SUDs Maintenance Plan

It is often the case that after submitting a Surface And Foul Water Drainage Strategy you will then be asked for a SUDs Maintenance Plan – a detailed maintenance plan should be provided, including detail on who is maintaining features and how this will be funded.

We have set out below the most basic of plans which we have successfully used on a few sites, but generally the SUDs Maintenance Plan will be a lot more complex.

Example SUDs Maintenance Plan

This maintenance manual was written at planning stage for the alteration at Primary School 2019. It outlines the responsibilities of the Trust for there care and maintenance of the system in line with the below requirements the work will be funded from School's external areas budget.

1 - Location of SUDs Components

The SUDs components consist of typical 100m surface water sewers linked to the large swale at the northern extent of the playing fields. There is also a small area of permeable paving at the front of the school (south) which acts as a soak-away.

2 - How it works

Water is passed to areas through pipes or over the ground surface to a point where it has a opportunity to soak in to the ground.

3 - Siltation

Just as with most surface water drainage systems there is scope for siltation. Mud and git can clog the system and reduce it adequacy.  If regular maintenance checks (see section 9) reveal siltation is excessive (5mm or more) then drains should be cleaned and Suds feature may require de-silting.
The swale is unlined. Any pumped water or excavated sludge will need to be disposed of by licensed carrier, if uncontaminated it may be placed on site (for example along base of hedges).

4 - Oil Water Separators

There are no oil water separators on site.

5 - Maintenance Requirements

6 - Stockpiling

Materials such as sand or soil should not be stockpiled on the permeable paving area to the front of the school.

7 - Alterations to System

The SUDs system was a legal requirement of the planning permission obtained in 2019. It cannot be altered in such a way that will reduce it overall performance and any planned works that will change the nature of the system. A drainage Consultant or Drainage Enginner should be consulted before this happens.

8 - Reporting

Any defects or detectable pollution should be reported to the Catalyst Academies Trust.


9 - Regular Inspection (Print Out to Make Checklist)

SUDs Maintenance Quarterly Checklist

Complete & retain with School Records.

Checks Carried Out by: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• Evidence of Algae, Oils Milky Froth Odour, Weird Colours? 
• Excess Sediment Build Up in Bass of Swale (More than 5mm)
• Look for signs of oils, and also smell for oil. 
• Does water soak-away after a few hours?
• Do the side of the swale look stable?
• Does the inlet (in flow) area look free from erosion and stable?
• Is there erosion or channel cut in to swale bed by running water?
• Has the swale over flowed?
• Is there any litter of washed in plastic that requires removal? If so have it removed
• Grass should be cut once every 3 months. Is this the case? Longer grass helps trap sediment.