Use Of Sustainable Drainage Systems Research Articles

Proposal for Applying Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDSs) as a Strategic Business Unit at a Military Development Located in Southern Europe (Córdoba, Spain): “Project BLET”

The Spanish Army is planning to create a new Logistics Base in Córdoba, in a development known as “Project BLET” (85 agricultural hectares, developed into an industrial zone). The Sustainability Concept proposed here is framed within the context of the strategic management process as a Strategic Business Unit. Aligned with 2030 AGENDA, the above mentioned process focuses on efficient water management and is providing a drainage strategy based on the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDSs), as well as a water management plan that aims to consider rainfall as a key non-potable water resource. The purpose is to prepare a roadmap, based on the Project, and a methodology that guarantees the viability of the SuDS and its non-potable rainwater use. The final result could be a sustainable military logistics hub in Southern Europe, which would stand out for being a pioneer in the treatment of rainwater and have sustainability features that are intended to be certified and assessed by different institutions.

Assessment of the thermal properties for the geothermal use of a permeable pavement structure for pedestrian and cycle paths

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) have positioned themselves as one of the most widely applied Green Infrastructure (GI) techniques for sustainable stormwater management. In recent decades, new lines of research have emerged leading to the geothermal use of SuDS. The aim is to optimise available space in cities and minimise dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Previous research has focused on determining the feasibility of combining the two technologies, both in laboratory and field studies. Other aspects such as the influence of the surface geothermal system on the quality of the water present in the SuDS were also studied. This previous research has focused mainly on permeable pavements, positioning them as one of the SuDS techniques of reference in this line of research. This article attempts to give continuity to what has been established by other authors. It studies in depth the thermal properties of a complete section of permeable pavement under different hydraulic operating conditions. To this end, a complete section of a permeable pavement has been simulated in the laboratory using Hot-Box tests as set out in different international standards. With these tests, the values of thermal transmittance and equivalent thermal conductivity were determined. The aim of this research is to establish a test procedure for the thermal properties of permeable floorings, based on standardised equipment. The aim is to better understand the heat transfer procedures inside SuDS. In this way, it will be possible to optimise the design of these in combination with surface geothermal elements.

An analysis of important issues impacting the development of stormwater management systems in Poland

There is a clear trend in the world to increase the use of sustainable drainage systems. In Poland, it is not as much noticeable, and as a consequence, the conventional stormwater system remains the most common method of stormwater management. As part of the research, an assessment of the issues affecting the implementation of sustainable stormwater management systems in an engineering practices was performed. For that purpose the PESTLE analysis was applied. Its results indicate that legal factors are the key for the development of sustainable drainage systems in Poland. The scale of public support and availability of funding is also not without importance. The possibilities of the implementation growth of sustainable drainage systems should be sought in changes in legal regulations regarding stormwater management, while ensuring at the same time an appropriate level of financing for sustainable solutions. In the second stage of the research, stormwater management models used in Poland were identified. The strengths and weaknesses of these models were presented. There were also discussed the potential opportunities and threats associated with their implementation. The balances of positive and negative sides that were created through a SWOT analysis could be treated as the basis for the detailed analyses of the legitimate application of individual systems in specific areas. It is expected that the results of the research will allow formulating clear principles of an innovation policy in the field of stormwater management and appointing objective and transparent criteria for financing individual types of drainage investments.

Experimental results of the hydrological performance of a permeable pavement laboratory rig

Abstract There is an increasing number of everyday flood incidents around the world, the impact of which poses a challenge to society, the economy and the environment. Under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), green infrastructure through the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is the recommended policy to manage and treat storm water runoff. Given the limited published experimental information on permeable interlocking concrete block pavements (PICPs), this paper presents novel results from an experimental laboratory study on a permeable interlocking concrete block pavement rig, investigating the short-term hydrology of the pavement, and water quality aspects related to the retention capacity of suspended solids (SS) through the pavement structure. Results of the volume analysis demonstrate high capability of the permeable structure to reduce the concentration time and attenuate the storm. Water quality testing was employed mainly as an indicator of the tendency of the suspended solids retention by the structure, indicating increasing tendency in the sediment mass retention progressively after each rainfall event. Experimental results obtained in the present study have direct application on the implementation of PICPs in car parking lots, urbanised pavement structures and pedestrianised walkways.

Decision Support Tool for energy-efficient, sustainable and integrated urban stormwater management

The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage urban runoff and contribute to environmental and landscape improvement is now widely known, but its application is still limited in many regions, like in Mediterranean countries. In addition, there is a lack of Decision Support Tools that consider all their benefits in the decision making process in a clear and integrated holistic way.In this paper, the E2STORMED Decision Support Tool is presented. This tool analyses the impact of stormwater management in the urban environment and introduces energetic and environmental criteria in the decision making process. Therefore, it aims to fill in the existing “gap” between SuDS manuals and guidelines and regional and local decision makers, since it quantifies SuDS benefits and includes them in the comparison of different stormwater scenarios. Finally, the results of applying this tool to compare drainage infrastructures in a real urban development are described.

