If your new building development requires a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) to holistically manage surface water runoff to the sewers, attenuation tanks are an ideal solution.
Your development area may be suffering from ponding water, be surrounded by wetlands, or even include green roofs. Attenuation tanks help with all these urban drainage issues, not only helping you to comply with drainage-related building regulations but also reducing the effect of your development on climate change and the natural environment.
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How do attenuation tanks work?
Stormwater attenuation tanks are designed to collect excess surface water and hold it temporarily, releasing it into the sewage system via a flow control chamber, at a rate that the system can cope with.
During periods of heavy rainfall, the water is held in the attenuation tank until there is capacity within the sewer’s infrastructure to cope with it, at which time it is pumped out.
This slowing down of the discharge of surface water reduces the risk of localized flooding.
Commonly used for larger commercial applications, attenuation tanks are a cost-effective solution to a commonly experienced problem in the building industry.
What’s the difference between attenuation tanks and soakaway crates?
Attenuation tanks and soakaway crates are similar in many ways, for example, the materials used to manufacture them. However, the way in which they remove water is quite different.
Soakaway crates hold the water they collect from the ground and release it back into the soil. On the other hand, attenuation tanks remove the water from the area entirely, redirecting it to the sewer system.
What size attenuation tanks do I need?
There are several factors to take into consideration before you begin installing stormwater attenuation tanks. These include, but are not limited to:
- Your geographical location – Much more rain falls in Manchester than London, for example.
- The storm return period – This is the average time between severe storm events and is based on historical information.
- Climate change allowance – Any predicted changes to the weather in the coming years need to be taken into account.
- Groundwater table level – This will rise during periods of heavy rain, and the tank needs to be large enough to process the increased amount of water.
- Catchment area – Rainwater that will run into your attenuation tanks from the surrounding area, and the size of this area should be calculated.
- Allowable outflow – As attenuation tanks are connected to the sewer, the rate of allowable outflow must be calculated in liters per second.
Want to know more?
If you’re ready to buy attenuation tanks for your domestic, commercial or industrial building development, click the link to take a look at their affordable online range.
