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• Introducing bio-swales and infiltration strips within the urban context; at parking lots and sidewalks, will reduce the amount of runoff water and consequently the amount of water ending up at the central sewer system. That will minimize the frequency of overflowing events. • The increase of impermeable surfaces turns rainwater that could be infiltrated to runoff and leaves the ground’s aquifer dry. By incorporating infiltration systems, the natural aquifers are easily recharged.
stormwater reuse purposes: 1. aquifer recharge
Due to the increased amount of impermeable surfaces in the urban areas, it is really important to take into consideration how to discharge the runoff water, Using it to recharge the aquifers is the most important use, because in that way the water is kept within its natural hydrological circle. Infiltration can be succeeded by using permeable surfaces like permeable asphalt and sidewalk blocks as well as with several stormwater management systems such as; swales, detention, retention and infiltration basins.
• Rainwater harvesting from rooftops can be easily reused with a minimal treatment for uses such as landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers. That leads to reduced demand and consumption of potable water. • Using non-potable water sources for toilet flushing and clothes washers, such as harvested rainwater would lead to a 48.4% reduction of potable water use in residential buildings. (Yudelson, 2009)
I M P L I C A T I O N S Attention should be paid to the application of some of the stormwater management systems to cold climates. Permeable paving and asphalt might cause problems due to freezing temperatures and snow. Moreover, permeable asphalt is not advised to cold climates due to snow and the application of salt on sidewalks and roads to melt it.
GRAVEL / SPLASH BLOCK PLANTINGS
SIDEWALK DRAINAGE
STRUCTURAL WALLS GRAVEL GROWING MEDIUM EXISTING SOIL
FILTER FABRIC
2. water reuse for non-potable uses
In some cases it is possible to incorporate detention storage space for the water and reuse it for irrigation on site, toilet flushing and other non-potable uses with light cleaning processes. However, these kinds of systems are usually more difficult to construct and more expensive.