Back to the Future? History and Contemporary Application of Sustainable Drainage Techniques

A SUDS Planning Decision Support Tool to Maximize Ecosystem Services

“…To build a comprehensive list of ecosystem services delivered by SUDS, different references [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] were analyzed to identify ecosystem services potential generation in 13 types of SUDS, classified according to their function: detention based (tree boxes, green roofs, dry extended retention basin, grassed swales, and bioretention zones), retention based (contracted wetlands, wet ponds, and storage tanks), infiltration based (infiltration basin, permeable pavement, and infiltration ponds), and filtration based (sand filters and infiltration trenches). Four categories of ecosystem services were considered to build a comparative matrix to identify the most relevant in each SUDS type by assigning a score of 0 (zero potential of ecosystem service generation), 1 (low potential of ecosystem service generation), 2 (potential of ecosystem service generation with design adjustment or additional practices), 3 (moderated potential of ecosystem service generation), or 4 (high potential of ecosystem service generation).…”

“…According to these pillars and the definition of ecosystem services ("aspects of ecosystems utilized to produce human well-being" [7]), the implementation of SUDS not only provides the benefit of water regulation but also promotes other types of services [8]. SUDS implementation relates to the generation of provision, regulation, cultural, and support services [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. For example, the implementation of tree boxes in the urban context promotes the provision of freshwater by the run-off infiltration and aquifer recharge, the microclimate regulation service by the reduction of the heat island effect, and increases the aesthetic value by the improvement of the urban landscape [13,17].…”

Bringing community perceptions into sustainable urban drainage systems: The experience of Extremadura, Spain

“…There is a wide agreement amongst scientists and practitioners in pointing out Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) as the most complete set of techniques to provide resilient water systems for practice under the "new paradigm for water management" which confers value to rainwater in comparison to conventional drainage systems (Morison and Brown, 2011;Morison and Chesterfield, 2012;Perales-Momparler et al 2017;Rodríguez-Rojas et al 2017). Despite the fact that this paradigm was key in Ancient Civilisations as shown in Charlesworth et al 2016, the driving factor in drainage has been to focus on taking rainwater away from the urban environment considering it as waste.…”