Showing papers in "Urban Water Journal in 2013"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented the setup, calibration, validation, and the results of a parameter sensitivity analysis of a high-resolution SWMM model for a highly urbanized small catchment located in Southern Finland.
Abstract: Low Impact Development (LID) tools and green infrastructure approaches have been developed and applied to mitigate the urbanization impacts on increasing runoff and pollutant washoff. The present work is the first part of a larger effort to simulate LID scenarios for a large scale urban catchment through up-scaling of high-resolution study catchments using the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM). In this study we present the setup, calibration, validation, and the results of a parameter sensitivity analysis of a high-resolution SWMM model for a highly urbanized small catchment located in Southern Finland. The homogenous subcatchments and associated narrow parameter boundaries, which are allowed by the high spatial resolution, result in insensitivity of SWMM to the fraction of impervious cover. The model optimization, using only the two identified key parameters “depression storage” and “Manning's roughness n for conduit flow”, yielded good performance statistics for both calibration and validation of the m...
118 citations
TL;DR: A review of water requirements of urban green spaces can be found in this article, where the authors investigate the water requirements for different types of landscape plants, including trees, shrubs, and grasses.
Abstract: Increasing urbanisation combined with population growth places greater demands on dwindling water supplies. This is especially the case in arid and semi-arid areas like Australia, which is known as the driest inhabited continent on earth. Sustainable irrigation management necessitates better understanding of water requirements in order to decrease environmental risks and increase water use efficiency. Although the water requirements of agricultural crops are well established in field and laboratory studies, little research has been conducted to investigate the water requirements of urban green spaces. In addition, most previous research investigations have focused on the water requirements of turf grasses and not on other landscape plant species. Landscape plants can include various species of trees, shrubs and turf grasses with different planting densities and microclimates. Such complicated environments make measuring the water requirements of urban landscapes difficult. This paper reviews previous stu...
109 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large scale research project was conducted with the aim to disaggregate peak hour, peak day and peak month demand in the water distribution network into primary indoor usage (e.g. shower, washing machine, etc.) and irrigation components.
Abstract: The implementation of a smart water metering system in Hervey Bay in 2006–2007 allowed the local water utility to record the hourly water consumption of all its customers. This data availability has enabled a large scale research project to proceed with the aim to disaggregate peak hour, peak day and peak month demand in the water distribution network into primary indoor usage (e.g. shower, washing machine, etc.) and irrigation components. Such information can guide the development of alternative tariff structures and other demand management initiatives aimed at reducing peak demand. This paper details results of the analyis of average hour, peak hour, peak day and peak month consumption data of 2884 residential customers selected from four District Metered Areas (DMAs) located in the city of Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia.
89 citations
TL;DR: Real Time Control (RTC) has become an accepted technique for improving the performance of Urban Drainage Systems (UDS) due to its flexibility and sustainability as mentioned in this paper, however, there is a lack of information about the adequate equipment for RTC of UDS.
Abstract: Real Time Control (RTC) has become an accepted technique for improving the performance of Urban Drainage Systems (UDS) due to its flexibility and sustainability. Numerous implementations of RTC have been reported during the last decades. At the same time, guideline documents and state-of-the-art reports have been published. Whereas the general aspects and challenges of planning and installation of RTC systems are well covered, there is a lack of information about the adequate equipment for RTC of UDS. After identifying and briefly discussing the basic components of RTC systems for UDS, this paper describes the specific components in detail. This comprises the introduction of available technologies for sensors, actuators, controllers and telemetry systems in the context of RTC and the discussion of their potential and limitations. Lessons learned from the field operational experiences and future trends and challenges are identified.
88 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed several enhanced real-time control scenarios of a dry detention pond located at the outlet of a small urban catchment near Quebec City, Canada, using a SWMM5 model with an improved wash-off formulation.
Abstract: Dry detention ponds are commonly implemented to mitigate the impacts of urban runoff on receiving water bodies. They currently rely on static control through a fixed limitation of their maximum outflow rate. Real-Time Control (RTC) allows optimizing their performance by manipulation of an outlet valve. This study developed several enhanced RTC scenarios of a dry detention pond located at the outlet of a small urban catchment near Quebec City, Canada. The catchment's runoff quantity and TSS concentration were simulated by a SWMM5 model with an improved wash-off formulation. The control procedures rely on rainfall detection, on measures of the pond's water height, and in some of the RTC scenarios on rainfall forecasts. The implemented RTC strategies allow a substantial improvement of the pond's performance - the TSS removal efficiency increases from 46% (current state) to about 90% - while remaining safe and taking a mosquito-breeding risk constraint into account.
