Urban Drainage Group

Our vision and aims

The CIWEM Urban Drainage Group (UDG) sustains the excellence of people professionally engaged in urban drainage management now and for future generations. It continues the work of WaPUG which was established in 1984.

The aims and objectives of the Urban Drainage Group are aligned with CIWEM’s Royal Charter. They are to:

  • Advance the science and practice of urban drainage management for the public benefit.
  • Promote education, training, study and research in urban drainage management and to publish the results of such research.
  • Establish and maintain appropriate standards of competence for urban drainage management Professionals.

Please contact us at udg@ciwem.org


Download UDG Aims and Objectives

The Urban Drainage Group and its predecessor WaPUG have a long history of providing guidance to assist the industry to follow best practice. Please find some publications below.

  • Code of Practice for the Hydraulic Modelling of Urban Drainage Systems: this best practice guide was updated in 2017 following significant upgrading with engagement with all UK water utility companies. It covers project definition; data collection; model development; verification; model confidence; application of model; documentation and model management.
  • UDG rainfall guide: published in 2016 this guide supplements the main modelling guide and provides background to various options for representing rainfall in modelling and provides guidance. This aspect of modelling is anticipated to change more frequently than other aspects due to improved climate change predictions; developments in telemetry and radar technology and improved technologies of handling and analysing large data sets. Therefore this guide is separate for the main guide to allow more frequent updates.
  • Event duration modelling good practice guide: this guide published in 2021 collates good practice on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) monitoring.
  • Guide to quality modelling of sewer systems: this guide published in 2006 provides guidance of the production of sewer quality modelling. It supplements the Code of Practice which addresses hydraulic modelling which is the basis of sewer quality models. The modelling of the impact on rivers can be found in the WAPUG River Modelling Guide. Guidance on how these models fit within the framework of Urban Pollution Management can be found in the Urban Pollution Management (UPM) Manual (FWR 1998).
  • Integrated urban drainage modelling guide: published in 2009 this guide outlines the different types of modelling approaches taken to model the urban drainage system and how it interacts with the wider water environment. It follows a similar layout to the Code of Practice covering Project planning; Data collection; Integrated Modelling Methods; Verification; Reporting. This report is currently under review for updating.
  • River data collection guide: published in 1998 this guide outlines the data collection requirements for a UPM study and supplements the River Modelling Guide.
  • River modelling guide: published in 1998 this guide provides guidance of river modelling for use in UPM studies. This report is currently under review for updating.
  • The design of CSO chambers to incorporate screens: latest publication in 2006 this guide sets out current best practice in the design of new CSO chambers to meet aesthetic regulatory requirements using screens. It is aimed primarily at design engineers but it should also prove valuable to environmental regulators, operations personnel, sewer network modellers and drainage area planners.


Here are useful summaries of comment details of how to approach modelling specific more complex elements. These were reviewed and rationalised in 2009. They are generated by the group community and further contributions are welcome, please get in touch with the committee if you wish to add any new ones.

Past Papers from the Urban Drainage Group can be access at the following link: http://ftp2.ciwem.org

If you have any questions please get in touch with Fiona Barbour at Fiona.Barbour@mottmac.com.

UDG community page

Get more involved with the Urban Drainage Group! For the latest announcements and discussions, please visit your UDG community page by logging into your account.

Log in here

UDG New Members Development community page

This is a page for all people working towards becoming a qualified member of CIWEM. We are hoping this would be an opportunity to have discussions on key topics; keep up to date with events and activities relevant to those in training; and ask questions of senior members of the UDG communities.

There is a recognition that many members in the UDG community have the same challenges in completing their competencies, and sharing examples of how these objectives are met can help overcome these hurdles. The value of this page will increase with use, so do contribute.

If you have suggestions on how to improve this page please contact James Hale james.hale@rpsgroup.com or Fiona Barbour fiona.barbour@mottmac.com.


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Our committee

Kieran Downey

Chair

Elliot Gill

Immediate Past Chair

James Hale 

Vice Chair

Ian Lang

Junior Vice Chair

Fiona Barbour 

Communications

Nick Orman

Treasurer

Simon Tait

Academia

Andrew Hagger

Training

Malcolm Horne

Jennifer Hill

Membership

Robert Greenwood

New Members Group

Jonathan Cutting

Events

Mark McLaughlin

SEPA

Karen Murrell

Hon Treasurer

Alastair Chisholm

CIWEM HQ Representative

Phil Hulme

EA Representative

Dave Stewart

Local Authority Representative

Mark Russell

Hon Secretary

Stephen Kenney

Water Company Representative

Paul Shaffer

CIWEM HQ Representative

Diary Dates 2023

CIWEM UDG Annual Conference - 6th-8th December 2023

CIWEM’s Urban Drainage Group Annual Conference and Exhibition is the industry’s main event of the year. The conference is a forum for presenters, showcasing work, ideas, processes and discussion of the latest knowledge, techniques and research to more than 200 industry delegates.

This year the CIWEM UDG Annual Conference will be taking place in the heart of Birmingham - the Eastside Rooms from 6th to 8th of December 2023.

With Urban Drainage making headlines in the popular press and generating emotive debate in the House of Commons it has never been more timely for us to return to an in-person event and come together to continue to share best practice, emerging techniques and technologies, and debate how to address numerous fast approaching challenges.

As ever we will deliver engaging and thought provoking content through presentations, roundtables and workshops addressing the critical challenges of:

  • Storm water discharges - Now a perennial headline in the media, the spotlight remains on our community to deliver solutions. We have commitments, Action Plans, and are very much embarking on the journey to delivery within Asset Management Period 8 and beyond. What does this mean for resources, training, and innovative BlueGreen approaches?
  • Big data - challenge and opportunity. As the volume of information on asset condition and performance increases, we strive to understand what is important and translate this into benefits for customers and the environment.
  • Sewerage planning – With the dust settling on Cycle 1 of the Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans it is pertinent to reflect on the successes, translation to Periodic Review, and what is meant ‘Best Value Plan’. Improvements and revisions building on these reflections in preparation for Cycle 2."

To support these themes, we are delighted to be welcoming a number of guest speakers from across the spectrum of opinion and continuing to build on recent successes will be hosting a series of round tables to explore viewpoints, test the status quo, and provide direction to our Urban Drainage community to tackle the upcoming significant changes.

The event offers a range of formal papers and workshops spread across 3 days, an expected 200 plus delegates, an exhibition space, and the Conference dinner.

BOOK YOUR EARLY-BIRD TICKET NOW

UDG Annual General Meeting 2023 | IN-PERSON

More details soon

Diary Dates 2023

CIWEM UDG Annual Conference 2023 | 6-8 December 2023, Eastside rooms Birmingham

More Details

CIWEM UDG Annual Conference - Highlights 2022

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Climate change and future extremes of water | Digital seminar series

17 Oct 2023 - 19 October 2023 | Central SouthernWebinar

CIWEM Urban Drainage Group Annual Conference 2023

06 Dec 2023 - 08 December 2023 | The Eastside Rooms | Birmingham

Related Groups and Networks

Contaminated Land Network

Contaminated Land Network
Wastewater and Biosolids Network

Wastewater and Biosolids Network

Governance

Since 1895, our members have been the leading practitioners in improving the quality and management of water and the environment. Learn more about our Trustee Board.

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Our Communities

We provide a forum for professional debate and the opportunity for members to meet and socialise through a strong network of local branches and groups. You can drive knowledge and best practice by getting involved with our special interest groups.

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General Enquiries
+44 (0)20 7831 3110
frontofhouse@ciwem.org

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