Urban Stormwater Management: Practices and Governance

Abstract

Water resources in urban areas are either approaching or exceeding the limits of sustainable use at alarming rates. Depletion of groundwater and increasing floods has become a common issue in rapidly developing urban areas. Therefore, improvement of present water management systems for managing water quality, while at the same time reducing hydro-meteorological disasters, and preserving natural environment in a sustainable manner is a priority that urban water managers should tackle. Accordingly, this chapter presents an overview of stormwater runoff management to guide future optimal stormwater runoff measures and management policies. The study provides commentary to assist policymakers and researchers in the field of stormwater management planning to understand the significance and role of remote sensing and GIS in designing optimal capture measures under the threat of future extreme events including the ones related to climate change. Community attitudes, which are influenced by a range of factors, including knowledge of urban water problem, are also considered. Additionally, the chapter also focuses on effects of different onsite facilities, including those for water harvesting, reuse, ponds and infiltration, are explored to establish adaptation strategies that restore water cycle and reduce climate change-induced flood and water scarcity on a catchment scale. The study brings real-world examples through case studies on Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai stormwater runoff management policies and measures to manage water scarcity and achieve water resiliency.