Abstract
Sustainable stormwater management approaches in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) allow a source control to handle the quality and quantity of the runoff at local level or near the source. The most popular technologies applied in Europe are green roofs, porous pavements, retention basins and bioswales/raingardens. In this article, two of these solutions (retention tank with reuse, and rain garden, respectively), applied to single dwelling case studies in a suburban area in the Silesia Region (Poland), are illustrated and analyzed. The selected cases consider technical and economic aspects as the most important factors for decision on the selection of onsite stormwater management approach. Both systems have been operational for approximately two years. The retention tank proved a good solution, reducing stormwater overflows and allowing local water reuse for lawn irrigation; however, investment and maintenance costs in this case are relatively higher. The raingarden proved to work efficiently in this small scale implementation and implied much lower initial investment and costs. The economic sustainability of these interventions at single dwelling scale was analyzed, showing interesting returns, with outcome depending on the degree of possible water reuse (lower water bills) and availability of fiscal or fee incentives. Introduction of financial incentive schemes will encourage homeowners and developers to implement stormwater control solutions, allowing rapid amortization of investment costs with additional benefits to the community, such as reduced environmental impact of stormwater overflows and possible economies in the construction and management of stormwater systems.
Highlights
Sustainable stormwater management has been and still is a long-time issue in urban drainage systems
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the number of heavy precipitation events has significantly increased in inland areas worldwide [2]
Pollutants conveyed by storm flows in addition to organic matter include pathogens (Fecal Indicator Bacteria, FIB), nutrients, metals and emerging contaminants [6,7], the latter often at low level concentrations, which are difficult to monitor by traditional means [8]
Summary
Sustainable stormwater management has been and still is a long-time issue in urban drainage systems. Innovative fiscal and non-fiscal tools, which may include payment for ecosystem services schemes [22], may be introduced to encourage their implementation on public and private property [23] These practices are described in the literature under various labels, such as Low Impact Development (LID) [24], nature-based solutions (NBS) [25] or Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) [26]. This article presents two case studies of sustainable stormwater management practices in small urban developments in Polish catchments, respectively concerning: (1) on-site retention and reuse, and (2) rainwater infiltration gardens. Two case studies of sustainable stormwater solutions implemented in small buildings in the Kobierzyce commune in the Silesia Region of south Poland are presented and analyzed These concern on-site retention and subsequent water reuse, and a rainwater infiltration garden installation, respectively
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