World Water Week 2022: Divining solutions for a changing climate

In the first instance, there are many ways that water systems can be designed to more effectively re-use natural water collected on site. Rainwater harvesting is not a new concept, but one that can definitely be implemented into more built environment schemes.

When storage and pump returns are incorporated into overall design, this allows greywater to be re-used before calling on water stocks – reducing overall impact on reserves. This comes with a need to change perceptions and understanding within the general public relating to greywater and how it can be used and treated – and promoting the use of consumer systems like water butts for gardening water to become more widely used.

There is also an ongoing rise in work and investment in blue-green infrastructure throughout the UK, which relates to urban planning including the use of blue elements like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains, alongside green elements such as trees, forests, fields and parks.

These are more visibly obvious design routes with masterplans that incorporate water attenuation features within their sites. This promotes the simultaneous collection of surface water runoff, increased biodiversity in the area and provision of green space for local residents to benefit from. And, post-pandemic, we understand how important access to open and green space is for mental health, promoting dual benefit from these opportunities.

In theory, this is a practice that should be easy to implement within current legislation – building on the guidance already in place through close work with the relevant authorities.

Many of those working within the built environment will now be familiar with the term SuDS – sustainable urban drainage systems – because they are a commonplace tactic in design. They are designed to both manage the flood and pollution risks from water runoff in urban areas, contribute to environmental enhancement and placemaking – and play a key part in modern building design.

It is our role to work with clients to maximise the benefits and opportunities that are contained within a site. Many of these can be dual purpose, with SuDS or water attenuation features contributing to rewilding efforts at the same time as providing the appropriate water engineering for the site itself. Given that, at the moment, planning regulations mean that a significant proportion of any development site area will likely be required for drainage features, the opportunities here are clear – but there are also challenges that rise from this too.

As is often the case, these challenges are routed in the need for changing attitudes, both in terms of balancing economic return versus overall positive impact (i.e., best value versus cost) and in wider understanding of climate impact.

We must be leading clients on the impact climate change has on our infrastructure, and where this means we should re-assess how we approach things. With more extreme weather happening more regularly, we must look at designing this into our built environment. For example, our designs take account of forecasted climate change – whereas previously we may have allowed an additional 10 to 20% within our designs, in recent years this has increased to 40% and more, to accommodate updated assessments of the impact climate change may have on weather events..

All in all, sustainability should be at the heart of every action within the built environment, no matter what the scheme is. When it comes to water, there are plenty of options for consultants like ourselves to advise clients with – and we will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to lead the way in sustainable water engineering, and deliver better together for the planet.

If you would like to discuss our water engineering services or a potential project, please get in contact with Paul Cannaby here.