susDrain

What susDrain does

susDrain is a UK-based community and knowledge platform serving professionals who design, specify, regulate, install, and maintain sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Founded in 2012 and operating with 1-10 employees, the organization positions itself as 'the community for sustainable drainage,' aggregating authoritative guidance, case studies, fact sheets, briefings, policy documents, and research (including reference to CIRIA's SuDS Manual) on topics spanning SuDS principles, components (source control, pervious surfaces, swales, filtration, infiltration, retention/detention, wetlands), performance monitoring, design, costs and benefits, legislation, and adoption/maintenance.

Its core product surface is the susdrain.org website, organized as a Knowledge Hub with structured navigation across the full SuDS lifecycle, complemented by a Resources and Guidance Library, a public SuDS Directory of partners and supporters, an Events and Training programme, an annual susdrain SuDS Awards programme (running every year 2018-2026), and a parallel SuDS Champions Awards series (2021-2025) recognizing individual contributors. The platform also produces specific guidance publications (e.g., C815F on nitrogen in surface water runoff, 2023) and showcases case studies such as the Unpave the Way demonstration garden at RHS Tatton 2024.

The business model is community-led rather than transactional: susDrain operates as a non-profit-style knowledge hub with extensive partnerships across UK water utilities (Wessex Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Scottish Water, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent), government agencies (Environment Agency, National Highways), transport authorities (Network Rail), engineering consultancies (Arup, Atkins, WSP, HR Wallingford), and drainage product manufacturers (Polypipe, Wavin). No direct pricing, revenue model, or paid product tier is disclosed, and the absence of funding rounds, M&A, or commercial signals indicates susDrain functions as a sector coordination body rather than a venture-scale commercial entity. Geographic scope is the United Kingdom only, with coverage spanning England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Name

susDrain

Legal name

susDrain

Website

https://susdrain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

susDrain is a UK-based online community and knowledge hub for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), serving engineers, local authorities, water utilities, transport agencies, and consultants with curated guidance, case studies, an annual awards programme, and a public partner directory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Drainage Knowledge and Resources

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Sustainable drainage guidance
• SuDS professional resources
• Drainage knowledge library
• Urban water management
• Stormwater training resources

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

susDrain is a UK community-driven knowledge hub that curates, publishes, and disseminates guidance, case studies, resources, training, and an awards programme for professionals delivering sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). The platform connects water utilities, local authorities, government agencies, highways bodies, and engineering consultancies, providing a centralised library of technical guidance and a directory of supporting partner organisations.

Product overview

susDrain is a UK-based online community and knowledge hub dedicated to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). The offering consists of a comprehensive web platform providing educational resources, industry guidance, an annual awards programme, events/training, and a directory connecting industry professionals. The core platform serves as an information resource with the Resources and Guidance Library providing access to CIRIA guidance, the SuDS Manual, case studies, fact sheets, policy documents and research. The susdrain SuDS Awards Programme recognizes industry excellence, while the Events and Training offerings provide professional development. The Knowledge Hub aggregates expertise and the SuDS Directory connects partners and supporters across the sustainable drainage industry including water companies, government agencies, and consultancies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• susDrain Website and Community Hub Central online community platform hosted at susdrain.org that brings together UK sustainable drainage professionals, providing access to guidance, case studies, news, and community resources. It serves water utilities, local authorities, government agencies, highways bodies, and engineering consultancies.
• Knowledge Hub Curated knowledge aggregation section of the susDrain platform that organises SuDS technical guidance, policy references, and learning resources into an accessible hub for drainage professionals.
• Resources and Guidance Library Online document library within susdrain.org providing downloadable SuDS resources, technical guidance documents, case studies, and reference materials for drainage designers, planners, and approving authorities.
• SuDS Directory Online directory listing partner organisations (water companies, government bodies, engineering consultancies, and trade bodies) that support susDrain and the UK sustainable drainage community. Used as a discoverability and networking resource.

