TPi March 2019

Plastic & composite tubes

Sustainable drainage demand prompts UK production deal

Increasing local authority planning requirements for compliant sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in major developments are boosting demand for water quality treatment components, prompting supplier SDS Ltd to establish a UK manufacturing base to service its growing order book. Increasing sales of the SDS Aqua-Swirl TM hydrodynamic vortex separator, used to remove polluting silts and sediments from surface water runoff as part of SuDS, have prompted a new partnership between SDS and the off-site build specialist Asset International. The technology of the Aqua-Swirl was introduced by SDS to the UK market in 2015, and the Aqua-Filter TM high- performance filtration system was added to its range in 2017. Production of both devices has begun at Asset’s fabrication plant in Newport, using Weholite HDPE components. The arrangement has more than halved the delivery times to SDS customers as well as providing more opportunity to engineer bespoke components to meet the requirements of drainage design. SDS sales and marketing director Richard Averley commented, “SDS has a well-established reputation among contractors for making it easy

SDS Aqua-Swirl

index for vegetative SuDS components, such as swales and ponds, has posed a challenge for engineers because no direct alternative is provided for manufactured components. We have been able to provide a reliable equivalent performance index for our products, that our customers have welcomed.” The SDS Aqua-Swirl uses vortex separation technology to remove gross pollutants, floating oils and debris from surface water run-off and prevent it entering the natural environment. The device can also be used upstream of ponds, wetlands and basins to prevent silting and reduce maintenance. Aqua- Swirl removes up to 80 per cent of suspended solids, can store up to five tonnes of contaminated sediment and is easily emptied with a standard vacuum tanker. On challenging sites, the SDS Aqua- Filter can be deployed as a down-flow filtration device and used in a treatment train together with the Aqua-Swirl, to deliver removal of suspended solids and soluble pollutants, including small suspended particles, nutrients, heavy metals and hydrocarbons. It can treat flows of up to 160 l/s in a small footprint. SDS Ltd – UK enquiries@sdslimited.com www.sdslimited.com

and affordable to install compliant sustainable drainage schemes. The SDS Aqua-Swirl’s lightweight, plastic construction and large choice of sizes already make it a popular choice. Now contractors can expect even quicker delivery and the opportunity to specify bespoke piped connections to fit the drainage layout on site.” Since April 2015, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has required SuDS to be included inmajor commercial and housing developments in England. Consulting engineers and drainage designers are encouraged to follow guidance in CIRIA C753 The SuDS Manual to design compliant drainage schemes. “We expect demand for water quality treatment devices to continue to grow, now that the government has committed to building more SuDS as part of its 25-year Environment Plan, as well as further strengthening the NPPF to include a requirement for SuDS to be multifunctional,” Mr Averley continued. “Our experience shows that designers, developers and contractors need our technical support to deliver practical, affordable schemes that comply with The SuDS Manual. For example, the introduction in the manual of a pollution mitigation

Installation of SDS Aqua-Swirl is quick and easy

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March 2019 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL