SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Module 3: Exploring the options

SWITCH Training Kit

Module 3B: Sustainable Stormwater Management

An overview

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

The issues facing urban stormwater management

Changing weather patterns due to climate change

Increased urbanisation

Fragmented management structures

Inadequately designed and maintained infrastructure

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Links between stormwater management and other areas of the water sector

Water supply

Wastewater management

Water treatment

Water quality

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Links between stormwater management and other sectors of urban management

Roads and transport

Solid waste

Parks and gardensLand-use management

Housing

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

The conventional approach

• Combined sewers

• Concrete drainage culverts, channels and pipes

• Disposal of stormwater directly into rivers, lakes and coastal waters

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Drawbacks of the conventional approach to stormwater management

• Increased downstream flood risk

• Erosion and sedimentation

• Overflows in combined sewer systems

• Pollution of receiving water bodies

• Waste of a valuable resource

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

A more sustainable approach

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

• Structural SUDS (such as swales, ponds, porous paving and green roofs)

• Non-structural SUDS (such as site planning, pesticide and fertiliser management, and public education and awareness raising campaigns)

A more sustainable approach (SUDS)

Options include:

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

The concept of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD):

• Stormwater attenuation and retention• River restoration• Combining water infrastructure with landscape design• Embedding water management into existing urban and

regional planning• Incorporating water recycling facilities into urban

architecture

A more sustainable approach (WSUD)

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Benefits of sustainable urban drainage solutions and WSUD

• Flood control

• Pollution control

• Protection against erosion

• Aquifer replenishment

• Alternative source of water

• Amenity value

• Climate change adaptation

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Why the non-conventional approach is more sustainable

Amenity value

Reduced flood risk

Reduced treatment and pumping costs

Reduced flood risk

Protection and enhancement of natural habitats

Reduced pressure on natural water supply sources

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Structural SUDS

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Non-structural SUDS

SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage

Acknowledgements

Ralph Philip and Barbara Anton ICLEI – Local Government’s for Sustainability

based on the joint efforts of the following SWITCH partners:Alison Duffy (University of Abertay), B. Ellis (Middlesex University), Chris Jefferies (University of Abertay), M. Revitt (Middlesex University), L. Scholes (Middlesex University), H. Sieker (Ingenieurgesellschaft Prof. Dr. Sieker mbH), B. Shutes (Middlesex University), M. Soutter (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), J. Eckart (HafenCity University, Hamburg), W. Holste (Middlesex University), H. Langenbach (HafenCity University, Hamburg), G Schröder (HafenCity University, Hamburg), I. Wagner (Technical University of Lodz)

The UNESCO-IHE led SWITCH project runs from Feb. 2006 to Jan. 2011 and is part-financed by Directorate General Research of the European Commission under the Sixth Framework Programme. For more information see www.switchurbanwater.eu

This presentation has been produced as part of the SWITCH Training Kit by: