Dublin Region Code of Practice on Drainage

The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study examined the drainage needs of the
Greater Dublin Area and published a final report in Spring 2005.

The report consisted of a Final Strategy Report and Regional Drainage Policies.
The five regional policies cover:

New Development; Environmental Management; Inflow, Infiltration and Exfiltration;
Climate Change; Basement Drainage.

These policies are intended to bring a standardised approach to all aspects of drainage that will then be implemented in an integrated, coherent fashion. This will result in a consistent approach to drainage infrastructure planning, design, construction and operation throughout the region. Ultimately this will lead to greater awareness in both the construction industry and an improved customer service for the public. Where a Local Sanitary Authority has specific requirements, these requirements will be highlighted in a box with their name and Logo.

The region includes the local authorities of Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Meath, South Dublin, and Wicklow. These authorities are also the Sanitary Authorities for their respective areas.

The Regional Drainage Policies have been incorporated into the Development Plans for each of these authorities. As such they are to be implemented, through the planning process, for all new developments.

Objectives of Regional Code of Practice

This document, the Regional Code of Practice for Drainage Works, is based on Best Management Practice derived from international experience. The seven Dublin Region Local Authorities have agreed to implement the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study. The Local Authorities’ requirements for all new drainage works in the Dublin Region are contained in the GDSDS Regional Drainage Policies - Technical Documents. Volume 2, New Development is particularly relevant to developers. While the GDSDS policies remain the over riding documents, this Regional Code of Practice for Drainage Works sets out the requirements of the Local Authorities in a more concise format for day to day use. The implementation of the GDSDS polices, through the Regional Code of Practice, will provide a sustainable integrated approach to drainage throughout the region.

The interconnected nature of both the foul and surface water network means that environmental impacts can occur far downstream as a result of a discharge in an upstream area.

Hence the need for the unified approach to the management of the entire drainage network.

The main objectives of the Code of Practice are:

• Compliance with best environmental practices and relevant environmental legislation such as the Water Framework Directive.
• To minimise the risk of flooding
• To minimise foul sewage spills to watercourses
• Provide a drainage platform for the sustainable development of the region in the future as required under the Planning and Development Act 2000
• Ensure that all drainage design and construction is consistent across the region, complies with relevant health and safety requirements and ensure compliance with regard to best practice in construction of drainage
• To standardise and codify the drainage requirements across the fields of planning, construction, connection to public drainage