An investigation into the impact of climate change on the performance of property drainage systems

The DOWNPIPE project, funded by the UK Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council (EPSRC), focuses on the impact that climate change may have onproperty drainage systems. The main objective of this project is to investigate how anincrease in rainfall variability, caused by changes in our climate over the comingdecades, will affect the operational performance of property drainage systems. The aimis to provide a diagnostic tool to assist drainage system designers and operators betterprepare for uncertain future climate conditions.An important aspect of this work is the investigation into the operational performance ofexisting property drainage systems under current climate conditions. Once established,this data will be used to validate an existing set of numerical models which will then beused to simulate the performance of property drainage under projected future climateconditions, thus providing the framework for assessing appropriate adaptationstrategies to ensure such systems are resilient to the effects of climate change.This paper details the work carried out as part of the DOWNPIPE project thus far. Todate, this has involved establishing five test sites around the UK (including examples ofboth conventional and siphonic roof drainage systems) suitable for onsite monitoring.A description of each of the selected sites is provided together with details of thedeveloped monitoring instrumentation and control methodologies. A brief assessmentof the operational performance of one of the systems already set up is then given.Finally, plans for the next stage of the project are outlined.