82 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the application of real-time control (RTC) in urban drainage systems is discussed as a potential solution for water management tasks, though, in engineering practice, often the opinion pr...
Abstract: Application of real time control (RTC) in urban drainage systems is discussed in this paper as a potential solution for water management tasks. Though, in engineering practice, often the opinion pr...
76 citations
TL;DR: The KALLISTO project aims at finding cost-efficient sets of measures to meet the Water Framework Directive (WFD) derived goals for the river Dommel within the project, both acute and long-term impacts of the urban wastewater system on the chemical and ecological quality of the river are studied with an integral monitoring campaign in the wastewater system and in the river Based on this monitoring campaign, detailed models were calibrated.
Abstract: The KALLISTO project aims at finding cost-efficient sets of measures to meet the Water Framework Directive (WFD) derived goals for the river Dommel Within the project, both acute and long term impacts of the urban wastewater system on the chemical and ecological quality of the river are studied with an integral monitoring campaign in the urban wastewater system (WWTP and sewers) and in the river Based on this monitoring campaign, detailed models were calibrated These models are partly simplified and integrated in a single model, which is validated using the detailed submodels The integrated model was used to study the potential for impact-based real-time control (RTC) Impact based RTC proved to be able to improve the quality of the receiving waters significantly, although additional measures remain necessary to be able to meet the WFD requirements
53 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a case study for integrated real-time control (RTC) of an urban drainage system in the city of Wilhelmshaven (Germany) is explained, where the fuzzy based RTC strategy combines control of the sewer system and inflow to the waste water treatment plant.
Abstract: A case study for integrated real-time control (RTC) of an urban drainage system in the city of Wilhelmshaven (Germany) is explained. The fuzzy based RTC strategy combines control of the sewer system and inflow to the waste water treatment plant. The main objective in controlling the sewer system is to reduce the number of overflows and the volume at a combined sewer overflow (CSO), located close to a bathing beach. Based on online measurements, the operation mode of two pumping stations is modified. This approach allows the safe activation of free storage volume in the sewer system without constructive measures. To avoid critical situations in the treatment process, the inflow to the treatment plant is automatically reduced to a defined value if high inflows to the treatment plant occur in combination with unfavorable conditions on the secondary clarifiers during rainfall events. The integrated RTC system has been operational for approximately one year.
51 citations
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a 1-D storm sewer model and a 2-D surface flow model are integrated to describe the dynamic interactions between overland flow on the streets and flow through the storm sewer network.
Abstract: Urban flood risk assessment requires quantification of uncertainty that is spatially and temporally variable. This paper presents a new approach to urban flood risk assessment by: (a) integrating objective and subjective uncertainties and (b) providing full insight into spatial and temporal change of flood risk. A 1-D storm sewer model and a 2-D surface flow model are integrated to describe the dynamic interactions between overland flow on the streets and flow through the storm sewer network. The fuzzy set theory approach is used to assess spatial and temporal variability of urban flood damage, and the acceptable level of partial flood damage. The spatial and temporal variability of fuzzy performance indices: (i) combined reliability-vulnerability; (ii) robustness and (iii) resiliency, are generated as the outcome of the urban flood risk analysis. The methodology is illustrated using the residential community of Cedar Hollow (London, Ontario, Canada) as a case study.
50 citations
TL;DR: Overall receptivity to RWH is high, but that factors pertaining particularly to cost and maintenance pose threats to receptivity, and three areas for improvement have been identified: product development, capacity building and support services.
Abstract: Understanding the receptivity, including concerns and drivers, of water-users such as householders, is vital in facilitating the promotion, appropriate installation, end-use and maintenance of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. This article presents the triangulated results of a literature review and survey, undertaken to increase policy-makers' understanding of householder receptivity to RWH. It was identified that overall receptivity to RWH is high, but that factors pertaining particularly to cost and maintenance pose threats to receptivity. Three areas for improvement have been identified: product development, capacity building and support services, for which recommendations for action are provided. These present policy-makers with a starting point to enhance the receptivity of householders to RWH.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a methodology to determine, quantitatively, the hydraulic efficiency reduction of partially clogged grated inlets in urban drainage systems, where clogging effects should be considered as a reduction in terms of hydraulic efficiency.
