Making the Most of SuDS with Controflow

Developed specifically for SuDS, Controflow® flow control chambers, inlet/outlet and erosion-control baskets, and blue/green roof outlet controls provide low-cost, passive operation solutions to optimise SuDS schemes.

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to manage rainwater are now requirements for many developments, approved and often adopted by local authorities. SuDS are essential in the fight against flooding and pollution – particularly with overloaded sewers, urbanisation and climate change – but should also offer multifunctionality and other benefits including amenity and biodiversity.

Essential Flow Controls

This technology is well-established in the UK and well-designed, multifunctional SuDS on or near the surface have been demonstrated to cost less than conventional piped drainage, with no additional land-take. The key to successful design is water storage strategically deployed around a site within SuDS elements, such as green/blue roofs, swales, basins, ponds and permeable paving, forming discrete sub-catchments – essentially, each with a flow control. The impact of using small orifice flow controls to manage greenfield runoff rates is illustrated in the graph.

With their low cost and shallow construction, Controflow® chambers are ideally suited to control flows from each sub-catchment as well as from whole sites, while realising a key aim of SuDS to keep water management on or near the surface. They can also maximise storage in permeable paving on sloping sites, with terraced compartments separated by simple check dams. And they can detain water to optimise ground infiltration, so reducing discharge volumes.

Avoiding Land-take

SuDS techniques using Controflow chambers avoid the additional land-take and costs of large, heavily engineered control and storage structures at the perimeter of developments. Their low cost and shallow construction enable them to be used more widely and wherever needed, to optimise flows from each sub-catchment as well as at site perimeters, whilst keeping water flow on or near the surface.

All orifice flow controls should be protected to prevent debris from entering the chamber.

Controflow SuDS Baskets are manufactured in stainless steel mesh for filling with stone and act as attractive inlets or outlets that protect pipe openings and flow control orifices, or as erosion-control to enable gentle water flows down slopes. Controflow chambers, inlet and outlet baskets, together with short pipe connectors, reduce the risk of wildlife mortality dramatically.

Further additions to the Controflow range, Roof Outlet Control and Overflow Units are specifically designed to optimise the performance of blue and green roofs, and easily installed without interfering with existing drainage outlets.

The Controflow range continues to be developed by experienced SuDS designers with over 25 years’ experience. Made to order using recyclable materials, these low-cost components for use throughout SuDS management trains are simple to install, with minimal maintenance over the long term. They enable straightforward verification of performance by local authorities and are easy to access for inspection, measurement or sampling.

To download the new Controflow brochure and find out more, contact SuDSstore via:

www.sudsstore.com

01254 694071

info@sudsstore.com