Sewer system design moving into the 21st century – a UK perspective

Abstract

Change in external factors, such as environmental legislation and climate change, will mean the future of sewerage systems is likely to be different from the past. Combined sewerage systems comprise the vast majority of existing sewers in countries such as the UK. A study funded by UK Water Industry Research Ltd has reviewed the current state of sewerage within the UK, the likely drivers for change and the consequent future impacts over a 75 year timescale. Potential responses to address the anticipated changes have also been considered. It is concluded that due to the wide extent and value of existing sewer systems, these will continue to be used for the foreseeable future. However, in order to meet the major challenges as a result of changing external factors, these need to be operated more effectively, new ideas need to be explored and moves to develop better and more integrated water management systems need to be started if sewer systems in the UK are to provide the anticipated required levels of service well into the 21st century.

Towards understanding governance for sustainable urban water management

“…It is now an accepted approach in water resources management, incorporating terms such as integrated water management and total water cycle management, and is considered highly desirable and a much needed trajectory for urban water management (see for e.g. Ashley et al, 2007;Harremoë s, 2002;Niemczynowicz, 1999;Pahl-Wostl, 2007;Wong, 2006). While traditional schemes comprise large, centralised infrastructure, SUWM is characterised by integrated infrastructure and biophysical systems, which consider social, economic, environmental and political contexts, provision of water for ecological and human uses, and a long term perspective (Brown and Keath, 2008;Mitchell, 2006;Mostert, 2006;Serageldin, 1995;Vlachos and Braga, 2001).…”

The Politics of Sewerage: Contested Narratives on Growth, Science, and Nature

“…But such a system is not an absolute (Gandy 1999). Integrated water management operates on the principle of recycling water locally, cleaning, for example, wastewater through septic, wetland, or living systems, and recycling rainwater through green roofs, disconnected downspouts, and other green infrastructure (Ashley et al 2007). Such alternative wastewater treatment technologies are rare and must be operated as pilot projects basis and face long-term and stringent tests before approval (Budziakowski and Manoharan 2000).…”

“…And while some voices of the latter also advocate for so-called integrated water management where sewage water is treated locally, rainwater funneled into the local ground, and drinking water extracted in local aquifers (Ashley et al 2007), they largely leave out alternative housing and transportation measures, as well as social justice concerns, in their avocations. These omissions leave them open to charges of NIMBYism and elitism.…”

Quantifying the Uncertainty Related to Climate Change in the Assessment of Urban Flooding—A Case Study

“…In Denmark, Kaspersen et al [16] combined remote sensing and the MIKE 21 model to quantify the implications of change in imperviousness and climate on flood risk in Odense. Ashley et al [17] analyzed the current and future pressure on planning, design, operation, and maintenance of urban drainage infrastructures in the UK. More recently, Adbellatif et al [18] carried out an assessment of climate change impact of flood risk in an urban drainage catchment located in Northwestern England, using an artificial neural network (ANN) downscaling technique to obtain local scale future rainfall from three coarse scale general circulation models (GCM).…”