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Open AccessEditorial

Sustainable Drainage Systems

by Miklas Scholz

Water 2015, 7(5), 2272-2274; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7052272 - 15 May 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9981

Abstract

Urban water management has somewhat changed since the publication of The Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) Manual in 2007 [1], transforming from building traditional sewers to implementing SuDS, which are part of the best management practice techniques used in the USA and seen as [...] Read more.

Urban water management has somewhat changed since the publication of The Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) Manual in 2007 [1], transforming from building traditional sewers to implementing SuDS, which are part of the best management practice techniques used in the USA and seen as contributing to water-sensitive urban design in Australia. Most SuDS, such as infiltration trenches, swales, green roofs, ponds, and wetlands, address water quality and quantity challenges, and enhance the local biodiversity while also being acceptable aesthetically to the public. Barriers to the implementation of SuDS include adoption problems, flood and diffuse pollution control challenges, negative public perception, and a lack of decision support tools addressing, particularly, the retrofitting of these systems while enhancing ecosystem services. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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Research

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1232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Sediment Transport through an Established Vegetated Swale: Long Term Treatment Efficiencies and Deposition

by Deonie Allen, Valerie Olive, Scott Arthur and Heather Haynes

Water 2015, 7(3), 1046-1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7031046 - 12 Mar 2015

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 11634

Abstract

Vegetated swales are an accepted and commonly implemented sustainable urban drainage system in the built urban environment. Laboratory and field research has defined the effectiveness of a vegetated swale in sediment detention during a single rainfall-runoff event. Event mean concentrations of suspended and [...] Read more.

Vegetated swales are an accepted and commonly implemented sustainable urban drainage system in the built urban environment. Laboratory and field research has defined the effectiveness of a vegetated swale in sediment detention during a single rainfall-runoff event. Event mean concentrations of suspended and bed load sediment have been calculated using current best analytical practice, providing single runoff event specific sediment conveyance volumes through the swale. However, mass and volume of sediment build up within a swale over time is not yet well defined. This paper presents an effective field sediment tracing methodology and analysis that determines the quantity of sediment deposited within a swale during initial and successive runoff events. The use of the first order decay rate constant, k, as an effective pollutant treatment parameter is considered in detail. Through monitoring tagged sediment deposition within the swale, the quantity of sediment that is re-suspended, conveyed, re-deposited or transported out of the swale as a result of multiple runoff events is illustrated. Sediment is found to continue moving through the vegetated swale after initial deposition, with ongoing discharge resulting from resuspension and conveyance during subsequent runoff events. The majority of sediment initially deposited within a swale is not detained long term or throughout its design life of the swale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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7609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrodynamic Performances of Air-Water Flows in Gullies with and without Swirl Generation Vanes for Drainage Systems of Buildings

by Der-Chang Lo, Jin-Shuen Liou and Shyy Woei Chang

Water 2015, 7(2), 679-696; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7020679 - 10 Feb 2015

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 8535

Abstract

As an attempt to improve the performances of multi-entry gullies with applications to drainage system of a building, the hydrodynamic characteristics of air-water flows through the gullies with and without swirl generation vanes (SGV) are experimentally and numerically examined. With the aid of [...] Read more.

As an attempt to improve the performances of multi-entry gullies with applications to drainage system of a building, the hydrodynamic characteristics of air-water flows through the gullies with and without swirl generation vanes (SGV) are experimentally and numerically examined. With the aid of present Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image and optical systems for experimental study, the mechanism of air entrainment by vortex, the temporal variations of airflow pressure, the trajectories of drifting air bubbles and the self-depuration process for the gullies with and without SGV are disclosed. The numerical simulations adopt Flow-3D commercial code to attack the unsteady two-phase bubbly flows for resolving the transient fields of fluid velocity, vorticity and pressure in the gullies with and without SGV. In the twin-entry gully without SGV, air bubbles entrained by the entry vortex interact chaotically in the agitating bubbly flow region. With SGV to trip near-wall flows that stratify the drifting trajectories of the air bubbles, the air-bubble interactions are stabilized with the discharge rate increasing more than 7%. The reduction of the self-depuration period by increasing discharge rate is observed for the test gullies without and with SGV. Based on the experimental and numerical results, the characteristic hydrodynamic properties of the air-water flows through the test gullies with and without SGV are disclosed to assist the design applications of a modern drainage system in a building. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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3305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Fecal Coliform Loads in Urban Watersheds by Hydrologic/Hydraulic Modeling: Case Study of the Beauport River Watershed in Quebec

by Amélie Thériault and Sophie Duchesne

Water 2015, 7(2), 615-633; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7020615 - 9 Feb 2015

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8169

Abstract

A three-step method for the identification of the main sources of fecal coliforms (FC) in urban waters and for the analysis of remedial actions is proposed. The method is based on (1) The statistical analysis of the relationship between rainfall and FC concentrations [...] Read more.

A three-step method for the identification of the main sources of fecal coliforms (FC) in urban waters and for the analysis of remedial actions is proposed. The method is based on (1) The statistical analysis of the relationship between rainfall and FC concentrations in urban rivers; (2) The simulation of hydrology and hydraulics; and (3) Scenario analysis. The proposed method was applied to the Beauport River watershed, in Canada, covering an area of 28.7 km². FC loads and concentrations in the river, during and following rainfall events, were computed using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) hydrological/hydraulic simulation model combined with event mean concentrations. It was found that combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are the main FC sources, and that FC from stormwater runoff could still impair recreational activities in the Beauport River even if retention tanks were built to contain CSOs. Thus, intervention measures should be applied in order to reduce the concentration of FC in stormwater outfalls. The proposed method could be applied to water quality components other than FC, provided that they are present in stormwater runoff and/or CSOs, and that the time of concentration of the watershed is significantly lower than their persistence in urban waters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Innovative Approach for Drainage Network Sizing

by Luca Cozzolino, Luigi Cimorelli, Carmine Covelli, Carmela Mucherino and Domenico Pianese

Water 2015, 7(2), 546-567; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7020546 - 6 Feb 2015

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7811

Abstract

In this paper, a procedure for the optimal design of rural drainage networks is presented and demonstrated. The suggested approach, exploring the potentialities offered by heuristic methods for the solution of complex optimization problems, is based on the use of a Genetic Algorithm [...] Read more.

In this paper, a procedure for the optimal design of rural drainage networks is presented and demonstrated. The suggested approach, exploring the potentialities offered by heuristic methods for the solution of complex optimization problems, is based on the use of a Genetic Algorithm (GA), coupled with a steady and uniform flow hydraulic module. In particular, this work has focused: on one hand, on the problems of a technical nature posed by the correct sizing of a drainage network; on the other hand, on the possibility to use a simple but nevertheless efficient GA to reach the minimal cost solution very quickly. The suitability of the approach is tested with reference to small and large scale drainage networks, already considered in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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1202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Infiltration Performance of Eight Dutch Permeable Pavements Using a New Full-Scale Infiltration Testing Method

by Floris Boogaard, Terry Lucke, Nick Van de Giesen and Frans Van de Ven

Water 2014, 6(7), 2070-2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/w6072070 - 21 Jul 2014

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 10631

Abstract

Permeable pavements are a type of sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) technique that are used around the world to infiltrate and treat urban stormwater runoff and to minimize runoff volumes. Urban stormwater runoff contains significant concentrations of suspended sediments that can cause clogging [...] Read more.

Permeable pavements are a type of sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) technique that are used around the world to infiltrate and treat urban stormwater runoff and to minimize runoff volumes. Urban stormwater runoff contains significant concentrations of suspended sediments that can cause clogging and reduce the infiltration capacity and effectiveness of permeable pavements. It is important for stormwater managers to be able to determine when the level of clogging has reached an unacceptable level, so that they can schedule maintenance or replacement activities as required. Newly-installed permeable pavements in the Netherlands must demonstrate a minimum infiltration capacity of 194 mm/h (540 l/s/ha). Other commonly used permeable pavement guidelines in the Netherlands recommend that maintenance is undertaken on permeable pavements when the infiltration falls below 0.50 m/d (20.8 mm/h). This study used a newly-developed, full-scale infiltration test procedure to evaluate the infiltration performance of eight permeable pavements in five municipalities that had been in service for over seven years in the Netherlands. The determined infiltration capacities vary between 29 and 342 mm/h. Two of the eight pavements show an infiltration capacity higher than 194 mm/h, and all infiltration capacities are higher than 20.8 mm/h. According to the guidelines, this suggests that none of the pavements tested in this study would require immediate maintenance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Addressing Flooding and SuDS when Improving Drainage and Sewerage Systems—A Comparative Study of Selected Scandinavian Cities

by Geir Torgersen, Jarle T. Bjerkholt and Oddvar G. Lindholm

Water 2014, 6(4), 839-857; https://doi.org/10.3390/w6040839 - 2 Apr 2014

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10099

Abstract

Pluvial flooding already challenges the capacity of drainage and sewerage system in urban areas in Scandinavia. For system owners this requires a stricter prioritization when improving the systems. Experts seem to agree that a regime shift from improving old combined sewers by piped [...] Read more.

