The document outlines the framework for water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) in Wales, highlighting the need for 200,000 new homes by 2025 amidst a water resources deficit. It emphasizes the connection between water management, carbon emissions, and flooding risks, advocating for sustainable practices like green roofs and bioretention systems. Additionally, it discusses various pilot projects and community engagement strategies to enhance water efficiency and environmental resilience.

1. Water Sensitive
Urban Design
Developing our approach in Wales
Aaron Burton
March 2012

2. Outline
Drivers in Wales
Pilots/ case studies
The future

3. Housing challenge
Additional 200,000
new homes by 2025
Additional 30,000
new homes in
Cardiff by 2025
80% of existing
homes remain by
2050

4. DCWW
Water Resources
Deficit zones:
 SEWCUS: -12 to -104 Ml/d
 Pembrokeshire: -13 to -19 Ml/d
 Brecon: -1 Ml/d
 NEYM: +2.9 to -5 Ml/d
(context – Cardiff daily household
use is around 50 Ml/d)

5. Water and carbon connection
5% UK annual carbon 1% UK annual carbon
Emissions emissions
(~3% in Wales)

6. Flooding – Surface water
Majority of surface
water problem locations
are in SE Wales

7. Scott (2011) Surface water management in a changing legislative framework, Presented at ICE Wales Flooding conference
http://www.ice.org.uk/getattachment/20b63757-2855-43c2-98e0-8ca42da77696/Wales-Flooding-Conference-2011-Dominic-Scott.aspx

8. NEF - Ecosystem services
Ecosystem Service Green roofs/ Street trees Wetlands Rainwater Water and Rain
walls harvesting energy gardens/
efficiency bioretention
Reduce flood risk     
Offset urban heat    
island
Reduce energy    
demand
Reduce noise/ air  
pollution
Support biodiversity    
Recreation/ leisure  
Reduce water use   
Reduce wastewater 
flows
Reduced CO2      
Reduced water and    
energy bills
Adapted from GLA (2011) Managing risks and increasing resilience – The Mayor’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, p. 90,
http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Adaptation-oct11.pdf (Accessed 05/11/12)

9. Pilots/
Case Studies

10. Water Sensitive Brynheulog
Site issues:
•Blocked
drainage
•Erosion and
WQ
•Flooding past
issue/ road
surface issues

11. Before

13. WSUD Measures Bioretention Systems
Overf low pit
Slot in kerb
Footpath
Road
Rain gardens 0.1 - 0.3 m Temporary ponding
0.5 - 1m Filter media
0.1 m Transition layer (sand)
0.15 m Drainage layer, with perf orated pipes (gravel)
Impervious liner
Stormwater drainage (eg 375 mm pipe)
0.5 – 1.5 m
Kerb opening through lintel (Ku-ring-gai Council) Slotted kerb opening and grate (Docklands, Melbourne)
Wetlands at differing scales

14. Wetlands
Wetland
/raingarden Raingardens/ RWH

15. Welsh Housing Quality Standard
16% of households in Wales
SAP rating for energy (space
and water heating)
Responsible for
“environment” and
landscapes
EAW & EST Guidance to
support WHQS (based on
pilot study & survey)
WC partnerships
Refurbishment
Voids and maintenance
WSUD Guidance and Pilot
Studies

16. Community based schemes
Reeds used to cut pollution in
Llanfyllin's River Cain

17. Caearau & Brynglas SUDS Pilot

19. 140
Total emissions - water, sewerage, surface water, SuDS,
120
100
RWH embodied(tCo2e)
80
60
40
20
0
Baseline RWH with RWH with RWH with RWH with SuDS only SuDS + SuDS + SuDS + 300l SuDS + 100l
Traditional traditional traditional traditional 1500l RWH 1500l RWH RWH RWH
Solution solution solution solution new tech
(new tech)
Option
NO14 (464 props) BY21 (278 Props) BP04 (1 school + 10 props)
Broader costs and benefits? Maintenance, adoption,
uptake rates etc…

20. Water Sensitive Communities
Value of Water and behaviour change
140 25
120
20
Carbon Saving kgCO2/yr
100
Water saving (m3/yr)
15
80
60
10
40
5
20
0 0
All In-home Mail, events, Mail, events, Mail, events,
telephone (1) telephone (2) telephone (3)
Advice method
Average saving per customer (CO2 heating + embodied) Kg CO2/yr Average water saving (m3/yr)

21. Future work

22. WSUD Programme Board
To guide decision WR
making and resource Planning WFD
input as we develop our
approach to Water WQ Land Man
Sensitive Urban Design
WSUD
in Wales.
Air Quality Groundwater
Climate
Biodiversity
Change
FRCM

23. Pilots:
Bryheulog
Academic:
Industry: Cardiff tbc
Retrofit2050
CIRIA Scoping Study Caerau & Brynglas
PREPARED
SuDS Wales Groups CCW - NER
TSB Future Cities
IWA Future Cities Wetland Mapping
HA Water Pilot
Living Wise Cardiff
Policy: Programmes: FUTURE:
SPPSoW Periodic Review •WSUD Guidance
Housing Bill WRMP •Pilot technology
Planning Bill DCWW SWEAR •Sector wide
Building Regulations DCWW SDPs learning programmes
WHQS EAW CFMPs (LZCH?)
SuDS Guidance LA SWMPs •Community 1st
/SABs Diffuse Pollution AP •EU Life+
Overview of activities in Wales Feb 2012