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

How to get involved with the CIWEM UDG

Joining the CIWEM UDG community provides you with an excellent opportunity to learn from, and network with, urban drainage professionals. To join us, please sign up for our mailing list so that you are among the first to hear about our exciting programme of events and publications.

Joining the mailing list is free. Just create a CIWEM account, navigate to ‘My Special Interest Groups’ and select the Urban Drainage box.

We look forward to welcoming you to our thriving community and together sustaining the excellence of people professionally engaged in urban drainage management.

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.

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@em-solutions.co.uk or Rob Greenwood robert.greenwood@stantec.com.

Diary dates for 2024

Urban Drainage Group Spring 2024 Training Day - 13-14 March 2024

Underpinning decisions with data and modelling – getting it right

Modelling – Understanding opportunities, risks, their mitigation and stakeholder expectations

Understanding the purpose, potential benefits and pitfalls of data management and modelling tools is fundamental to those working in urban drainage. With growing requirements to manage Combined Sewer Overflows, sewer/network capacity, flooding and overall river health while providing greater transparency it is important to understand how data and models can be effectively used.

Managing data, information and modelling is integral to informing investment decisions at all levels and stages of the project life cycle from business planning to detailed design. These are often desired skills for those involved in modelling, design, asset management and compliance in water companies, local authorities, regulators, consultants and other parts of the supply chain.

An understanding and application of appropriate and proportionate modelling approaches with the ability to provide assurances they are suitable for their intended is vital. The evolution of drainage and sewerage planning, the use of big data and transition to Nature-Based Solutions highlight the need for broader competencies and capacity in urban drainage modelling.

This interactive training day (split over two half days) provides an opportunity for those involved in managing data and modelling to explore the application, suitability, risks and their mitigation for different modelling approaches. It will also enable early career professionals to engage with, and learn from, their peers and experienced professionals in their sector.

CIWEM UDG Annual Conference - Highlights 2023