Abstract: Urban drainage systems have two different drainage layers, one superficial and another underground, that are connected through drain inlets and manholes. Specifically, a collection system is formed by inlets distributed throughout a basin, with the function of collecting and directing the surface runoff into sewers. Generally, the hydraulic characterisation of the inlet system considers the grates in an ideal state, free of dirt and debris obstructions, although often this is not the case. In these cases, clogging effects should be considered as a reduction in terms of hydraulic efficiency. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology to determine, quantitatively, the hydraulic efficiency reduction of partially clogged grated inlets. With this aim, clogging patterns for the most common grated inlets operating in Barcelona (Spain) were defined and experimental tests at real scale were carried out in order to determine the hydraulic efficiency reduction due to clogging phenomena.
TL;DR: In this paper, the hydrodynamic groundwater software MODFLOW is used to analyse the influencing variables of the infiltration processes and a nonlinear regression method is applied to develop a one-dimensional approach in accordance with the MODFLow results and Darcy's law.
Abstract: Groundwater infiltration into urban sewers represents a problem that influences costs and management of technical systems. The hydrodynamic groundwater software MODFLOW is used to analyse the influencing variables of the infiltration processes. Besides the hydraulic conductivity of the soil and the piezometric head in the vicinity of the sewer pipe, properties of the sewer trench, the shape and the size of leaks are important influencing factors. A non-linear-regression method is applied to develop a one-dimensional approach in accordance with the MODFLOW results and Darcy's law. Monte Carlo simulations and the developed one-dimensional model are used to assess the leak area and the range of pressure loss in the vicinity of the pipe leaks. By additional sensitivity analysis it was found that the infiltration factor and the conductivity of the backfill are very important for the calculation of the leak area.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated stormwater quality from five different urban sub-watersheds (that differ in land use and development activities) in the city of Patiala, India.
Abstract: Land use modifications associated with urbanization, such as clearance of vegetation, replacement of previously pervious areas with impervious surfaces and drainage channel modifications, result in increased runoff volumes, which often create flooding hazards and increase pollutant transport. An attempt has been made in the present study to investigate stormwater quality from five different urban sub-watersheds (that differ in land use and development activities) in the city of Patiala, India. The five sub-watersheds have similar geological, topographical and climatic conditions and were chosen to minimize the effect of these characteristics on stormwater quality and quantity. Stormwater samples were collected during six storm events between April 2010 and March 2011 and analyzed for BOD5, COD, TSS, TDS, Oil and Grease, TKN, Total P, Coliforms and Heavy Metals (Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Fe and Cu). Results of the investigation indicate a strong correlation between land use and development activities and the resulti...
TL;DR: In this paper, the spatial and temporal distribution of chloride and conductivity in a long hydroperiod retention pond and two short hydroperiod detention ponds was investigated, with peak conductivities exceeding 45 mS cm−1 in the retention pond.
Abstract: We investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of chloride and conductivity in a long hydroperiod retention pond and two short hydroperiod detention ponds. In both cases we observed greatly elevated conductivities in surface and ground waters with peak conductivities exceeding 45 mS cm−1 in the retention pond and 25 mS cm−1 in one detention pond. Pond ground water conductivity remained highly elevated into the summer months and never declined to local stream conductivity levels. Conductivity and chloride concentrations were also elevated in floodplains adjacent to all ponds throughout the year. First order streams draining the detention pond floodplain were consistently elevated in conductivity and were a year-round net source of ions to the second order stream into which they flowed. These results indicate that both short and long hydroperiod stormwater ponds have the potential to serve as long-term, year round sources of chloride to adjacent surface and ground waters.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the original data and found that only nine components, consisting of 33 items (called 9-cPIS), are sufficient for evaluating small water utilities.
