A review of water-sensitive urban design technologies and practices for sustainable stormwater management

Abstract

This review paper presents, in a critical and systematic way, the published researches on water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) technologies and practices. The aim of WSUD is the long-term sustainability for urban water cycle management; it minimises the hydrological impacts of urban development on the surrounding environments. It considers stormwater as a valuable resource. The applications of WSUD technologies in practice could be the solution of everyday problems of small-scale stormwater management—flood control, pollution control and stormwater harvesting. This paper focuses on the recent research outcomes of several frequently used WSUD technologies including infiltration systems, permeable pavements, bio-retention systems, vegetated swales and rainwater harvesting systems; their barriers and adaptations; and future research directions.