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England. Partners with susDrain to promote sustainable drainage practices and take an integrated approach to environmental management including water, land, air, resources and energy.
• National HighwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment company responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's motorways and major A roads. Partner supporting sustainable drainage solutions for transport infrastructure.
• Thames WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's largest water and wastewater services company. Partner supporting sustainable drainage initiatives and water management solutions.
• Wessex WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional water and sewerage company serving the South West of England. Partner in sustainable drainage and water quality initiatives.
• United UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater company serving the North West of England. Partner supporting sustainable drainage and water management practices.
• Northumbrian WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater company serving the North East of England and Essex. Partner in sustainable drainage initiatives.
• Scottish WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublicly owned water and wastewater services company for Scotland. Partner supporting sustainable drainage in Scotland.
• Yorkshire WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater company serving Yorkshire. Partner in sustainable drainage and water management initiatives.
• Severn TrentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater company serving the Midlands and Wales. Partner supporting sustainable drainage initiatives.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner and operator of the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. Partner supporting sustainable drainage for railway infrastructure.
• PolypipeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of plastic drainage pipes and systems. Partner providing expertise in drainage infrastructure solutions.
• WavinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of plastic pipe systems and solutions. Partner in sustainable drainage infrastructure.
• ArupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal engineering consultancy. Partner providing expertise in SuDS design and implementation.
• AtkinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy and design firm. Partner supporting sustainable drainage project delivery.
• HR WallingfordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent engineering and environmental consultancy specializing in water and flood management. Partner providing technical expertise in SuDS.
• WSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal engineering and professional services firm. Partner supporting sustainable drainage solutions.
• GreenBlue UrbanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany specializing in urban tree planting and green infrastructure. Partner supporting biodiversity and ecology aspects of SuDS.
• SuDSPlanterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of planter solutions for sustainable drainage. Partner supporting source control SuDS components.
• Richard Allitt Associates LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy specializing in drainage and water engineering. Partner providing SuDS expertise.
• CIRIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction industry research association. Publisher of the SuDS Manual and key guidance documents for sustainable drainage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Water UK: UK water industry trade association representing all major water and sewerage companies. Overlaps with susDrain's audience and convening role, but operates as a broader industry representative rather than a technical SuDS knowledge platform.
• Water Research Centre (WRc): Independent UK centre for water and waste research, providing technical consultancy, training, and publications to water utilities. Overlaps susDrain's practitioner knowledge base but is a much larger, commercially funded research organisation.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-based international water quality and stormwater professional organisation with publications, conferences, and a Stormwater Institute. Closest large-scale international analogue to susDrain's community-plus-knowledge-hub model for the drainage/water sector.

Direct peers

• CIRIA: Construction Industry Research and Information Association; publisher of the SuDS Manual and a listed core strategic partner of susDrain. Operates the same knowledge-and-guidance niche for the UK built environment and water sectors, making it the closest functional peer (and a critical dependency).
• UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research): Collaborative water industry research organisation that commissions and disseminates research for UK water companies. Comparable to susDrain as a curated research/knowledge hub for the UK water sector, though with a heavier emphasis on scientific research than community events.
• CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management): UK professional body for water and environmental management, providing training, events, publications, and a chartered membership community. Comparable to susDrain as a knowledge and professional-development hub serving the same water-sector practitioner audience.
• LID Center: US non-profit promoting Low Impact Development and green infrastructure stormwater practices through education, conferences, and resources. Comparable community-and-knowledge hub model focused on sustainable stormwater, though US-centric.

Regional players

• Stormwater Australia: Australian peak body for the stormwater industry, providing resources, events, awards (e.g. Excellence in Stormwater Awards), and a national WSUD knowledge base. Direct functional analogue to susDrain, but serving the Australian market rather than the UK.

Others

• HR Wallingford: UK independent civil engineering and environmental hydraulics research consultancy; listed as a susDrain partner. Comparable as a knowledge-generating entity serving SuDS practitioners, but operating as a commercial consultancy rather than a community platform.

Emerging players

• Constructed Wetland Association: Specialist UK association promoting constructed wetlands for water treatment and SuDS. Adjacent niche peer, sharing the SuDS knowledge-hub function for a narrower component area (wetlands) of susDrain's coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/susdrain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/susdrain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about susDrain