Advisory - Ecology - Sustainable Drainage

Sustainable Drainage

With the onset of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) over the next few years; how golf clubs manage their waste water will be increasingly coming to the attention of the Environment Agency and the other regulatory bodies. The discharge of nutrient enriched, chemical loaded waste water supporting large amounts of organic matter is already inhibited under the Groundwater Regulations, however the WFD is set to bring about even stricter control.

Working with partner organisations, the STRI can offer a complete solution to your waste water problems involving Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The channelling of waste water from machinery washdown facilities, clubhouse and maintenance compound through swales, ditches and reedbeds can result in safe, legally clean water discharged to watercourse. A properly created SuDS system will also provide aesthetic value whilst creating important ecological habitat for a variety of birds, small mammals and invertebrates. A real win/win situation!

A small number of SuDS including reedbed filtration already exist at more environmentally progressive golf clubs and the number is expected to rise exponentially over the next few years as an alternative to more traditional soakaways or closed loop recycling systems.

To contact STRI please contact the Client service co-ordinator or telephone +44 01274 518918.

Links : www.environment-agency.gov.uk or www.suds-sites.net