Climate change will present a series of challenges to engineers concerned with the provision of both building internal appliance drainage networks and rainwater systems within the building boundary, generally identified as the connection to the sewer network. Climate change is now recognised as presenting both water shortage and enhanced rainfall design scenarios.

In response to predictions about immanent climate change Transient Free Surface Flows in Building Drainage Systems addresses problems such as the reduction in water available to remove waste from buildings, and conversely, the increase in frequency of tropical-type torrential rain. Starting with introductory chapters that explain the theories and principles of solid transport, free surface flows within drainage networks, and attenuating appliance discharge flows, this book allows readers from a variety of backgrounds to fully engage with this crucial subject matter. Later chapters apply these theories to the design of sanitary and rainwater systems. Case studies highlight the applicability of the method in assessing the appropriateness of design approaches.

In this unique book, research in modelling for free surface flows at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University is drawn on to provide a highly authoritative, physics-based study of this complex engineering issue.