Surface water systems & SuDS
Surface water systems face growing pressure from climate change, urbanisation and ageing drainage networks. We support governments, regulators, water companies and developers through evidence based modelling, monitoring, SuDS expertise and digital innovation. Our work improves resilience, water quality, flood risk and environmental performance. By combining research, engineering and data driven tools, we help clients make confident decisions that protect communities, enhance biodiversity and support long term, climate resilient planning.
Climate pressures driving surface water flooding & water quality deterioration
More intense rainfall, climate change and urban growth are increasing the frequency and severity of surface water flooding. Hard surfaces create rapid runoff, while pollution from urban areas, agricultural activity and combined sewer overflows threatens ecological health. Organisations need stronger evidence and modelling to understand these risks their evolution and how systems to mitigate impacts will perform under future conditions.
Client challenges surface water management planning
Local authorities, governments, water companies and developers are challenged with reducing flood risk, improving water quality and planning for sustainable growth. Key challenges include identifying high‑risk areas, selecting effective mitigation options, demonstrating compliance with regulations and policy, and making climate sensitive investment decisions. Clear opportunity mapping, option appraisal and evidence are essential for good decision‑making.
Industry leadership in drainage design standards and SuDS guidance
Our people contribute technical insight to BSI, CIRIA, CIWEM, Defra and the Environment Agency, helping shape guidance for SuDS, drainage design and climate adaptation. We bring evidence from modelling, monitoring and operational experience to ensure requirements are workable, proportionate and future‑ready. We also translate policy into practical design and maintenance guidance that improves implementation and outcomes.
Data‑driven tools for climate resilience and better decision‑making
We apply hydrological and hydraulic modelling, monitoring networks, drone surveys, platform analytics and digital tools, such as SuDS-iQ and Sapphire, to assess system performance, runoff pathways, flooding and pollution risks. We also use satellite‑data‑driven AI through projects like EO4Biodiversity and Sapphire Agriculture to analyse land use, vegetation and catchment conditions. This supports targeted investment, nature‑based design and climate‑resilient planning.
Community and environmental benefits from resilient surface water systems
Our evidence‑driven approach strengthens resilience, helping to optimise outcomes for people, water and nature. We help clients protect people and infrastructure while maximising societal and environmental benefits and planning sustainably for a changing climate.
Surface water systems expertise
Modelling runoff, flow pathways and flood risk under current and future climate conditions.
Assess and optimise sustainable drainage systems, including for new build and retrofit scenarios.
uksuds: a suite of simple SuDS sizing tools to support planning application.
SuDSiQ: a collaboration and evaluation platform using data led analytics to support stakeholder planning for SuDS, assess SuDS performance (hydraulics and water quality) and estimate system costs and carbon impacts.
Understanding interactions between land use, drainage networks and watercourses to improve system performance.
Evaluating pollution pathways from urban runoff, agriculture and CSOs to support compliance and cleaner catchments.
Design of monitoring programmes and data platforms for real time understanding.
Developing tools that help organisations prepare for extreme rainfall.
Assess future scenarios to guide resilient design and long term planning.
Use of earth observation and AI to understand land use, vegetation health and catchment conditions to support surface water management and investment targeting.
Integrating modelling, monitoring and AI to guide targeted investment, risk prioritisation and operational decision-making.
SuDS design tools
A suite of free tools for the design and evaluation of sustainable drainage systems.
Get in touch
Bridget Woods-Ballard