Abstract: 97.5% of the water utilities in Japan serve less than 50,000 customers, and are called small water utilities. The Performance Indicator system in Japan, used to evaluate the performance of various aspects of the supply system, currently has 137 items, which are too many in number for the small utilities to adopt because of resource and financial constraints. The objective of this study is to, thus, revise the existing PI system to arrive at a reduced, relevant and practical structure that provides enough information to rationally evaluate small water supply systems in Japan. Principal Component Analysis was used to reduce the dimensionality of the original data. The results suggest that only nine components, consisting of 33 items (called 9-cPIS), are sufficient for evaluating the small water utilities. The effectiveness of the 9-cPIS in benchmarking, evaluating business models, and the planning and management of the water utilities has been discussed further.
TL;DR: In this article, a generic model is introduced that is capable of quantitatively representing the combined sewer infrastructure of a settlement, which consists of a catchment area module, which calculates the length and size distribution of the needed sewer pipes on the basis of rain, housing densities and area size.
Abstract: A generic model is introduced that is capable of quantitatively representing the combined sewer infrastructure of a settlement. It consists of a catchment area module, which calculates the length and size distribution of the needed sewer pipes on the basis of rain, housing densities and area size. These results are fed into the sewer construction costs module in order to estimate the combined sewer costs of the entire catchment area. The model could be successfully fitted to existing Swiss sewer systems, indicating that it can emulate their principal characteristics. It could also identify fundamental differences in sewer designs in cities with historic roots. The results confirm that there are economies of scale for combined sewer systems in Switzerland. The modelling approach proved to be an effective tool for understanding the factors underlying the cost structure for water network infrastructures.
TL;DR: The proposed method has been employed to detect leak in the presence of the non-leak noises inside and outside pipes, and achieved a 93.8% and 86.3% correct detection rate, respectively.
Abstract: In this paper, a new method is proposed to detect leaks in the presence of the non-leak noise inside or outside a pipeline. Due to the ability to analyze the coherent structure of time series, the autocorrelation function is used to describe the self-similarity feature of the leak signal. The values of the autocorrelation function for the lag larger than the correlation length of the signal, not the signal itself or the entire autocorrelation function, are used to extract or evaluate the self-similarity degree of the signal by the approximate entropy. Based on feature extraction, a new detection function related to autocorrelation functions of the acquired signals is built to detect leak. Then a neural-network approach is utilised as a classifier to discriminate the leak signals from the non-leak signals inside and outside pipes. The proposed method has been employed to detect leak in the presence of the non-leak noises inside and outside pipes, and achieved a 93.8% and 86.3% correct detection rate, respe...
TL;DR: In this paper, the development and implementation of a real time predictive controller for regulation of discharges in a combined sewer system currently being built in a rural catchment of Luxembourg is discussed.
Abstract: The present study focuses on the development and implementation of a real time predictive controller for regulation of discharges in a combined sewer system currently being built in a rural catchment of Luxembourg. The main objective of the application for optimised real time control is to minimise combined sewer overflow emissions into natural water courses. The paper investigates the use of a simple hydraulic model to describe the transfer phenomena in the network and explains why accurate rainfall forecasts are not necessarily needed. The effects of the different parameters of the controller with regard to different rain situations are also discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the existence of a spillover effect in water price setting is analyzed in the absence of an agency to regulate and control tariff design and the price levels, nearby municipalities are found to approve similar water prices.
Abstract: This research analyses the existence of a spillover effect in water price setting. In order to do so, spatial econometrics techniques are applied to a database of 392 municipalities in Southern Spain. In the absence of an agency to regulate and control tariff design and the price levels, nearby municipalities are found to approve similar water prices. The results suggest that the local governments observe the prices in neighbouring municipalities when revising tariffs. In this sense, local governments more than likely seek to avoid citizens perceiving a comparative disadvantage in water tariff payments. However, such political interests could be detrimental to price setting aimed at promoting an efficient use of water resources and recovering costs.
TL;DR: In this paper, a constrained version of ACOA equipped with a Tree Growing Algorithm (TGA) is proposed for simultaneous layout and pipe size determination of sanitary sewer networks, based on the assumption that a base layout including all possible links of the network is available.
