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SECTION 2
The stormwater chain
In this section we look in more detail at the components of the stormwater chain, starting with those elements that can be used on or in conjunction with a building (be it the main house itself, or garden sheds, summerhouses or other smaller buildings), and then moving further into the wider garden or yard. It is possible to include all of the different elements that make up the stormwater chain in a single garden or landscape, but the size of area available will ultimately dictate what is possible. Using just one element will break the conventional drainage chain of roof or paved surface to sewer, and will therefore have an effect. Combining two or more elements together will multiply that potentially beneficial effect. So do not feel guilty if you cannot do everything—all elements are worthwhile. Many of the elements and components described here have been developed for large-scale applications and applied to public and commercial landscapes. All are applicable in home gardens, but may need to be modified to fit smaller spaces. Where we can we have included case studies and real examples to provide inspiration and precedent. Some of these examples are selected small details, while others illustrate what can be achieved when these principles are applied to an entire housing scheme or inner city regeneration project. Each of the elements is introduced with some technical details and cross-sections to indicate how they are constructed and how they work. A series of case studies and design details then follows, before the next element is considered. Throughout the section, complete schemes and plans are introduced. So, in the following pages we present a tool kit: a set of components 51
