Understanding Urban Stormwater Management

Policy Planning Engineering Governance Public

Rohit Kakkar, Dy. Adviser (CPHEEO), MoHUA

Causes of urban flooding
• Unplanned urbanization / Encroachment / indiscriminate
paving- Sheet Flow Diversion
• Unique monsoon system contributes 80% of annual rainfall
during 4 months
• Rampant dumping of solid waste and C & D waste in
drainage channels
• Discharge of septic tank effluent into drains- with grease/fat
• Planning Limitations- Lower design rainfall intensity (12 –
20 mm/hr) and design return period (less than 2 years)
• Problem of disposal of storm runoff in the cities having flat
terrain/tidal fluctuations
• Global climate change resulting in changed weather pattern
and increased occurrence of high intensity rainfall
• Absence of systematic approach to formulate and
implement a holistic storm water drainage scheme
• Sector yet to get priority status in Government funding
support (State subject)
 Causes of urban flooding

Blockages in the Urban Drains Increase in surface run-off due to urbanization

Heavy Earthmoving Equipment Change in Catchment profile due to

Highways/Other Infrastructure
Causes of urban flooding
Planning and Design of Stormwater Drainage
 CPHEEO-
Manual

Project
Planning and
Investigation
 • Determine the Objective
• Data Collection, Survey & Investigation
• Physical Characteristics
• Rainfall Characteristics
• Waterway Characteristics
• Collection of topographical survey details/ maps
• Other considerations
Planning & • Environmental considerations
Investigation • Environmental Assessment
• Aesthetics/ Landscape
• Surface Water
• Ground Water
• Coastal Water
• Permission and Clearances
 Hydraulic design of Stormwater Drainage
is dependent upon-
 Rainfall analysis
 Runoff estimation
 RAINFALL ANALYSIS : DEVELOPMENT OF IDF CURVES
Objective: Analysis of historical rainfall data for constructing the Intensity –
Duration and Frequency (IDF) Curves by Deterministic and Probabilistic
Methods
 Measurement of Rainfall – IMD measures rainfall in various
parts of the country using rain gauges such as Tipping Bucket,
Weighing Bucket, Floating or Natural Syphon

 Self Recording Rain Gauges (SRRG) are not available in all the
cities. Gauges are available in only large metropolis

 Manual recommends following norms :

 Population > 10 Lakh : 1 rain gauge per 5 - 10 Sq.km.
 Population 1 Lakh-10 Lakh : 1 rain gauge per 10 - 20 Sq.km.
 Population < 1 Lakh : 1 rain gauge per town
RAINFALL ANALYSIS : DEVELOPMENT
INTENSITY – DURATION CURVE OF IDF CURVES

160.00

STORM INTENSITY 'i' (mm/hr)

150.00

140.00

130.00
Frequency Twice a Year
120.00

110.00

100.00

90.00

80.00
Frequency Once a Year
70.00

60.00

50.00

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160

STORM DURATION 't' (min)

 RAINFALL ANALYSIS : DEVELOPMENT OF IDF CURVES
Deterministic Method:

 SRRG tabulated data may be obtained from IMD. In case, the tabulated data is not readily
available then the SRRG charts may be analysed to tabulate
 Sort out the storms in various group of intensities corresponding to the duration of occurrence of
storms.
 The number of storms are calculated and grouped in intensities of upto 5 mm/hr, 5 – 10 mm/hr,
10-15 mm/hr and so on corresponding to each group of duration of occurrence
 Similarly, sort no of occurrences of rainfall intensities against corresponding duration for entire
sample size of rainfall data obtained using MS Excel
 Add number of storms of all exceeding intensities to the preceding /lesser intensities storms
 Add number of storms of all exceeding durations to the preceding /lesser duration storms.
 As given in Chapter 4, choose Design Return Period for the project area.
 RAINFALL ANALYSIS : DEVELOPMENT OF IDF CURVES
 Accordingly, determine number of storms allowed to exceed the design rainfall intensity (mm/hr).
 Draw stepped line of occurrence corresponding to intensity, duration (min) is interpolated.
 Interpolate the corresponding durations against intensities for each storm return period.
 Plot i and t on log- log graph paper, the trend line can be approximated to a straight line of best
fit. The slope of this line will give the value of ‘n’ and its intercept on Y axis will give the value of
‘a’.
 After the constants are determined, the intensities for various durations such as 5, 10, 15, 20,
minutes and so on can be determined by Bernald Equation i.e. i = a/t^n

ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR RAINFALL ANALYSIS / SORTING OF DATA:

In case rainfall data of depth – duration is available in successive 15 min intervals from IMD, then
the method of analysis is also given in the Chapter which is only different till the sorting of rainfall
data and rest of the steps are same as above.
PROBABILISTIC METHOD

 Used on extreme rainfall data

 Normal & Log Normal
Distribution
 Gumbel Extreme Value
Distribution
 Log Pearson Type III
Distribution

 SWMM is widely used software which is available on Public domain

 Hyetograph is translated from IDF curve that can be used in SWMM
model as an input for calculating runoff
 RUNOFF ESTIMATION
Recommended Design return period
Return Period
S.N. Urban Catchment
Mega Cities Other cities
1 Central Business and commercial Once in 5 years Once in 2 years
2 Industrial Once in 5 years Once in 2 years
3 Urban Residential
•Core Area Once in 5 years Once in 2 years
•Peripheral Area Once in 2 years Once in 1 years
4 Open space, Parks and landscape Once in 6 months Once in 6 months
5 Airports and other critical infrastructure Once in 100 years Once in 50 years

 Can be further raised to higher return period say once in 10 years by adopting RWH/ARGW.
 In case city adopts higher return period over and above, the same can be permitted after
approval from Principal Secretary, in-charge in the state, subject to condition that additional cost
of project over and above the one based on recommended return periods have to be borne by city /
state government.
 Drainage Design
RATIONAL METHOD WIDELY USED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY & WORLD WIDE

Step 1 Obtain historical rainfall data of 30 years or more

Step 2 Select a return period

Step 3 Prepare IDF curve for the above return period

Step 4 Discretize the catchment

Step 5 Determine time of concentration (tc)

Step 6 Determine rainfall intensity against time of concentration from IDF curve

Step 7 Determine runoff coefficient (C)

Step 8 Calculate peak flow by Rational formula (Q = 10CIA)

Modern
Storm Water
Management Practices

• Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

(Australia Model)
• Low Impact Development Design (USA
Model)
• Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS)
(France Model)
• Other Decentralized Innovative
Interventions
 Structural best management practices
1. Point BMPs
Point BMPs capture drainage at a specific location upstream.
•Constructed wetlands: These shallow aquatic wetlands reduce runoff and peak
flow rates. Also called stormwater wetlands, they are sometimes created by
retrofitting temporary water detention basins.
•Infiltration basins: Infiltration basins are designed to allow water to drain (or
infiltrate) into the ground. They provide a mechanism for groundwater recharge,
where water moves downward from surface water into groundwater.
•Sand filters (surface): This mechanism consists of a sand bed that filters out
suspended solids, which are then treated through settling and absorption into the
sand.
•Rain barrels: These devices come in all sizes and can be found for sale or made by
hand. They work by collecting rainwater from downspouts, preventing it from
carrying contaminants into the ecosystem; the water is then reused for things like
washing or landscaping.
 Structural best management practices

