anyone interested in finding out more. Contact Marcus Taylor at [email protected] or +44 (0)1534 867070.
Why choose T & G?
Over more than 30 years in business, we have been involved in projects across the Channel Islands, spanning every type of construction, working on large commissions and small, encompassing the requirements of private and public sector clients. Each has been approached with the same determined, creative professionalism that drives everything T&G does.
Choosing to work with T&G in Guernsey or Jersey provides assurance of the same high quality approach. We take pride in understanding and meeting client requirements, in finding solutions to engineering challenges and ensuring satisfaction at the completion of every project or piece of work.