Abstract: The incremental solution building capability of Ant Colony Optimisation Algorithm (ACOA) is used in this paper for the efficient layout and pipe size optimisation of sanitary sewer network. Layout and pipe size optimisation of sanitary sewer networks requires optimal determination of pipe locations, pipe diameters and pipe slopes leading to a highly constrained mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem presenting a challenge even to the modern heuristic search methods. A constrained version of ACOA equipped with a Tree Growing Algorithm (TGA) is proposed in this paper for the simultaneous layout and pipe size determination of sewer networks. The method is based on the assumption that a base layout including all possible links of the network is available. The TGA algorithm is used in an incremental manner to construct feasible tree-like layouts out of the base layout, while the constrained ACOA is used to optimally determine the cover depths of the constructed layout. Proposed formulation is used...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors quantify the sensitivity of an operational semi-distributed urban hydrological/hydraulic model to rainfall variability by using spatio-temporal multifractal downscaling techniques.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to quantify the sensitivity of an operational semi-distributed urban hydrological/hydraulic model to rainfall variability A 3400 ha urban area located in Seine-Saint-Denis (North-East of Paris, France), is used as a case study First, spatio-temporal multifractal downscaling techniques are implemented on the C-band radar data (whose resolution is 1 km in space and 5 min in time) of the 9 February 2009 rainfall event to quantify the uncertainty associated with small scale unmeasured rainfall variability It appears that the variability should not be neglected This finding highlights the need to implement X-band radars (whose resolution is hectometric) in urban areas Then, multifractal tools are used on both rainfall and simulated discharges that also exhibit a scaling behaviour It appears that the rainfall drainage system basically transmits the rainfall variability without damping it, at least in terms of multifractal statistics
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how the right to potable water and right to the city are defined and challenged by the politics of the State and the counter-politics of the marginalised groups in the context of urban poor in Delhi.
Abstract: As Indian cities expand, water becomes extremely necessary to support the process of urbanisation. These growing water needs are translated onto the body of the city in the form of intense conflicts over the limited supply. These conflicts place water at the centre of socio-spatial, cultural, political and ecological tensions in the city. Through persistent struggles to access water by strategies such as passive resistance, self help, individual resistance and social mobilisation, the marginalised groups and individuals in the contemporary Indian city negotiate their water claims. However, the State through its ability to legalise (or make illegal) certain practices and spaces, controls the right to potable water in the city. This paper explores how the right to potable water and the right to the city are defined and challenged by the politics of the State and the counter politics of the marginalised groups in the context of urban poor in Delhi.
TL;DR: In this paper, the reliability and redundancy or damage tolerance of a water distribution system (WDS) were evaluated based on weighted mean of performance indices of the system using the modified version of EPANET2.
Abstract: Many factors may influence the results of a reliability analysis for a water distribution system (WDS). These may include (but not limited to) the techniques chosen for reliability assessment, criterion to measure a system's reliability, number of components-failure combinations and failure probabilities and/or frequencies. Among these factors, the maximum number of components-failure scenarios is an important one which has not received sufficient attention in the literature. This study estimated the accuracy in reliability and damage tolerance analysis when an unrealistic and imprecise number of failure scenarios is assumed. Exercising a hypothetical WDS, the modified version of EPANET2 was applied for the hydraulic analysis. The reliability and redundancy or damage tolerance were evaluated based on weighted mean of performance indices of the system. The results indicated that incorporation of maximum acceptable error allow the engineers to estimate the number of failure combinations and ultimately to co...
TL;DR: In this paper, a central controller was developed for small sewer systems, which minimizes the deviation from proportional distribution of the volume of sewage over the system, and the computational cost was investigated for different solvers.
Abstract: In the project ‘Integrale sturing afvalwater en oppervlakte water Hoeksche Waard’ (integral management of the drainage and sewer system on the island ‘Hoeksche Waard’) in the southwestern Netherlands a central controller was developed for small sewer systems. The aim was the improvement of water quality through the reduction of combined sewer overflows. Two field tests of the controller went very well. Extension to a larger system resulted in timing problems. This paper investigates these problems. The controller minimizes the deviation from proportional distribution of the volume of sewage over the system. The pumping stations contain several pumps that can be either on or off, so the variables to be optimized do not vary continuously, but are only allowed to have integer values. The computational cost is investigated for different solvers. This cost determines the applicability of a solver for a given system size and time step.
TL;DR: In this paper, a semi-coupled modeling approach for uniform sediments based on 1D-shallow water De Saint Venant - Exner equations was adopted to describe the temporal evolution of the bed in the deposition and transport phenomena associated with aggradation process.
