Mitigating Polluted Runoff from Industrial Estates by SUDS Retrofits: Case Studies of Problems and Solutions Co-Designed with a Participatory Approach

Abstract

Contaminated runoff from industrial estates is a significant cause of poor quality in receiving watercourses. Pollution risk begins at each of the industrial premises, presenting different environmental risks which require individual treatment and contingency plans. This is best achieved using SUDS technology, which adds green infrastructure with passive drainage features to the existing drainage and treatment systems, designed to capture the pollutants present in runoff at source on individual sites, for conveyance and on a regional basis serving the whole estate. Here, we develop a multistage investigative framework structured to facilitate the search for relevant solutions and optimization of their design. This paper presents the results of the awareness survey, identifies barriers and opportunities, and reports on case studies dealing with potential SUDS retrofits at industrial facilities, assessing the existing control measures and the scope for new ones with the aim of improving pollution management. The feasibility of SUDS components was assessed with respect to their functional characteristics, economic costs, and logistical constraints. Lack of knowledge related to SUDS and pollution prevention legislation was identified as the major barrier to retrofits, which should be addressed through educational measures. Although comprehensive SUDS retrofits could be prohibitive in cost for small and medium-sized companies, partial and affordable retrofit solutions can be easily implemented to achieve the environmental benefits sought. In addition to the improvements in water quality and alleviation of flood risk, the introduction of Blue-Green Infrastructure will bring about further multiple benefits related to such ecosystem services as the amelioration of the local climate, reduction of noise, improvements in air quality, enhancement of the local biodiversity, and positive effects for the human well-being and mental health.

Comparative Ecosystem Analysis of Urban Ponds: Implications for Synergistic Benefits and Potential Trade-Offs Resulting from Retrofitting of Green Roofs in Their Catchments

“…Meadowbank development in Edinburgh [46]). More generally, the CTEA methodology and the analysis presented here will be of value for any considerations of complex NBS alternatives, and is therefore relevant to the ongoing development of the BGC/Sponge Cities conceptual framework [2,3,[47][48][49][50][51].…”

Green stormwater infrastructure: A critical review of the barriers and solutions to widespread implementation

“…The final category of barriers that emerged through our review is related to the biophysical aspects of GSI design and development. The most commonly cited barrier on this register is a lack of adequate land availability for effective GSI installations (Aleksandrova et al, 2019; Krivtsov et al, 2021; L. Li et al, 2020; L. Liu et al, 2019; Sarabi et al, 2019; Wihlborg et al, 2019). Relatedly, the increasing impervious land with the pressure for development (Cheshmehzangi et al, 2021; Ibrahim et al, 2020; Wihlborg et al, 2019), and subsequent financial profit, can impose competing land cover priorities.…”

“…The final category of barriers that emerged through our review is related to the biophysical aspects of GSI design and development. The most commonly cited barrier on this register is a lack of adequate land availability for effective GSI installations (Aleksandrova et al, 2019;Krivtsov et al, 2021;L. Li et al, 2020;Sarabi et al, 2019;Wihlborg et al, 2019).…”