Abstract
Green Infrastructure measures such as seepage troughs are an integral part of sustainable urban rainwater management. In Austria, seepage troughs are currently almost exclusively produced with a 30 cm thick active soil filter passage made of topsoil. A standard seed mix is used as vegetation, which usually consists of only three different turfgrass species. During a three-year trial, engineered soils with improved properties (increased water storage capacity, infiltration rate and pore volume) were tested for their suitability as seepage troughs compared to topsoil. In addition to the standard turf seed mix, a flowering turf seed mix (34 species) and flowering meadow seed mix (53 species) were applied. The engineered and reference soils were analyzed for infiltration rate, vitality, cover ratio and inflorescence. The results were further assessed with the evaluation chart showing quantitatively the suitability of the tested soils for rainwater management. The investigations showed that engineered soils in combination with flowering meadow seed mix lead to the best results. Therefore, this type of vegetation for seepage troughs is recommended for future applications. The reference alternatives cannot be recommended.
Highlights
Green Infrastructure (GI) measures such as seepage troughs or rain gardens are an integral part of sustainable urban rainwater management
In Austria, the area and depth of a seepage trough are calculated according to the guidelines of the Austrian Water and Waste Management
In Austria, the area and depth of a seepage trough are calculated according to the guidelines of the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV) [18]
Summary
Green Infrastructure (GI) measures such as seepage troughs or rain gardens are an integral part of sustainable urban rainwater management. Their importance is rapidly increasing as the climate crisis will lead to more frequent extreme weather events such as heavy rainfalls, heatwaves and sustained dry periods [1,2,3]. Green-Blue Infrastructure measures contribute to flood protection and urban heat island reduction [4,5]. Their performance depends on their technical construction, layer composition and vegetation selection [6,7].
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