Building Industry News

Drainage is a priority, says Polypipe

06/11/2008 14:01:12

Jason Shingleton, general manager of Polypipe Civils, writes for New Civil Engineer of the renewed importance of drainage.

In light of the Water Framework Directive, he notes that surface water run-off is now one of the main topics on the drainage agenda.

With the directive's rules on groundwater due to be brought into force from 2009, Mr Shingleton claims that the implications of contaminated rainwater entering the ground are likely to come under focus.

"Rainwater from roads, car parks and metal roof areas is often highly contaminated with pollutants," he writes.

"Once these contaminants enter the groundwater, then the local ecology is under serious threat," he adds.

Engineers and architects looking to adopt the new principles early are told that success may only be expected by ensuring the correct product is selected for a particular application.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs advises that a transition period is planned to last until 2013, during which time the new Groundwater Directive is to operate in tandem with the previous 1980 legislation.

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