•Rain gardens: These gardens won’t make it rain, but they will capture rain when it falls. They
use wildflowers and other native vegetation to help the soil soak up rainwater.
•Cisterns: Like rain barrels, cisterns capture water runoff from roofs for reuse in irrigation or for
other non-potable uses such as toilet flushing. They can be made of fiberglass, brick, plastic,
concrete, or other materials.
•Wet ponds: Also known as retention basins, wet ponds contain a certain level of water
permanently, with the capacity to add more during storms. In addition to handling peak storm
levels of water, they can serve as way stations for migrating birds.
•Detention basins: Detention basins are earthen structures created through the use of a natural
depression or via excavation. Like retention basins, they are used to control peak rate runoff.
 Structural best management practices
2. Linear BMPs
Linear BMPs are laid out in a line. They’re narrow structures next to stream channels, such as
swales and trenches, that filter runoff.
•Grassed swales: Swales are shallow channels with gentle slopes on both sides that guide
runoff toward treatment areas and promote infiltration.
•Infiltration trenches: Infiltration trenches serve the same function as infiltration basins, but
with a linear design. Their highly permeable soils promote the drainage of water directly into
the ground, rather than it continuing as runoff.
•Vegetated filter strips: Areas planted with grasses, trees, and shrubs, these “buffer strips” (as
they’re also known) are placed between pollution sources and the body of water. They filter
pollutants out of the runoff before it reaches a lake, pond, or ocean.
•Sand filters (underground): These operate similarly to surface sand filters. In this case,
however, they are underground, usually contained in a concrete shell consisting of three
chambers.
 Structural best management practices
3. Area BMPs
Areas BMPs cover a specific area, providing a more eco-friendly alternative to impervious
areas. They’re used in place of standard impervious surfaces such as concrete, asphalt,
and hard tiles.
•Green roofs: A green roof is a flat or slightly sloped roof planted with a layer of
vegetation in soil. The soil can be relatively shallow (less than 6 inches) or deep,
depending on whether it’s an extensive or intensive green roof. In this application
of green building, the soil minimizes runoff as the plants soak up the water, keeping it
from draining off the roof via a downspout.
•Porous pavement: Porous or permeable pavement can reduce runoff by infiltrating
rainwater as well as melting snow. It also filters pollutants as they pass through it. It can
take the form of pervious asphalt or concrete, plastic grid pavers, or interlocking pavers.
 Non-structural best management practices
Whereas structural BMPs filter water runoff after it’s generated, non-structural BMPs act to keep stormwater
runoff from being generated. Instead of addressing the problem after the fact, they work to prevent it from
occurring. As a result, they’re both more efficient and more cost-effective than structural BMPs.
1. Protection of Sensitive Areas
This involves protecting sensitive areas from heavy discharge runoff by designating them as conservation
areas. Minimizing the sources of water pollution can help protect not only these areas but those in valleys
downstream.
2. Minimizing Disturbance and Maintenance
The idea here is to prevent the generation of stormwater runoff by limiting the need for soil disturbance,
grading, and vegetation removal. Preserving natural topography also reduces or eliminates the need for
landscaping and maintenance.
3. Watershed Planning
Watershed planning takes a macro approach to mitigating runoff issues by looking at the entire watershed:
from the highest elevation, where water is collected, to low points where it is deposited into bodies of water.
Rather than seeking to solve problems at each point in the process, watershed planning forms partnerships
among stakeholders within the watershed and takes into account the unique character of the watershed as a
whole.
4. Community Education
Community education seeks to promote BMPs by providing information about the benefits of preventing
runoff and how to utilize methods such as cisterns, rain barrels, and rain gardens.
5. Local Procedural and Institutional Regulations
Local government by-laws can be used to mandate best practices, such as waste control on construction
sites, which can minimize the level of runoff contamination. This can include public notice of procedures
and a review of site plans. Such ordinances can reduce the source of contamination but do not address the
runoff itself.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) (Australia Model)
Aspects of
WSUD
 • Protect Water Quality
• Protect Infrastructure from flooding and
inundation
• Minimize runoff
Integration of
• Maximize local Infiltration
WSUD in Urban
• Make most of the nature’s drainage
Planning
• Minimize changes to the natural water
balance
• Integrate storm water treatment into the
landscape
• Convert drains into natural streams
Low Impact Development Design (USA Model)
LID Planning and Implementation Approach
Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) ( France Model)
 PUBLIC AWARENESS
Objective: Creation of awareness among the citizens has now become the
new norm related to infrastructure projects

ORGANISING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 Not a onetime task, rather it is a continual exercise with feedback
mechanism.
 A functional community outreach office with personnel to handle
information, grievance redressal etc. has to be in place.
 Convey to public the necessity of systems, costs associated with them
and how their participation and behavioural changes can reduce the cost of
O&M
 Action plan indicating the broad IEC strategy and specific activities to be
undertaken should be prepared and implemented.
 PUBLIC AWARENESS
NO DUMPING IN STORMWATER DRAINS
 Dissuade from habit of indiscriminate littering and
dumping of debris, solid waste, Construction &
Demolition waste either on open ground or nearby
rivers/ streams/lakes/drains.

NO SEWAGE IN STORMWATER DRAINS

 Importance of not allowing sewage in the stormwater
drains has to be effectively communicated to the
citizens.
 More important wherein in-situ harvesting in the SWD
is planned
IMPORTANCE OF WATER HARVESTING
STRUCTURES
 Promote effective public communication to
emphasize the importance of water harvesting
structures.
 PUBLIC AWARENESS
MODES OF COMMUNICATION
 Print media
 Electronic media
 Social Media
 Cinema Halls
 Street plays
 Poster, pamphlets & hoardings
 Public transportation system
 Educational institutes
 Voluntary organization
 Door-to-door campaigns
 Corporate social and environmental responsibility campaigns etc.
 Mobile Phones
 Sanitation Volunteers
Thank You