Addressing Flooding and SuDS when Improving Drainage and Sewerage Systems—A Comparative Study of Selected Scandinavian Cities

Pluvial flooding already challenges the capacity of drainage and sewerage system in urban areas in Scandinavia. For system owners this requires a stricter prioritization when improving the systems. Experts seem to agree that a regime shift from improving old combined sewers by piped solutions to more sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), must take place. In this paper results from an investigation amongst the largest cities in Norway, Denmark and Sweden concerning drivers and preferred methods for improving the old system are presented. The results indicate that Norway ranks flood prevention lower than the other Scandinavian countries. During the last decades, Norwegian authorities have had a strong focus on pollution from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The attention to drainage and sewerage system regarding flooding, water leaks, infiltration or pollution has been neglected. Renewal or rate of investment in relation to existing drainage and sewerage system is easy to register, and provides a measure of the activity. In order to optimize flood prevention, and may be promoting the use of SuDS, the cities should be required to measure the efficiency, either by monitoring or modeling the impact of stormwater to the system. Lack of such requirements from Norwegian authorities seem to be a plausible explanation to why Norwegian cities are less focused on flood prevention compared to Swedish and Danish cities.

A geographic information system screening tool to tackle diffuse pollution through the use of sustainable drainage systems.

Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) offer many benefits that traditional solutions do not. Traditional approaches are unable to offer a solution to problems of flood management and water quality. Holistic consideration of the wide range of benefits from SUDS can result in advantages such as improved flood resilience and water quality enhancement through consideration of diffuse pollution sources. Using a geographical information system (GIS) approach, diffuse pollutant sources and opportunities for SUDS are easily identified. Consideration of potential SUDS locations results in source, site and regional controls, leading to improved water quality (to meet Water Framework Directive targets). The paper will discuss two different applications of the tool, the first of which is where the pollutant of interest is known. In this case the outputs of the tool highlight and isolate the areas contributing the pollutants and suggest the adequate SUDS measures to meet the required criteria. The second application is where the tool identifies likely pollutants at a receiving location, and SUDS measures are proposed to reduce pollution with assessed efficiencies.

Modeling Heavy Metal Behavior in Sustainable Drainage Systems: A Case Study

A major problem of increased urbanization is the rise in pollution caused by run‐off. Among alternative management strategies, the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) such as rain gardens and other bioretention facilities is becoming an increasingly attractive option to reduce these problems. However, there are few tools if any available for their design considering pollutant retention. In this paper, a dual‐permeability based model that predicts the fate of heavy metals in SuDS is presented, and applied to the design of a rain garden system for a planned roundabout in Kent, UK. Preliminary design considered an upper root zone layer with organic soil and a sandy storage sub‐layer, each 30 cm thick, for a bioretention area of 5 and 10% the size of the contributing impervious surface. Two scenarios are examined: the accumulation and movement of metals without macropores and the possibility of groundwater contamination due to preferential flow. It is shown that levels of lead can build up in the upper layers of the system, but only constitute a health hazard (surpass UK standard of 750 mg/kg) after 10 years. Simulations show that copper was successfully retained (no significant concentrations below 50 cm of rain garden soil depth). Finally, given concerns of preferential flow bypassing bioretention facilities, macropore flow was examined. Results indicated that due to site conditions it was not a threat to groundwater in the timeframe considered.

Utilization of Glyphosate‐Containing Herbicides on Pervious Paving Systems: Laboratory‐Based Experiments to Determine Impacts on Effluent Water Quality

Pervious paving (PPS) model rigs have been used in laboratory‐based experiments to determine the impact of a glyphosate‐containing herbicide (GCH) on the ability of the PPS to retain and biodegrade pollutants. Using three concentrations of GCH (7200, 720, and 72 mg L−1) and used engine oil, it was found that hydrocarbon in the effluent increased with time, and with increasing GCH concentration. Turbidity increased and pH decreased with time, with the highest application of GCH declining by a whole pH unit to become slightly acidic. For Zn, Cu, and Pb, values for the lowest concentration of GCH, whilst slightly higher than the control mirrored its temporal trend and the highest concentration of GCH decreased with time. For the medium GCH concentration, however, Zn and Pb increased toward the end of the monitoring period. Dissolution experiments appeared to confirm speculation that the surfactant in the GCH may be forming an emulsion with the oil facilitating the release of metals associated with the oil. Particulate‐associated pollutants possibly released from the aggregate may be desorbed as the pH declined in the PPS rig. This raises concerns for receiving water quality, particularly with UK legislation encouraging the use of sustainable drainage systems and therefore PPS.

