ACO Technologies has expanded its sustainable drainage portfolio with the launch of a new, smaller-footprint swale inlet unit.
Both the existing and new units have been specifically designed to conform with CIRIA’s SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) guidelines to help prevent swales from erosion.
Many alternatives like small headwalls or angled pipe surrounds do not spread the water widely at the open mouth of the unit, therefore limiting their ability to reduce water velocity.
Designed to manage and release surface water at a controlled rate, ACO’s Inlet Swale diverts and spreads runoff evenly so that it enters the swale at reduced velocities. By slowing the flow of water, the system protects surrounding land from erosion and pollution, supporting long-term drainage performance and maintenance activities. This is a critical factor in both commercial and large residential developments where surface water management must comply with increasingly rigorous planning requirements.
The new compact version, which has a 110 mm diameter pipe connection, offers greater design flexibility with a reduced footprint. It joins ACO’s larger, 160 mm swale inlet solution, with the smaller version ideally suited to shared or communal areas, including landscaped zones within housing developments, where smaller water channels and conveyance swales lead to a single swale.
Constructed from durable polymer concrete, the ACO Swale Inlet combines environmental performance with material strength. The smooth, non-porous surface ensures water quality is maintained, while the composition is resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and optimised for the safety of local wildlife, including amphibians. This makes it a robust, low-maintenance solution that supports long-term sustainability goals.
As one of the only swale inlets on the market designed to meet CIRIA’s SuDS Manual guidance, it has been independently tested at various flow rates, showing that typical flow rates will meet the 1m/s guidelines for normal length storm events. The system ensures that water is spread evenly across the base of the installation, reducing both output speed and water depth. This not only prevents localised erosion but also the mobilisation of soil in the swale, aligning with current SuDS design principles.
ACO Technologies is encouraging planners, contractors and merchants to ensure SuDS specifications include a swale inlet product where required. Many construction teams remain unaware of water output rate guidelines and integrating compliant products early in the planning process helps prevent challenges or delays later on.
Michelle Osborne, Product Manager - Civils at ACO Water Management, said: “The new ACO Swale Inlet gives designers and contractors a proven, compliant way to manage water sustainably without compromising space or performance. By slowing discharge and preventing erosion, it supports both the practical and environmental aims of SuDS planning. This latest version extends those benefits to projects that demand flexibility in design and footprint.”
The new ACO Swale unit is now available through ACO’s merchant network, offering contractors, housebuilders and developers a reliable and fully CIRIA compliant solution for water management.
For more information on ACO Technologies’ new Swale, please visit: ACO SuDS Swale Inlet