Pluvial flooding already challenges the capacity of drainage and sewerage system in urban areas in Scandinavia. For system owners this requires a stricter prioritization when improving the systems. Experts seem to agree that a regime shift from improving old combined sewers by piped solutions to more sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), must take place. In this paper results from an investigation amongst the largest cities in Norway, Denmark and Sweden concerning drivers and preferred methods for improving the old system are presented. The results indicate that Norway ranks flood prevention lower than the other Scandinavian countries. During the last decades, Norwegian authorities have had a strong focus on pollution from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The attention to drainage and sewerage system regarding flooding, water leaks, infiltration or pollution has been neglected. Renewal or rate of investment in relation to existing drainage and sewerage system is easy to register, and provides a measure of the activity. In order to optimize flood prevention, and may be promoting the use of SuDS, the cities should be required to measure the efficiency, either by monitoring or modeling the impact of stormwater to the system. Lack of such requirements from Norwegian authorities seem to be a plausible explanation to why Norwegian cities are less focused on flood prevention compared to Swedish and Danish cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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1085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Field Study of Infiltration Capacity Reduction of Porous Mixture Surfaces

by Luis A. Sañudo-Fontaneda, Valerio C.A. Andrés-Valeri, Jorge Rodriguez-Hernandez and Daniel Castro-Fresno

Water 2014, 6(3), 661-669; https://doi.org/10.3390/w6030661 - 24 Mar 2014

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 8415

Abstract

Porous surfaces have been used all over the world in source control techniques to minimize flooding problems in car parks. Several studies highlighted the reduction in the infiltration capacity of porous mixture surfaces after several years of use. Therefore, it is necessary to [...] Read more.

Porous surfaces have been used all over the world in source control techniques to minimize flooding problems in car parks. Several studies highlighted the reduction in the infiltration capacity of porous mixture surfaces after several years of use. Therefore, it is necessary to design and develop a new methodology to quantify this reduction and to identify the hypothetical differences in permeability between zones within the same car park bay due to the influence of static loads in the parked vehicles. With this aim, nine different zones were selected in order to check this hypothesis (four points under the wheels of a standard vehicle and five points between wheels). This article presents the infiltration capacity reduction results, using the LCS permeameter, of Polymer-Modified Porous Concrete (9 bays) and Porous Asphalt (9 bays) surfaces in the University of Cantabria Campus parking area (Spain) 5 years after their construction. Statistical analysis methodology was proposed for assessing the results. Significant differences were observed in permeability and reduction in infiltration capacity in the case of porous concrete surfaces, while no differences were found for porous asphalt depending on the measurement zone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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1697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Infrastructure Design for Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality: Empirical Evidence from Large Watershed-Scale Community Developments

by Bo Yang and Shujuan Li

Water 2013, 5(4), 2038-2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/w5042038 - 11 Dec 2013

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 12972

Abstract

Green infrastructure (GI) design is advocated as a new paradigm for stormwater management, whereas current knowledge of GI design is mostly based on isolated design strategies used at small-scale sites. This study presents empirical findings from two watershed-scale community projects (89.4 km² [...] Read more.

Green infrastructure (GI) design is advocated as a new paradigm for stormwater management, whereas current knowledge of GI design is mostly based on isolated design strategies used at small-scale sites. This study presents empirical findings from two watershed-scale community projects (89.4 km² and 55.7 km²) in suburban Houston, Texas. The GI development integrates a suite of on-site, infiltration-based stormwater management designs, and an adjacent community development follows conventional drainage design. Parcel data were used to estimate the site impervious cover area. Observed streamflow and water quality data (i.e., NO₃-N, NH₃-N, and TP) were correlated with the site imperviousness. Results show that, as of 2009, the impervious cover percentage in the GI site (32.3%) is more than twice that of the conventional site (13.7%). However, the GI site’s precipitation-streamflow ratio maintains a steady, low range, whereas this ratio fluctuates substantially in the conventional site, suggesting a “flashy” stream condition. Furthermore, in the conventional site, annual nutrient loadings are significantly correlated with its impervious cover percentage (p < 0.01), whereas in the GI site there is little correlation. The study concludes that integrated GI design can be effective in stormwater runoff reduction and water quality enhancement at watershed-scale community development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selecting Sustainable Drainage Structures Based on Ecosystem Service Variables Estimated by Different Stakeholder Groups

by Miklas Scholz, Vincent C. Uzomah, Suhad A.A.A.N. Almuktar and Julie Radet-Taligot

Water 2013, 5(4), 1741-1759; https://doi.org/10.3390/w5041741 - 25 Oct 2013

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7208

Abstract

In times of recession, expert systems supporting environmental managers undergo a revival. However, the retrofitting of sustainable water structures is currently undertaken ad hoc using engineering experience supported by minimal formal guidance. There is a lack of practical decision tools that can be [...] Read more.

