Challenges in Urban Storm Water Management

Abstract

Urbanization changes the characteristics of a catchment this has direct effects on the hydrology cycle of a catchment area. These effects led to think on Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) as a key issue in urban storm water management. This study evaluates eleven widely used structural storm water management methods against five selection criteria addressed in WSUD; technical aspects, hydraulic performances, environmental effects, economic values and social values. Results show that the infiltration based storm water methods was evaluated as the best storm water management method. It further shows that the landscape based storm water methods are better than water reuse concept when considering these five aspects. Results of this study will help storm water managers and decision makers to ensure any storm water management method against its contribution to Water Sensitive Urban Design based storm water management concepts.