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
Increased urbanisation
Changing weather
patterns due to
climate change
Inadequately designed
and maintained
infrastructure
Fragmented management
structures
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
Housing
Roads and
transport
Solid waste
Parks and gardens
Land-use
management
SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage
The conventional approach
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•
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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
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•
•
•
•
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
A more sustainable approach (SUDS)
Options include:
•
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)
SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage
A more sustainable approach (WSUD)
The concept of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD):
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•
•
•
•
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
SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage
Benefits of sustainable urban drainage
solutions and WSUD
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•
•
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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
Social
sustainability
Protection and
enhancement of
natural habitats
Environmental
sustainability
Reduced pressure on
natural water supply
sources
Economic
sustainability
Reduced treatment
and pumping costs
Reduced flood risk
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
This presentation has been produced as part of the
SWITCH Training Kit by:
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 partfinanced by Directorate General Research of the European Commission under the Sixth
Framework Programme. For more information see www.switchurbanwater.eu
SWITCH Training Kit: Module 3B – Sustainable Urban Drainage