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SUDSNet Meeting 30 th November 2005 SEPA and SUDS Research Activities. Neil McLean Brian D’Arcy. SEPA and SUDSWP ( Sustainable Urban Drainage Scottish Working Party). Questionnaire Performed
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SUDSNet Meeting30th November 2005SEPA and SUDS Research Activities Neil McLean Brian D’Arcy
SEPA and SUDSWP(Sustainable Urban Drainage Scottish Working Party) • Questionnaire Performed “to help obtain a consensus of what the main issues members consider should be addressed in the field of SUDS over the next year” • 3 Clear areas for consideration with more than half total score • Other areas not forgotten, but decision to take forward • Construction (22%) • Road Runoff (19%) • Source Control (11%) Issues Considered Most Important by SUDSWP • Construction Inspection & Guidance • Road Runoff • Source Control
SEPA Well Represented on SUDSWP(Chair and Sect plus 3) • SEPA’s interests agree with outcomes of SUDSWP Q’s • Several areas to concentrate on; ---------------------------- • Automobiles as a source of Pollution • Fate of Pollutants in soft engineered/infiltrating systems • Review of Screening Tool • Assessing SUDS after agreement of Proposal • Green Roofs • Roads/Highways and SUDS use • Pond/Wetland Size
Automobiles as a Source of Pollution • Greenpeace quote, “If car manufacturers were focused on efficiency, we could already have cars that do 100 mpg.” Mark Strutt, Greenpeace • But more than just fuel use; • Brake linings – Cu • Tyre compounds – PAHs outlawed in Sweden • Diesel - particulates including PAHs • Lubricants and fluids – PAHs, metals, HCs • International initiative to address this; • Papers sought for IWA conference Istanbul, September 2006
2. Fate of Pollutants in Infiltrating Systems • To what extent do pollutants migrate into sub-base of facilities • Is this a problem? - Groundwater risks • Pollutants; • Oil • PAHs • Toxic metals • Pesticides • Nutrients • Experimental approach; • Lysimeters • Swales, Filter Strips & Basins ?
3. Guidance for SEPA Staff • What amounts of urbanisation to become risk to environment? • More nutrients evident in urban catchments than agricultural areas • Whole-river catchment pressures • How do different SUD systems meet environmental needs? • Review GIS based “Screening Tool” for predicting pollutant losses for anywhere in Scotland (Project spec to be drafted) • Requirement for methodology to enable users to assess design proposals • Industrial estate case study - good environmental practice – MUCL Project • Willingness to consider SUDS retrofits • Pollution prevention awareness • Waste minimisation
4. Inspection of SUDS – Post approval assessment • Study performed by SEPA staff to look at 10 sites after approval by SEPA – during post construction; • 4 as agreed • 2 with maintenance schedule • 1 maintenance carried out • 2 owner not determined • Further SEPA inspections hoped for • Other/joint agency inspections • Building control • Scottish Water • Planning authority • SEPA • Imperative to oversee construction and implementation
5. Green Roofs • Raise awareness of green roofs • Flood Mitigation for small/intense storms • Pollution scavenging prospects • Biodiversity possibilities • Hope that SEPA can have its own green roof • More knowledge required; • What storms can be captured? • Antecedent condition • Pollutant removal/containment • Biodiversity conservation
6. Roads/Highways Initiative –encourage LA confidence in SUDS • General “entrenched” position of LAs roads depts to consider adopting SUDS • Scot Exec “ have been using filter trenches for decades” • Need to provide more confidence for officers to approve SUDS; • Pervious/Porous paving • Roadside swales • Basins/ponds/etc • Top-down approach – • Changes in guidance required – • DMRB Local interpretation Adoption • Bottom-up approach – • Changes in Understanding • Demo sites Local evidence adoption
7. Ponds/Wetlands Size & the use of Vt • Original thought that residential catchment is lower risk and need basins – not ponds/wetlands • Larger ponds for longer residence time to allow nutrient uptake • Also need for v. high risk sites, e.g. industrial estates • Paper presented to IWA • More discussion this afternoon
Conferences • Roads/Highways conference • June 2006? • SUDSNet Conference • Source control? 2006 • IWA Diffuse Pollution Conference • Istanbul, September 2006 Happy Christmas