Icelandic experts to hear about city drainage system

A group of Icelandic planners, scientists and engineers will visit Inverness next week to hear about the city’s sustainable drainage systems.

Highland Council staff from the development and infrastructure service will discuss the work which has been carried out on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (Suds).

Below ground tanks and pipes previously carried water away as quickly as possible but Suds are designed to collected rainwater in man-made ponds, where it can be slowly released into rivers and streams to prevent flooding.

A collaboration between Scottish Natural Heritage and the local authority in 2015 resulted in 40 Suds ponds in the Inverness and Culloden area. These systems are now a key part of all new housing developments and encourage wildlife.

During the visit next Wednesday, Katy Martin from the council’s environment, advice and consultancy team will talk about this work and Alan Fraser, an engineer in the flood team, will discuss plans for better water manage-

“Slowly released into rivers and streams to preventflooding”

ment through the Smithton and Culloden flood scheme, due to break ground this year.

Tour leader Halldora Hreggviosdottir said the aim of the visit is to “see the technology in practice and learn about the planning, engineering and public services which guide it into routine use”.

The Icelandic delegates will also be visiting sites in Glasgow, Fife, Kinross and Edinburgh on their Scottish tour.

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