Investigation into potential impacts of implementation of water sensitive urban design components

Abstract

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) involves integration of water cycle management into urban planning and design. Stormwater runoff management has been identified as one important aspect of water cycle management - both in terms of infrastructure cost and sustainable environmental management. The claim that WSUD addresses undesirable impacts of traditional stormwater management plus anticipated future severe drought forecasts have resulted in increased use of WSUD components by planners and developers as well as regulators and policy and decision makers. However, the potential adverse impacts of WSUD have yet to be fully explored. One result of WSUD implementation is the reduction in volume of water reaching receiving waters. This has the potential to adversely impact the eco-system. This paper models the potential reduction in storm water reaching receiving waters from a rainfall event when WSUD is applied to a catchment and lists potential adverse ecological impact. © 2009 WIT Press.