Adapting to the sustainability challenge: managing the risk of public SUDS

Scottish Water, the public drainage authority in Scotland, is required through recent legislation to take into ownership Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. The business had comprehensive knowledge of the operation of below ground drainage (pipes and underground storage) and a culture which presumed against the vesting of above ground assets. Two Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with the University of Abertay Dundee were entered into to address these issues and embed robust vesting processes and procedures. This paper examines the partnership journey to date which has allowed the business to work through the legal, technical, operational, financial, IT, and customer focused tasks required to enable a smooth transition in establishing the transfer of SUDS ownership (termed vesting) and subsequently adapting to the sustainability challenge. The SUDS vesting process, budgeting model and technical assessment procedures have contributed to a positive shift in customer focused performance and are proving to be positive gains in business efficiencies and sustainability performance. Scottish Water now has a clearer picture of the cost and efficiency savings to be made from embedding knowledge and expertise in the business for the long-term management of SUDS. This has enabled the business to position itself better when entering the next round of regulatory discussions on future funding cycles.