Module 12

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Sustainability of Urban Water

A Scarce Resource in The Driest
Continent
Water Supply
Wastewater
Stormwater

The Natural and Built Environments

Can they be Separated?
Is it a Partnership?

Sustainable Urban Water Management

Minimise Hydrologic Impacts of
Urban Development
Integrated Water Cycle
Management
Water Supply
Waste Water
Stormwater
Sustainable Urban Development
Water Sensitive Urban Design

Urban Stormwater Objectives

Protect and Improve Natural Water
Systems within the Urban Environment
Focus on Ecosystem Health
Improve Water Quality
Reduce Runoff
Volume
Peak

Minimise Infrastructure Costs

Improve Amenity and Aesthetics

Stormwater Drainage Systems

Separate Sewerage and Stormwater
Systems in Australia
Combined Systems in USA and Europe
Primary Aim is Flood Protection
In the Past Stormwater Quality not
Seen as Important

Stormwater
entering into a Pit

Urban Development
Clearing of Vegetation
Increase in Impervious Surfaces
Roofs, Concrete Paving, Roads
Efficient Drainage System
Large Areas with Little or no Vegetation
Lawn Watering
Over Use of Fertilizer

Impacts of Urban Development

Increased Volume of Runoff
Decreased Infiltration
Decreased Time to Peak Runoff
Improved Drainage Efficiency
Increased Peak Runoff
Changes in Natural Urban Streams
Increased Width
Increased Depth
Flatter Bed Slopes
Upstream Scour / Downstream Deposition

Urban Development Pollutants

Gross Pollutants (Litter, Vegetation, Sediment)

Fine Sediment
Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
Pathogens (E Coli., bacteria, viruses)
Metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc)
Dissolved Oxygen Demanding Substances
Detergents
Hydrocarbons (oils, fuel etc.)

Effects of Urban Pollution

Reduction in Aesthetic Values
Smothering of Aquatic Plants
Algal Blooms
Fish Kills and Aquatic Ecosystems
Health Hazard

Design Criteria
Objectives of WSUD
Improve Ecosystem Health of Waterways
Reduce Total Load of Pollutants Reaching
Waterway

Design Criteria
Capture Within WSUD System:
80% of Total Suspended Solids
45% of Total Phosphorus
45% of Total Nitrogen

From: Victorian Stormwater Committee, (1999), Urban Stormwater: Best

Practice Environmental Management Guidelines

SQIDs
Stormwater Quality Improvement
Devices
Devices that are Installed Within the
Stormwater Drainage System to Improve
the Quality of Urban Stormwater

Gross Pollutant Traps

Generic Name for Structures
that are Designed to Trap Gross
Pollutants
Typically Includes Screens and
Collection Basin or Basket

CDS
Gross Pollutant Trap

http://www.eimcowater.com.au

CleasnsAll
Gross Pollutant Trap
Rocla
http://www.pipe.rocla.com.au/water_quality/cleansall

Humegard
Gross Pollutant Trap
Rinker Materials
(Developed at
Swinburne)

http://www.rinker.com.au/ProdsServices/EnvWaterSolns/humegard.shtml

Ecosol
Gross Pollutant Trap

http://www.ecosol.com.au

Vegetated Swales or Grass

Swales
Vegetated Open Channel
Often Grass Covered
Use Vegetation to Treat Pollutants
Filtration through Vegetation
Sedimentation of Coarse Particles
Pollutants Treated
Suspended Solids
Nutrients Attached to Particles

Shape is an issue!

Bioretention Systems
Filtration of Water Through Media
Soil
Sand
Gravel
Biological and Chemical Treatment
Biological Slimes attached to Media
Best for Very Fine Particles and Nutrients

Bioretention Systems

Sand Filters
Sand filters operate in a similar
manner as bioretention systems
Exception is that they do not support
any vegetation
Best suited in confined spaces

Sand Filters

Infiltration
Measures

Infiltration Measures

Sediment Basin

Sediment Basin

Sediment
Basin
Outlet
Structure

Porous Pavements
Filters Stormwater Through Road Pavement
Captures Fine Particles
Different Pavement Types
Gravel Based Media
Paving Blocks
Porous Asphalt
Maintenance Issues
Clogging with Fine Particles
High Heel Shoes

Porous Pavements

Constructed Wetlands
Marsh or Swamp
Emergent Macrophytes
eg: Rushes, Reeds and Sedges
Typically Shallow Water
Interface Between Water Bodies and Land
May Include Ponds or Deeper Water
Characteristic Feature is Emergent
Macrophytes
Remove Pollutants Associated with Fine Particles

Constructed Wetlands

Constructed Wetlands

Constructed Wetlands

Ponds and Lakes

Ponds and Lakes

Flood Bypass

Integrated Design and

Management
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Urban Planners
Design Engineers
Landscape Architects
Construction Managers
and Crew
Infrastructure Managers
Community

The Urban Landscape

Integral Part of Urban Water Management
Vegetation Essential in Stormwater
Treatment
Vegetated Swales
Bioretention Systems
Wetlands
Ponds
Community Involvement
Non-structural Management

Urban Riparian Vegetation

Good
Essential for Ecosystem Health
Aquatic and Riparian Habitat
Runoff Volume Reduction
Erosion Reduction
Pollutant Treatment
Bad
Increased Flood Levels