SUDS Example: Wessex Water Operations Centre, Bath

An example of a sustainable urban drainage system for AQA A-Level Geography. Part of the Contemporary Urban Environments topic.

Where is the Wessex Water Operations Centre located?

Bath, England

What does the development contain and how much did it cost?

The £22 million development contains office buildings, an operations centre, car park, roads, and landscaped areas

List at least four methods used in the SUDS

Three green roofs with a total size of 700 metres squared, permeable paving in the car parking areas, a swale that drains to the main storage tank, and rainwater and treated greywater are stored in three intermediate tanks to be used for toilet flushing.

List three benefits/achievements of the SUDS

The work promoted SUDS and reduced the company’s flows to the sewer network. It allowed all stormwater to be disposed of on-site. The SUDS were successfully incorporated into the landscape. The green roofs also provide habitats.

List three failures/constraints of the SUDS

The SUDS was constrained by limited space. The green roof wildflower meadow was removed as it was not considered aesthetically pleasing all year round. Approximately three quarters of the site will be roofed or paved.

What were the interested parties?

The client (Wessex Water) was keen for the project to happen. The Environment Agency was concerned about the stability of the ground under infiltration, but discussions led to the solution that discharge into gull fissures should be avoided and open fissures should be filled if they were uncovered during construction.

List three ways the SUDS is maintained

The tanks are cleaned annually and the permeable paving requires sweeping of moss every so often. The grassland roof is cut once yearly after the plants have set their seeds