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Legislation England and Wales

Legislation affecting drainage is complex. Sustainable drainage techniques were not widely practised in England and Wales when the legislation was passed, so are not dealt with explicitly. A review of legislation (in England and Wales) pertaining to Sustainable Water Management Systems which includes SUDS and rainwater and greywater reuse systems has been undertaken for CIRIA Project RP664 Model Agreements for Sustainable Water Management Systems. The legislation review can be found by following this link

Some of the relevant legislation and guidance is:

Highways Act 1980
Sewers for Adoption 1985
Sewerage Act 1989
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Environment Protection Act 1990
Water Industry Act 1991
Water Resources Act 1991
Land Drainage Acts 1991, 1994
Environment Act 1995
The Groundwater Regulations 1998
Building Regulations Part H 2002

National SUDS Working Group (NSWG)

A SUDS working group has been established to address the perceived issues impeding the widespread use of SUDS in England and Wales. It includes representatives from:

Department for Communities and Local Government(ODPM)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Department for Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Office of Water Services (Ofwat)
Water UK
Local Government Association
Planning Officers Society
Highway Authorities
Environment Agency
Natural England
CIRIA
House Builders Federation

The group has developed a Framework to provide a set of core standards and agreements between those public organisations with statutory or regulatory responsibilities relating to SUDS. The National SUDS Working Group (NSWG) have produced a Framework Document which is available from the Environment Agency for Consultation. For further information please follow this link.

Consultation with relevant key organisation should lead to an agreed code of practice. A longer term aim for the NSWG is to develop a document on the lines of Sewers for Adoption, perhaps to be called "SUDS for Adoption".

(March 2007)

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