Combined Optimization of LID Patches and the Gray Drainage System to Control Wet Weather Discharge Pollution

Abstract

Low impact development (LID) has emerged as an effective management to control urban runoff. However, for storm drainage systems located in high-density old urban areas with scarce land resources and fragmented landscapes, there are difficulties in the application of LID layouts. To solve the waterlogging and wet weather discharge pollution (WWDP), based on the spatial distribution of available land resources, runoff path, ponding area, overflow nodes, and sediments in drainages, a spatial optimized layout method of LID patches combined with gray drainages was proposed and applied to a typical storm drainage system in Shanghai, China. Only 22.9% of the ground surface and 14.0% of the roof, which accounted for the study area were reconstructed to LIDs, and the optimal LID patches combined with 0.4 m storage capacity depth (SCD) could prevent discharge below 6.5 mm rainfall. The optimal LID-gray drainages increased the reduction ratios of suspended substances (SSs) in WWDP by 37–74% compared with only LID patches in 9.1–21.8 mm rainfall. The “LID patches-gray system” could effectively control WWDP in old urban areas with high frequencies of moderate and light rain. The proposed methodology can be instructive for the sustainable reconstruction of storm drainages inappropriately connected with sewage.