Eco-towns provide a tremendous opportunity to think creatively about water and our relationship to it and to make significant progress towards sustainable water management. The guidance presented in this Worksheet proposes a range of innovative actions which can drive realisation of this ambition. The Worksheet provides details of pertinent regulations and policies, case study examples and sources of further information.
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Flood risk management: Flood Zone 3 should not be considered suitable areas for eco-town developments. Assessments of flood risk should be undertaken to provide a technical assessment of all forms of flood risk to an eco-town and its surrounding area.
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Sustainable drainage: Eco-towns should utilise Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS), which provide a flexible approach to drainage and can include green roofs, rainwater harvesting, permeable pavements, natural watercourse corridors, wetlands and ponds.
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Water efficiency: High standards of water efficiency are expected of eco-towns, with the water conservation hierarchy of reduce– re-use–recycle providing an appropriate model.
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Water quality: Eco-towns should aspire to improve environmental water quality (particularly in areas where there is contaminated land or watercourses).
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Water services infrastructure planning: The environment and infrastructure capacity for water supply, sewage disposal, flood risk management and surface water drainage can be assessed in a collaborative, timely and proportionate way through water cycle studies.