Statistical approach to the problem of selecting the most appropriate model for managing stormwater in newly designed multi-family housing estates

Abstract

Stormwater is a valuable resource, whose management in harmony with nature is one of the main challenges of modern water management. The problems encountered are additionally exacerbated by the lack of space for the development of sustainable drainage systems. For that reason, new housing estates should be designed considering efficient stormwater management. This paper assesses five stormwater management models to determine the statistically most appropriate model for managing stormwater in newly designed multi-family housing estates using multi-criteria analysis. Various options were assessed by means of the scoring method based on six groups of criteria (political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental). The research considered the different views and priorities of the experts involved in stormwater management in Poland. A survey conducted among them showed that the statistically most suitable way of managing stormwater is its infiltration into the ground with the use of infiltration basins or tanks. Only if the possibility of their application is excluded, should the application of other models of stormwater management, especially its retention, be considered. It is expected that the research results presented in this paper will be a guide for investors and developers, and their use will allow people who are not experts in the field of stormwater management to make appropriate decisions.