(Virtual Showroom): ENVASS attended a workshop hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIAsa) KZN Branch on Stormwater Management and Sustainable Development on 02 August 2022. The workshop highlighted the need to move away from conventional stormwater management which focused on quantity (flow) management, by collecting runoff and channelling it to the closest watercourse to an alternative approach which is Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) (IAIAsa, 2022).

Following the recent floods in KZN, the conventional design, management and maintenance of stormwater systems have received criticism, as the pressures of climate change and  poor stormwater management, and poor city design have significantly impacts on the environment through the erosion of natural channels, siltation of water bodies and pollution resulting environmental degradation. Conventional stormwater systems are not equipped to handle these pressures. SuDS offer an opportunity to protect and promote a healthy environment through designs specifically for water quantity management; water quality treatment; enhanced amenity; and enhance biodiversity (UCT, 2022).

It is therefore vital, that Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), Environmental Control Officers (ECOs), specialists and engineers are able to provide input into the design of stormwater systems that are equipped to handle these pressures. It is important to move away from the generic ‘poor’/ outdated engineering practice of ‘cut and paste’ (IAIAsa, 2022). As professionals in this field, ENVASS’s role in any development is to ensure the upkeep of the environment and to ensure that our professional advice is meaningful and adaptive to the changes of the environment. ENVASS’s professionals are consulted from the planning to rehabilitation of many projects and our qualified EAPs always provide clear guidance and recommendations that will ensure a sustainable environment. 

If you have any queries on any development planning, the ENVASS team encourages you to get in touch. We have registered and accredited Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAP), Professional Natural Scientists and qualified specialists who will be able to assist with your development needs and at the same time ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Management Act (as amended).