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Enhancing storage for water

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sector:
hazard: ,
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by Piotr Matczak, Darryn McEvoy, Ilona Banaszak, Adam Chorynski

[other options]

What:
The idea of this option is to "catch water where it falls". It is implemented through artificial infiltration and retardation, reduced impermeable area, pervious pavements and parking lots, local storages (ponds, building storages, groundwater cisterns); roof planting. It also includes increase of storage in the river system which can be achieved by development of flood plains, polders, and wetlands. Permeability taxation can enhance reconstruction of green areas in cities. By promoting infiltration, storage and trapping water in the catchments, flood peaks can be lowered. Improvement of drainage system can also enhance water storing. See also: reservoirs, establishment of flood attenuation system
Extreme event: Drought; Floods
Type of option: Management best practice; Technological
Risk management: Risk reduction
Sector: Water resources
Landscape type: Urban
Location: The Netherlands; other
Why:
Drivers of change: Socio-economic: Concern about sustainable development.

Policy: Shift in floods management from rivers to basins.
How and who:
Implementation: Local urban areas, river basins.
Institutional context: Shift in floods management from rivers to basins.
Potential barriers: Effective communication, knowledge distribution, risk awareness, and cooperation with different stakeholders (in particular the public, citizens, professionals) are crucial for a successful implementation of option.
Implications for sustainable development:
Implications for sustainable development: Enhancing retention and other runoff reducing means counteracts the adverse effects of urbanization, drop in water storage potential and of channelisation. In order to decrease fast runoff and to curb erosion the option could be accompanied by programs of afforestation, arranging shelterbelts, and riverine forests. Option is to the large extent autonomous, thus involvement of citizens, and high individual responsibility are essential. Also informal planning approaches (e.g. joint development concepts) are applicable in the case.
Ownership of storage facilities might be moved to the public.
Resources:
Learning
and
knowledge transfer:
http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=n
ormal&id=JUPDDM000132000001000036000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
Case Study: Design and Operation of Sustainable Urban Infiltration Ponds Treating Storm Runoff
Evaluation: Among many advantages of source control, it conserves resources, buffers systems from possible climate change impacts, conserves energy through increasing retention "at source", promotes biodiversity by retaining water, improves self-sufficiency and recharges groundwater.
Scientific references:
Gardiner, J. (1995). Developing flood defence as a sustainable hazard alleviation measure. Chapter 1.2 in: Defence fromFloods and Floodpluin Management

Kundzewicz, Z.W., K. Takeuchi (1999). Flood protection and management: quo vadimus? Hydrol. Sci. J. 44(4), 417-432.

Takeuchi, N. (2002) Surface albedo and characteristics of cryoconite (biogenic surface dust) on an Alaska glacier, Gulkana Glacier in the Alaska Range, Bulletin of Glaciological Research 19: 63-70.

Tollan, A. (2002). Land-use change and floods: what do we need most, research or management?, Water Science & Technology, Vol 45 No 8: 183-190.
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