Comparative study of sustainable drainage systems

The use of sustainable drainage systems (Suds) forms an important part of the requirement to conserve natural resources in an age of ever-increasing consumption. This paper explores the options available in the design of drainage systems, by virtue of a project to design two systems for a greenfield site with office and car parking. One design is a conventional piped setup and the other is a ‘sustainable’ drainage system. The design approach is not biased towards the conventional or sustainable system, but aims to seek out best practice in terms of economics and simplicity of design for each type. This computer-based software simulation study of the two drainage systems includes an introduction to Suds, with a description of the principles and techniques involved. There is further information on who is driving the requirements for implementation and the methods used to do so. This background will then inform the comparative study of drainage system designs.

Runoff infiltration, a desktop case study

The use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) or best management practice is becoming increasingly common. However, rather than adopting the preferred 'treatment train' implementation, many developments opt for end-of-pipe control ponds. This paper discusses the use of SUDS in series to form treatment trains and compares their potential performance and effectiveness with end-of-pipe solutions. Land-use, site and catchment characteristics have been used alongside up-to-date guidance, Infoworks CS and MUSIC to determine whole-life-costs, land-take, water quality and quantity for different SuDS combinations. The results presented show that the use of a treatment train allows approaches differing from the traditional use of single SuDS, either source or 'end-of-pipe', to be proposed to treat and attenuate runoff. The outcome is a more flexible solution where the footprint allocated to SUDS, costs and water quality can be managed differently to fully meet stakeholder objectives.

Optimising regional sustainable drainage systems pond performance using treatment trains

The use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) or best management practice (BMP) is becoming increasingly common. However, rather than adopting the preferred “treatment train” implementation, many developments opt for end-of-pipe control ponds. This paper discusses the use of SuDS in series to form treatment trains and compares their potential performance and effectiveness with end-of-pipe solutions. Land use, site and catchment characteristics have been used alongside up-to-date guidance, Infoworks CS and the model for urban stormwater improvement conceptualisation to determine whole-life-costs, land take, water quality and water quantity for different SuDS combinations. The results presented show that the use of a treatment train allows approaches differing from the traditional use of single SuDS, either source or “end-of-pipe”, to be proposed to treat and attenuate runoff. This outcome provides a more flexible solution where the footprint allocated to SuDS, costs and water quality can be managed differently to more comprehensively meet stakeholder objectives.

The best management of SuDS treatment trains: a holistic approach

The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) or Best Management Practice (BMP) is becoming increasingly common. However, rather than adopting the preferred "treatment train" implementation, many developments opt for end of pipe control ponds. This paper discusses the use of SuDS in series to form treatment trains and compares their potential performance and effectiveness with end of pipe solutions. Land-use, site and catchment characteristics have been used alongside up-to-date guidance, Infoworks CS and MUSIC to determine whole-life-costs, land-take, water quality and water quantity for different SuDS combinations. The results presented show that the use of a treatment train allows approaches differing from the traditional use of single SuDS, either source or "end of pipe", to be proposed to treat and attenuate runoff. The outcome is a more flexible solution where the footprint allocated to SuDS, costs and water quality can be managed differently to satisfy more efficiently the holistically stakeholders' objectives.

Getting it wrong first time: building an interdisciplinary research relationship

This paper addresses recent debates on the need for greater collaboration across the physical and human geography divide. We discuss some of the problems of producing work that can be considered genuinely interdisciplinary. The paper reflects on a project examining the use of sustainable drainage systems in Glasgow and how we unwittingly produced a piece of social science research looking at a physical science topic. We suggest that more than simply the need for ‘trust’ between researchers, the actual practice of working together in the field – and, indeed, having the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them – is essential. In working together, academics have a better opportunity to understand each other's intellectual and epistemological framework and develop projects where researchers can move beyond their disciplinary boundaries and weave their expertise into a coherent research output.

The inclusion of sustainable drainage systems in flood management in the post‐industrial city: A case study of Glasgow

The management of urban stormwater and flooding is challenging, particularly within older, post‐industrial urban environments where infrastructure, housing and businesses already operate. The urban environment constrains opportunities for the development and integration of new approaches to drainage management, particularly the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). These issues are investigated through a case study of Glasgow. The northeast of the city suffered significant urban flooding in July 2002 following an intense con‐vective summer storm. This event overloaded the urban drainage system, which was heavily integrated and led to the back flow of foul water into streets and homes. This study examines the response to this event and the construction of an integrated drainage management plan for the city, the Glasgow Strategic Drainage Plan (GSDP), which includes greater use of SuDS in tackling the city's capacity problems. Reflecting on the interdisciplinary nature of urban drainage management, this study adopts a social science method, undertaking semi‐structured interviews with key actors involved in producing the GSDP.