scholarly journals Experimenting Transition to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – Identifying Constraints and Unintended Processes in a Tropical Highly Urbanized Watershed

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Chapa ◽  
María Pérez ◽  
Jochen Hack
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Water System ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
Local Decision

Green Infrastructure promotes the use of natural functions and processes as potential solutions to reduce negative effects derived from anthropocentric interventions such as urbanization. In cities of Latin America, for example, the need for more nature-sound infrastructure is evident due to its degree of urbanization and degradation of ecosystems, as well as the alteration of the local water cycle. In this study, an experimental approach for implementation of a prototype is presented. The experiment took place in a highly urbanized watershed located in the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. Initially, understanding the characteristics of the study area at different scales was achieved by applying the Urban Water System Transition Framework to identify the existing level of development of the urban water infrastructure, and potential future stages. Subsequently, preferences related to spatial locations and technologies were identified from different local decision-makers. Those insights were adopted to identify a potential area for implementation of the prototype. The experiment consisted on an adaptation of the local sewer to act as a temporal reservoir to reduce the effects derived from rapid generation of stormwater runoff. Unexpected events, not considered initially in the design, are reported in this study as a means to identify necessary adaptations of the methodology. Our study shows from an experimental learning-experience that the relation between different actors advocating for such technologies influences the implementation and operation of non-conventional technologies. Furthermore, the perception of security associated to green spaces was found as a key driver to increase the willingness of residents to modify their urban environments. In consequence, those aspects should be carefully considered as factors of designs of engineering elements when they are related to complex socio-ecological urban systems.

scholarly journals Experimenting Transition to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems—Identifying Constraints and Unintended Processes in a Tropical Highly Urbanized Watershed

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3554
Author(s):  
Fernando Chapa ◽  
María Pérez ◽  
Jochen Hack
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Water System ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Rapid Generation

Green Infrastructure promotes the use of natural functions and processes as potential solutions to reduce negative effects derived from anthropocentric interventions such as urbanization. In cities of Latin America, for example, the need for more nature-based infrastructure is evident due to its degree of urbanization and degradation of ecosystems, as well as the alteration of the local water cycle. In this study, an experimental approach for the implementation of a prototype is presented. The prototype consists of a gray-hybrid element for first flush bio-treatment and runoff detention, adapted to the existing stormwater sewer. The experiment took place in a highly urbanized watershed located in the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. The characteristics of the existing infrastructure in the study area at different scales were mapped and compared using the Urban Water System Transition Framework. Subsequently, preferences related to spatial locations and technologies were identified from different local decision-makers. Those insights were adopted to identify a potential area for the implementation of the prototype. The experiment consisted of the adaptation of the local sewer to act as a temporal reservoir to reduce the effects derived from rapid generation of stormwater runoff. Unexpected events, not considered initially in the design, are reported in this study as a means to identify the necessary adaptations of the methodology. Our study shows from an experimental learning-experience that the relation between different actors advocating for such technologies influences the implementation and operation of non-conventional technologies. Furthermore, the willingness of residents to modify their urban environments was found to be associated to their own perceptions about security and vandalism occurring in green spaces. The implementation of the prototype showed that both the hydraulic performance is relevant for considering it as a success, as well as the dynamics of the adapted element with the existing urban conditions. In consequence, those aspects should be carefully considered as the design factors of engineering elements when they are related to complex socio-ecological urban systems.

scholarly journals Stress-Testing Framework for Urban Water Systems: A Source to Tap Approach for Stochastic Resilience Assessment

Water ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Dionysios Nikolopoulos ◽  
Panagiotis Kossieris ◽  
Ioannis Tsoukalas ◽  
Christos Makropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Water Distribution ◽  
Stress Testing ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Generation Model ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Testing Framework ◽  
Urban Water System

Optimizing the design and operation of an Urban Water System (UWS) faces significant challenges over its lifespan to account for the uncertainties of important stressors that arise from population growth rates, climate change factors, or shifting demand patterns. The analysis of a UWS’s performance across interdependent subsystems benefits from a multi-model approach where different designs are tested against a variety of metrics and in different times scales for each subsystem. In this work, we present a stress-testing framework for UWSs that assesses the system’s resilience, i.e., the degree to which a UWS continues to perform under progressively increasing disturbance (deviation from normal operating conditions). The framework is underpinned by a modeling chain that covers the entire water cycle, in a source-to-tap manner, coupling a water resources management model, a hydraulic water distribution model, and a water demand generation model. An additional stochastic simulation module enables the representation and modeling of uncertainty throughout the water cycle. We demonstrate the framework by “stress-testing” a synthetic UWS case study with an ensemble of scenarios whose parameters are stochastically changing within the UWS simulation timeframe and quantify the uncertainty in the estimation of the system’s resilience.

scholarly journals Green Infrastructures for Urban Water System: Balance between Cities and Nature

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1456
Author(s):  
Robert Sitzenfrei ◽  
Manfred Kleidorfer ◽  
Peter M. Bach ◽  
Taneha Kuzniecow Bacchin
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Water System ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
Climate Resilience

Urban water systems face severe challenges such as urbanisation, population growth and climate change. Traditional technical solutions, i.e., pipe-based, grey infrastructure, have a single purpose and are proven to be unsustainable compared to multi-purpose nature-based solutions. Green Infrastructure encompasses on-site stormwater management practices, which, in contrast to the centralised grey infrastructure, are often decentralised. Technologies such as green roofs, walls, trees, infiltration trenches, wetlands, rainwater harvesting and permeable pavements exhibit multi-functionality. They are capable of reducing stormwater runoff, retaining stormwater in the landscape, preserving the natural water balance, enhancing local climate resilience and also delivering ecological, social and community services. Creating multi-functional, multiple-benefit systems, however, also warrants multidisciplinary approaches involving landscape architects, urban planners, engineers and more to successfully create a balance between cities and nature. This Special Issue aims to bridge this multidisciplinary research gap by collecting recent challenges and opportunities from on-site systems up to the watershed scale.

