Assessment of Infiltration Swale Performance as a Low-Impact Development Technique in Tropical Coastal Environments (original) (raw)
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Water
The control of runoff pollution is one of the advantages of low-impact development (LID) or sustainable drainage systems (SUDs), such as infiltration swales. Coastal areas may have characteristics that make the implementation of drainage systems difficult, such as sandy soils, shallow aquifers and flat terrains. The presence of contaminants was investigated through sampling and analysis of runoff, soil, and groundwater from a coastal region served by an infiltration swale located in southern Brazil. The swale proved to be very efficient in controlling the site’s urban drainage volumes even under intense tropical rainfall. Contaminants of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni were identified at concentrations above the Brazilian regulatory limit (BRL) in both runoff and groundwater. Soil concentrations were low and within the regulatory limits, except for Cd. The soil was predominantly sandy, with neutral pH and low ionic exchange capacity, characteristic of coastal regions and not very ...
The Use of SWMM Software for the Management of Sustainable Urban Drainage
Revista Mundi Engenharia, Tecnologia e Gestão (ISSN: 2525-4782)
The present work presents a study performed in the hydrographic basin of the Figueira Stream located in the city of Umuarama-PR, with the intention of reducing surface runoff and expanding the storage of urban waters to minimize the current environmental problems, such as silting and erosion. The main objective is to implement LIDs (Low impact development) devices known in Brazil as low impact urban development and with the help of the Storm Water Management Model - SWMM software, to simulate the behavior of urban waters considering the real situation and comparing them with the simulation with insertion of LIDs. As a methodology, an in loco survey was performed, followed by two simulations. The first simulation considered the data from the in loco survey. We observed that the basin is not prone to flooding, but there is a great possibility of erosion and silting. In the second simulation, we inserted three types of LIDs: filtration basin; porous pavement and infiltration valleys. T...
Sustainable Urban Drainage Designing Approach for São Paulo and Humid Sub-tropical Climates
Green Technologies and Infrastructure to Enhance Urban Ecosystem Services, 2019
Urban sprawl in São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR) turned hundreds of streams into covered channels in the upper Tietê River basin. Engineering practices of channeling and covering water bodies are still common in the RMSP. This research is integrated to the Jaguaré’s Watershed Restoration Pilot Program initiative in São Paulo. This work investigates the efficiency of Green Infrastructure Technologies (GIT), vegetated systems that recover natural functions in impaired watersheds, for reducing storm water diffuse contamination. Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (SUDs) were projected as a source control of runoff during the rainstorms. The main question assessed in this paper was whether US unified approach criteria, generally used as best management practices (BMPs) planning guideline in temperate regions, were able to meet SPMR water quality targets given its different rainfall distribution, rainfall-intensity patterns and storm antecedent dry periods (ADPs), which affected to ru...
Ecological Engineering, 2015
Green and grey stormwater management infrastructures, such as the filter, swale and infiltration trench (FST), can be used to prevent flooding events. The aim of this paper was to determine the environmental and economic impacts of a pilot FST that was built in São Carlos (Brazil) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). As a result, the components with the greatest contributions to the total impacts of the FST were the infiltration trench and the grass cover. The system has a carbon footprint of 0.13 kg CO 2 eq./m 3 of infiltrated stormwater and an eco-efficiency ratio of 0.35 kg CO 2 eq./USD. Moreover, the FST prevented up to 95% of the runoff in the area. Compared to a grey infrastructure, this system is a good solution with respect to PVC stormwater pipes, which require a long pipe length (1070 m) and have a shorter lifespan. In contrast, concrete pipes are a better solution, and their impacts are similar to those of the FST. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the changes in the impacts with the varying lifespan of the system components. Thus, the proper management of the FST can reduce the economic and environmental impacts of the system by increasing its durability.
Hydraulic Performance of Grassed Swale as Stormwater Quantity Control
2015
Grassed swales are widely employed to encourage ground infiltration and reduce storm runoff in urban areas. Precipitation that infiltrated into surrounding soils is collected and conveyed by swales into nearby water bodies to prevent localized flooding. Swales are one of the means to decrease the velocity, to reduce the peak flows, and minimize the causes of flood. However, a well functioned swale requires a systematic planning of construction. This overview presents the determination of flow velocity for grassed swale in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and how its efficiency based upon the varied swale profile. Data collection was conducted on the grassed swale with the total length of swale is 100 meters. The swale is divided into three sections, where every section has three points. The measurements of flow velocity have been taken three times at each point after a rainfall event by using the current meter flow. As a preliminary work, levelling has been done on the swa...
Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 2010
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is one of the demonstration cities of the SWITCH project. Flooding and wet weather pollution are major issues for the city. Because of this SWITCH in Belo Horizonte has focussed on more sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). Demonstrations are being conducted of infiltration and detention devices, artificial wetlands, and rainfall harvesting. This paper focuses on the use of detention and infiltration trenches to control runoff and abate wet weather pollution. Preliminary results indicate that use of these devices have potential for significantly mitigating suspended matter such as heavy metals originating from road surfaces.
The traditional canalisation approach for flood control has been complemented or replaced by new concepts that consider a systemic approach, with distributed interventions over the catchment intending to recreate flow patterns prior to the urbanisation. Compensatory techniques on urban drainage have been proposed to fulfil this aim. However, the spatio-temporal variability of the phenomenon gives particular characteristics to each catchment. In this context, a systemic evaluation of flood control projects is needed, providing adequate spatial coverage without superimposing effects in time. Mathematical modelling emerges as a useful tool to represent the integrated behaviour of urban drainage and landscape. This is where this work takes place, assessing an urban catchment subjected to floods with the aid of MODCEL, a mathematical model developed in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. This model represents the catchment using the flow cells concept, conforming a flow net. Guerenguê River catchment, located in the west side of Rio de Janeiro city, in Jacarepaguá neighbourhood, which is an area of particular interest because of the Olympic Games that will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, was taken as a case study. This catchment suffers from serious problems related to its drainage system and water pollution, compromising the local quality of life. The starting point of this evaluation is a set of retention reservoirs, associated with an urban retrofit proposed by the Municipality. In addition, this study introduces several distributed compensatory measures in order to obtain an effective result in flood attenuation. The modelling results show that, at present situation, great part of the catchment suffers from flooding, with water depths that usually range from 0.15m to 1.50m. In critical areas, flooding may surpass the level of 1.50m high. The introduction of the compensatory techniques is capable to change this picture significantly. However, land use control shows to be a key factor for sustainability.
Water Pollution XII, 2014
This study identified and systematized the interfaces between traditional urban drainage systems and water resources with the aim of providing decision-makers with the scientific and technical knowledge required to develop an integrated urban water management strategy. After the collection of technical documents on the sanitation infrastructure of the Rio Tavares and Morro das Pedras watersheds, in Florianópolis, Brazil, the stormwater drainage system of the region was mapped and the environmental characterization described, dividing the two basins into 6 regions for analytical purposes. The systematization of the documents resulted in a synthesis map generated by cross-checking the information regarding the current drainage system, the hydrography, and the vulnerability of the Campeche aquifer (DRASTIC and GOD methods), thus revealing the interfaces between stormwater management and surface and groundwater resources. The diagnostic phase identified the use of structural measures for the straightening and/or channelization of parts of the river. In the analyzed orthophotos, flooding points were observed downstream of the watersheds. The stormwater effluents are discharged, without any pretreatment, into the mangroves and sandbanks, or infiltrate through the drainage pipe, creating points of contaminant injection in the Campeche aquifer. This study suggests the creation of a unified database for the drainage network, hydrography and urban infrastructure, as well as the standardization of projects by means of sanitation, water resource, and stormwater management plans. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative monitoring projects for water resources
Urban drainage problems in the humid tropics
IAHS …, 1993
The paper aims at giving a brief overview of the contemporary urban drainage problems and technologies by placing a strong emphasis on specific problems emerging in areas of humid tropics. Since the humid tropic areas cover a very wide range of various geographical, climate, social and cultural regions with different traditions in taking care of their water resources, this overview will provide the basics which should be relevant and applicable in all parts of the humid tropics of the globe. The need for learning on site specific solutions, in order to establish the appropriate technologies that will match the local needs in the best way, will be sought. Looking towards the future, the need for gathering appropriate and reliable local data which are invaluable for any respectable project is strongly emphasized. An integrated water management philosophy will be observed throughout the paper for determining the position of the system for urban drainage within the adjacent water related disciplines.