Aztec West is an example of a privately managed SuDS design. I initially wished to include an adopted detention basin in Thatcham, Berkshire as an alternative example of SuDS on a residential site also designed in the late 1970’s but the paper would have been too long. Suffice it to say that there are examples of good operating detention basins on residential sites where the major maintenance expenditure is mowing the grass.

Arlington Business Services Ltd. does charge their clients for maintaining the common areas of the site. They were unable to give me a cost for the maintenance of the SuDS elements separately as they viewed the maintenance of the flower beds, lawns and lakes throughout the site as normal practice and the cost of this type of work can be obtained from landscape contractors. The fountains are maintained separately but they are not an essential part of a SuDS design but are seen as an attractive addition that many private clients favour.

Reprinted with Permission from Micro Drainage Ltd.