Robust management of sediments is a prerequisite for the successful operation of any drainage system. If not adequately managed, sediments will accumulate in undesirable locations, making maintenance difficult, and will pass on to receiving watercourses, presenting a pollution threat.

The paper considers best practice in the design and linking together of ‘hard’ SuDS components, specifically storage systems and sediment interceptors. It is concluded, based on the outputs of recent studies, that an optimal system will incorporate a storage chamber with designed-in sediment transfer facilities, feeding onward to well-designed flow control and sediment capture facilities.

As with any new set of methods or approaches, a major challenge has been to break down the barriers and address the concerns held, in particular, by those who might ultimately become responsible for their operation. This is an ongoing process. The paper discusses the application of innovative 'hard engineered' stormwater management techniques, and their suitability for use either in conjunction with, or in isolation from alternative 'soft engineered' structures.

It is found that these techniques, far from being 'new and unknown' have been extensively applied, and have also been the subject of numerous verification studies, demonstrating their effectiveness and fitness for application.