The scope of integrated modelling: system boundaries, sub-systems, scales and disciplines

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 405-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.G. Schmitt ◽  
W.C. Huber
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water System ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Urban Drainage ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
System Boundaries ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
System Project ◽  
Modelling System

Integrated modelling has become an urgent issue of urban drainage and wastewater treatment planning. The scope of integrated modelling, system boundaries and disciplines to be involved are addressed in view of future developments and new paradigms in urban drainage, demanding the inclusion of the full urban water cycle. A system analysis is demonstrated to identify relevant sub-systems and components, processes and interactions within the urban water system. The permissibility to exclude subsystems or neglect interactions is evaluated. Integrated modelling of urban water system is characterised as an ambitious task in regard to system complexity, heterogeneous scales and interface problems. The methodical status quo is characterised in preliminary approaches towards integrated modelling. It is concluded that it does not seem promising to create and apply one entity model for the scope of integrated urban water modelling. Instead, the development of adequate and efficient IT frameworks is identified as the key issue of integrated modelling. Harmonising interfaces to facilitate the linking of existing models is presented as the objective of a European research project HarmonIT and the U.S. EPA Multimedia Integrated Modelling System project MIMS.

scholarly journals Sponge-city-based urban water system planning: a case study of water quality sensitive new area development in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijian Xu ◽  
Yanhong Kong
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Water System ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
System Planning ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Sponge City ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
Planning Methods

Abstract In recent years, sponge city has been booming in China aiming to alleviate urban flooding and improve water quality of natural water bodies. LID/green infrastructure has been gradually introduced to urban planning and urban water system planning. Efficient deployment of LID facilities is critical, which requires modeling and evaluation to develop rational planning. A case study of Guian New Area was presented to show the application of SWMM and the planning methods in sponge-city-based urban water system planning for water quality sensitive new areas development. Based on SWMM, two river network water quality models, the Dongmenqiao River and the Chetian River, were established through a systematic analysis of the case study area. Baseline scenarios were simulated and analyzed, and assimilation capacities of the two river basins were calculated by a trial-and-error method. Finally, two LID scenarios were carefully designed, simulated, and analyzed to support the planning. The simulations showed that in order to meet the strict water quality requirements in Guian New Area, large scales of LID facilities are required to cut down the rainfall-runoff pollution. Moreover, measures such as more frequent cleaning to reduce pollutants accumulation on the ground should also be taken to mitigate the maximum buildups of pollutants.

scholarly journals Assessment of Eco-Economic Effects of Urban Water System Connectivity Project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cuimei Lv ◽  
Huali Liao ◽  
Minghua Ling ◽  
Zening Wu ◽  
Denghua Yan
Keyword(s):  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Water System ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Ecological Effect ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Land Value ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Urban Water System

Abstract As one of the large ecological infrastructures, urban water system connectivity project is an important part of urban ecosystem construction. It has a variety of effects, such as conserving biodiversity, enriching urban landscape and increasing land value. It is helpful for the scientific planning and construction of the project to systematically evaluate the effects. However, due to the complex and various effects of urban water system connectivity project, there is no complete effect system and quantitative method. In this paper, the composition and mechanism of positive and negative effects of ecological economics of urban water system connectivity project were deeply analyzed to improve the composition system of eco-economic effects. At the same time, the emergy theory was used to put forward the quantification method of eco-economic effect system. Taking the urban water system connectivity project in Xuchang as an example, it’s ecological, social and economic effects were evaluated. The result showed that the average eco-economic effect of the project is 57.8 million dollars/year. Economic effect and ecological effect are significant, accounting for 88.83% and 9.77% of total effect, respectively. The former is mainly due to land value increment, and the latter is principally owing to biodiversity conservation. It showed that the water system connectivity project in Xuchang can promote the economic development of the surrounding areas and create a good ecological environment, which will bring huge eco-economic effect to the region.

scholarly journals Managing Apparent Loss and Real Loss from the Nexus Perspective Using System Dynamics

Water ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Seo Hyung Choi ◽  
Bongwoo Shin ◽  
Eunher Shin
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Water System ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Urban Water System ◽  
Apparent Loss

When water utilities establish water loss control programs, they traditionally focus on apparent loss rather than real loss when considering economic feasibility in the water sector. There is an urgent need for new management approaches that can address complex relationships and ensure the sustainability of natural resources among different sectors. This study suggests a novel approach for water utilities to manage water losses from the water-energy (WE) Nexus perspective. The Nexus model uses system dynamics to simulate twelve scenarios with the differing status of water loss and energy intensities. This analysis identifies real loss as one of the main causes of resource waste and an essential factor from the Nexus perspective. It also demonstrates that the energy intensity of each process in the urban water system has a significant impact on resource use and transfer. The consumption and movement of resources can be quantified in each process involved in the urban water system to distinguish central and vulnerable processes. This study suggests that the Nexus approach can strongly contribute to quantifying the use and movement of resources between water and energy sectors and the strategic formulation of sustainable and systematic water loss management strategies from the Nexus perspective.

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