Page 4 - WM Donald Newsletter - Edition Four

Unseen, hidden and buried:THE SECRET LIFE OF W M DONALDW M Donald is proud to be working on the region’s three largest long-term housing developments: Countesswells, Chapelton of Elsick and Grandhome. When all three projects are completed they will add around10,000 new homes to the local housing stock.Excavation for the tanksAs on many housing projects, much of the work undertaken is largely ‘unseen’: access roads, earthworks, temporary works. In the case of potable water, surface water management and sewage, whilst much of the work may be hidden underground it is nevertheless fundamental to the health and wellbeing of both residents and the local environment.At Countesswells surface water drainage is being managed using SuDS (Sustainable urban Drainage Systems). SuDS aim to mimic in urban areas the way rainfall drains in natural ecosystems. Amongst various SuDS features, W M Donald has created 5 permanent detention basins across the site. Surface water enters the basins and particulates settle.As well as acting as a filter, the basins provide a buffer to avoid flooding downstream. A flow control device ensures that water can only be discharged into the local water course at an agreed rate.4