In times of recession, expert systems supporting environmental managers undergo a revival. However, the retrofitting of sustainable water structures is currently undertaken ad hoc using engineering experience supported by minimal formal guidance. There is a lack of practical decision tools that can be used by different professions for the rapid assessment of ecosystem services that can be created when retrofitting water structures. Thus the aim was to develop an innovative decision support tool based on the rapid estimation of novel ecosystem service variables at low cost and acceptable uncertainty. The tool proposes the retrofitting of those sustainable drainage systems that obtained the highest ecosystem services score for a specific urban site subject to professional bias. The estimation of variables was undertaken with high confidence and manageable error at low cost. In comparison to common public opinion, statistically significant differences between social scientists and the general public for the estimation of land costs using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test were found. It was also surprising to find no significant differences in the estimation of habitat for species by civil engineers and ecologists. The new methodology may lead to an improvement of the existing urban landscape by promoting ecosystem services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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Review

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243 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Mapping of Tools for Informing Water Sensitive Urban Design Planning Decisions—Questions, Aspects and Context Sensitivity

by Sara Maria Lerer, Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen and Peter Steen Mikkelsen

Water 2015, 7(3), 993-1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/w7030993 - 11 Mar 2015

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 13013

Abstract

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) poses new challenges for decision makers compared with traditional stormwater management, e.g., because WSUD offers a larger selection of measures and because many measures are multifunctional. These challenges have motivated the development of many decision support tools. This [...] Read more.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) poses new challenges for decision makers compared with traditional stormwater management, e.g., because WSUD offers a larger selection of measures and because many measures are multifunctional. These challenges have motivated the development of many decision support tools. This review shows that the tools differ in terms of the types of questions they can assist in answering. We identified three main groups: “How Much”-tools, “Where”-tools and “Which”-tools. The “How Much”-tools can further be grouped into tools quantifying hydraulic impacts, hydrologic impacts, water quality impacts, non-flow-related impacts and economic impacts. Additionally, the tools differ in terms of how many aspects of water they address, from those focused only on bio-physical aspects to those attempting to find the best WSUD based on multiple criteria. Finally, we suggest that variability among the tools can partly be explained by variability in local context including conditions such as type of existing stormwater systems, groundwater conditions and legislative frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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806 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review and Research Needs of Bioretention Used for the Treatment of Urban Stormwater

by Jia Liu, David J. Sample, Cameron Bell and Yuntao Guan

Water 2014, 6(4), 1069-1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/w6041069 - 24 Apr 2014

Cited by 223 | Viewed by 29100

Abstract

The continued development of urban areas in recent decades has caused multiple issues affecting the sustainability of urban drainage systems. The increase of impervious surface areas in urban regions alters watershed hydrology and water quality. Typical impacts to downstream hydrologic regimes include higher [...] Read more.

The continued development of urban areas in recent decades has caused multiple issues affecting the sustainability of urban drainage systems. The increase of impervious surface areas in urban regions alters watershed hydrology and water quality. Typical impacts to downstream hydrologic regimes include higher peak flows and runoff volumes, shorter lag times, and reduced infiltration and base flow. Urban runoff increases the transport of pollutants and nutrients and thus degrades water bodies downstream from urban areas. One of the most frequently used practices to mitigate these impacts is bioretention. Despite its widespread use, research on bioretention systems remains active, particularly in terms of mix design and nitrogen treatment. Recent research focusing on bioretention is reviewed herein. The use of mesocosms provides the ability to isolate particular treatment processes and replicate variability. Computational models have been adapted and applied to simulate bioretention, offering potential improvements to their operation, maintenance, and design. Maintenance practices are important for sustained operation and have also been reviewed. Predicting maintenance is essential to assessing lifecycle costs. Within these research areas, gaps are explored, and recommendations made for future work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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605 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Considering the Climate Change and Urbanization Impacts

by Qianqian Zhou

Water 2014, 6(4), 976-992; https://doi.org/10.3390/w6040976 - 22 Apr 2014

Cited by 319 | Viewed by 73577

Abstract

Climate change and urbanization are converging to challenge city drainage infrastructure due to their adverse impacts on precipitation extremes and the environment of urban areas. Sustainable drainage systems have gained growing public interest in recent years, as a result of its positive effects [...] Read more.

Climate change and urbanization are converging to challenge city drainage infrastructure due to their adverse impacts on precipitation extremes and the environment of urban areas. Sustainable drainage systems have gained growing public interest in recent years, as a result of its positive effects on water quality and quantity issues and additional recreational amenities perceived in the urban landscape. This paper reviews recent progress in sustainable drainage development based on literature across different disciplinary fields. After presenting the key elements and criteria of sustainable drainage design, various devices and examples of sustainable drainage systems are introduced. The state-of-the-art model approaches and decision-aid tools for assessing the sustainable alternatives are discussed and compared. The paper further explores some limitations and difficulties in the application of the innovative solutions and suggests an integrated and trans-disciplinary approach for sustainable drainage design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Drainage Systems)

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