Urban stormwater management
Introduction to the Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology themed issue on urban stormwater management.
Frontier
Urban stormwater capture for water supply: look out for persistent, mobile and toxic substances
Urban stormwater is a source of persistent, mobile and toxic substances, however the risk for water resources is unknown.
Modeling the hydrological benefits of green roof systems: applications and future needs
Green roof contributes to urban stormwater management.
Biofilters and bioretention systems: the role of biochar in the blue-green city concept for stormwater management
The main aim of the blue-green city concept is the reduction of the adverse impacts of stormwater by recreating the natural water cycle with the aid of green infrastructure in major metropolitan areas worldwide.
UV exposure to PET microplastics increases their downward mobility in stormwater biofilters undergoing freeze–thaw cycles
An increase in microplastic weathering under UV lights decreases their surface hydrophilicity by the formation of polar groups and increases their mobility in the stormwater biofilter under freeze–thaw cycles.
Paper
A stochastic approach for assessing the chronic environmental risk generated by wet-weather events from integrated urban wastewater systems
Environmental chronic risk generated by wet-weather discharges compared to final effluent was stochastically assessed, also from a climate-change perspective, stressing their growing contribution for many (micro-)pollutants.
Measuring city-scale green infrastructure drawdown dynamics using internet-connected sensors in Detroit
A low-cost, low-maintenance sensor network and analytics toolchain is introduced for real-time, high-resolution monitoring and analysis of city-scale urban drainage.
Stormwater applications of zeolite-coated biofilm carriers for ammonium removal with possible applications to PFAS biotransformation
Microporous, zeolite-coated biofilm carriers deployed in stormwater systems for retention of targeted microorganisms and removal of nitrogen and PFAS.
Paper
The potential of near real-time monitoring of β-D-glucuronidase activity to establish effective warning systems in urban recreational waters
The enzymatic activity of E. coli in urban surface waters gives a sharp but short response to contamination events.
Stormwater subsurface gravel wetland hydraulics, phosphorus retention, and chloride dynamics in cold climates
The stormwater treatment performance of an increasingly popular horizontal subsurface-flow gravel wetland design in the northeastern United States was characterized by poor phosphorus retention and negligible impacts on chloride transport.
Paper
Concentration, distribution, and fractionation of metals in the filter material of 29 bioretention facilities: a field study
To maintain function in biofilters over time and reduce risk for leakage of metals, regular maintenance, including replacement of top layer is recommended. However, consider metal fractionation when handling material.
Paper
Metal distribution in first flush in highway runoff of one of the busiest motorway junctions in the UK
We observed an unexpectedly high proportion of Fe2+dis in accumulated highway runoff, which could be attributed to local catchment characteristics.
Evaluation of sorbents and matrix effects for treating heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as co-contaminants in stormwater
Proposed workflow for down-selection of sorbents in synthetic and real stormwaters for optimized heavy metal and PFAS removal.
Paper
Towards urban drainage sediment accumulation monitoring using temperature sensors
An innovative technique based on temperature measurements promises to better understand and manage sediments in urban drainage systems.
Paper
Predicted aquatic exposure effects from a national urban stormwater study
Episodic stormwater discharges expose aquatic ecosystems to extensive contaminant mixtures. Cumulative acute risks to multiple aquatic trophic levels are estimated based on contaminant mixtures documented in a US stormwater reconnaissance.
Role of height and position in the vertical distribution pattern of urban surface-deposited sediments and associated heavy metals
Urban surface-deposited sediments (USDs) with different spatial positions and heights are a mixture of various pollutants with complex sources and are widely distributed in urban environments.
Urban stormwater sediment risk assessment from drainage structures in Bogotá, Colombia
Urban stormwater sediments are associated with non-point source pollution that poses risks to the environment and human health.
Comparison of rainwater management performance of modified extensive green roof substrate layer with different additives in rainstorm events
The distinct improvements of rainwater management performance brought about by different additives depend on their predominant pores occupying the substrate layer.
About this collection
Guest edited by Luca Vezzaro (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark), Nathalie Gilbert (Thames21, United Kingdom), Lian Lundy (Middlesex University, United Kingdom & Luleå University of Technology, Sweden), María Nariné Torres Cajiao (Xylem Inc., USA), and Kefeng Zhang (UNSW Sydney, Australia) this themed collection provides an overview of the current issues and solutions for the sustainable management of water quality from wet-weather discharges (both from combined and separate storm systems), with a specific focus on multidisciplinary aspects.
The transition of urban areas towards Water-Wise Cities (also known as Sustainable Water Systems) has renewed interest in the management of stormwater. While the main focus of the last decade has been the quantitative management of stormwater (due to the focus on climate change adaptation and flood risk reduction), several issues linked to the management of stormwater quality remain open. Environmental impacts from both Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and separate storm outlets represent a challenge for urban water managers, while increasing demand for water reuse requires more robust information on the quality of the different water fluxes crossing the city.