Abstract: A numerical modelling investigation of bed aggradation in open rectangular drainage channels is presented in this paper. A semi-coupled modelling approach for uniform sediments based on 1D-shallow water De Saint Venant - Exner equations was adopted to describe the temporal evolution of the bed in the deposition and transport phenomena associated with aggradation process. Six well-established sediment transport formulas were used to evaluate the sediment discharge over the aggrading bed. Simulations enabled the comparison of results obtained with the selected formulas against a comprehensive set of experimental measurements reported in the literature. Results have shown the adopted model to describe successfully the evolution of sediment bed and water level profiles during the aggradation experiments, with minor differences depending on the used sediment transport relationship.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed a four-step method of cost-effectiveness-based multi-criteria optimization (CEMCO), which integrates the advantages of monitoring data, monetary-based techniques and stakeholder preferences, for sustainable rainwater utilization.
Abstract: Shanghai, the economic centre of China, is under increasing pressures of potable water shortage, urban flooding and surface water pollution by urbanization. As one of the best countermeasures, rainwater utilization plays a considerably important role in the alleviation of these issues. A four-step method of cost-effectiveness-based multi-criteria optimization (CEMCO), which integrates the advantages of monitoring data, monetary-based techniques and stakeholder preferences, was proposed for sustainable rainwater utilization. The first rainwater utilization system in the urban residential area of Shanghai was taken as a case study, and eight alternatives to the existing system were proposed. The results of the study showed that the net present value and the dynamic payback period of the optimized system during the 15-year life cycle were 407.4 thousand CNY (ChiNa Yuan) and 8.26 years, respectively. The results also indicated that rainwater utilization can improve the sustainability of cities when different ...
TL;DR: In this article, the distribution of bacterial contaminants (Escherichia coli and total coliforms) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a rapidly growing metropolitan area, the Las Vegas Valley, were studied to assess the contributions of point and non-point pollution sources under dry weather flow (pre rainfall) and post rainfall events.
Abstract: The distribution of bacterial contaminants (Escherichia coli and total coliforms) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a rapidly growing metropolitan area, the Las Vegas Valley, were studied to assess the contributions of point and nonpoint pollution sources under dry weather flow (pre rainfall) and wet weather flow (post rainfall) events. Nonpoint sources emanating from urban centers and septic seepage were found to be a primary source of bacterial contamination in the Las Vegas Wash, a mainstream wash channel where the Las Vegas Valley watershed drains. Contribution of point sources (wastewater treatment plants) to E. coli and total coliforms were found to be negligible. However, data in the Tropicana/Flamingo Wash, a tributary of the Las Vegas Wash, showed high bacterial activities in the wet antecedent rainfall condition as compared to the pre-rain dry antecedent condition suggesting that the rainfall increased bacterial activities.
TL;DR: In this article, a field study was conducted to evaluate the potential of rooftop rainfall harvesting (RRH), determine the smallest tank volume and the potential contribution of RRH to the national water budget.
Abstract: A field study was conducted to evaluate the potential of rooftop rainfall harvesting (RRH), determine the smallest tank volume and the potential contribution of RRH to the national water budget. The potential water volume from rooftops nationwide is 14.7 million cubic metres per year (MCM/year), which comprises 6% of the domestic national water budget. Public water supply rates decreased for areas practicing RRH. The number of underground tank (cisterns) increased in high rainfall areas indicating adaptation behaviours for securing water. Smallest cistern volume charts were constructed for each governorate in relation to consumption rate and rooftop area. An immediate and nationwide awareness and legislative programmes are needed to spread RRH among the whole population of Jordan.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the hydrodynamic characteristics of a new material to be used for permeable and purifying pavements in urban areas, which is a mixture of crushed concrete, to provide structural support, and a compost mix intended to retain and biologically treat stormwater pollutants.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hydrodynamic characteristics of a new material to be used for permeable and purifying pavements in urban areas. The new material is a mixture of crushed concrete, to provide structural support, and a compost mix intended to retain and biologically treat stormwater pollutants. The first part of this study was to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of the material at different mixing ratios to define the range of materials suitable for urban drainage applications. The second part of the study involved using tracing experiments to quantify the effects of the pollutant transport mechanisms occurring during the water infiltration process. These experiments were conducted under steady state flows condition using a conservative tracer (NaCl). The results demonstrate that while the addition of compost significantly reduced the permeability of the concrete mix, it was still suitable for use as a paving material in an urban environment. The increased residence time o...