SuDS in London - a guide

Filter drain
A linear drain consisting of a trench filled
with a permeable material, often with a
perforated pipe in the base of the trench
to assist drainage.
Filter strip
A vegetated area of gently sloping ground,
designed to drain water evenly off
impermeable areas and to filter out silt and
other particulates.
Filtration
The act of removing sediment or other
particles from a fluid by passing it through
a filter.
Flora
The plants found in a particular
physical environment.
Flow paths
The course rain water takes naturally.
Forebay
A small pool located upstream of a larger
body of water, designed to act as a buffer,
trapping sediment and silt
Interception forebay
A small basin or pond upstream of the
main drainage component which traps
sediment.
Geocellular structure
A plastic box structure used in the ground,
often to attenuate runoff.
Geographical information
A system designed to capture, store,
manipulate, analyse, manage and present
data about the planet’s natural and man
made features.
Geotechnical survey
Information on the physical properties of
soil and rock.
Green corridor
A strip of land in an urban area that allows
wildlife to move along it and can support
habitats. Typically includes cuttings,
embankments, roadside grass verges, rights
of way, rivers and canal banks.
Green infrastructure
A network of green spaces, trees and
green roofs that is planned, designed
and managed to provide a range of
benefits including amenity, healthy living,
biodiversity enhancement and ecological
resilience (natural capital).
Living roof
A roof with plants growing on its surface,
which contributes to local biodiversity.
The vegetated surface provides a
degree of retention, attenuation and
treatment of rainwater, and promotes
evapotranspiration. Sometimes referred to
as a green, blue or brown roof.
Green space
The ‘green lungs’ of towns and cities, land
that is that is wholly or partly covered with
vegetation.
Grey infrastructure
Sometimes referred to as hard or
traditional infrastructure, are man-made,
engineered components of a system such
as drains and gutters.
Groundwater
Water that is below the surface of the
ground in the saturation zone.
Gully pots
Part of a surface water drainage system;
large containers that remove solids
from runoff.
Habitat
The area or environment where an
organism or ecological community
normally lives or occurs.
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