Abstract
The use of decentralised, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for the treatment of stormwater runoff is becoming increasingly prevalent in Germany. Decentralised SUDS can offer a viable and attractive alternative to end of pipe treatment systems for stormwater runoff from urban areas. However, there is still some uncertainty regarding the long-term performance of SUDS, and the general legislative requirements for SUDS approval and testing. Whilst the allowable pollution levels in stormwater runoff that infiltrate into ground and/or water table are regulated across Germany by the Federal Soil Protection Law, there is presently no federal law addressing the discharge requirements for surface water runoff. The lack of clear guidance can make it difficult for planners and designers to implement these innovative and sustainable stormwater treatment systems. This study clarifies the current understanding of urban stormwater treatment requirements and new technical approval guidelines for decentralised SUDS devices in Germany. The study findings should assist researchers, designers and asset managers to better anticipate and understand the performance, effective life-spans, and the planning and maintenance requirements for decentralised SUDS systems. This should help promote even greater use of these systems in the future.
Highlights
The use of decentralised, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for the treatment of stormwater runoff is becoming increasingly prevalent in Germany
This paper provides a practical outline of the current urban stormwater treatment requirements, and of the general technical approval processes for decentralised SUDS
This paper provides a practical outline of the current urban stormwater treatment requirements, and of the general technical approval processes for decentralised SUDS devices in Germany
Summary
The use of decentralised, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for the treatment of stormwater runoff is becoming increasingly prevalent in Germany. The quality of the stormwater runoff from the different catchments could be highly variable ranging from relatively clean runoff from grassed areas and residential house roofs to heavily polluted runoff from large industrial estates [5,8,9,10] This “cocktail” of stormwater runoff was usually all treated together as one wastewater product at the centralised treatment facility (Figure 1). New federal regulations have been introduced in Germany [11] which stipulate that in future, heavily polluted stormwater runoff should be treated separately at source, instead of mixing it in with relatively clean stormwaters and sending it all to a central treatment facility as was done in the past (Figure 2) These regulations are being applied as State Water Laws in some German. This paper focuses on the pollution of surface waters receiving urban stormwater runoff
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