Water Sensitive Urban Design
Water
As water storage levels decline and population increases, the conservation of water is one of the key environmental issues facing the City of Sydney.
Water pollution is also a major environmental issue. While the water quality of Sydney Harbour has improved in recent times, this natural asset continues to be degraded by pollution from stormwater, sewer overflows, land contamination and vessels.
In response to these challenges, the City of Sydney is undertaking a variety of initiatives to reduce water demand, implement sustainable water supply sources and improve stormwater quality.
Total Water Cycle Management Strategy
The City has developed a Total Water Cycle Management (TWCM) framework which looks to treat stormwater and wastewater as water resource rather than waste.
The TWCM aims to integrate the management of the three key elements of urban water cycle: drinking water, stormwater and wastewater which have been traditionally managed separately.
Using the TWCM framework, City of Sydeny will develop a TWCM strategy which will identify opportunities for sourcing and using alternative sources of water (roof water, stormwater, blackwater and sewer mining) within the City and for integrating vegetation into the built form to ensure that the stormwater quality is improved.
Water harvesting
City of Sydney has 49 sites with water harvesting and recycling systems installed (15) and underway (34).
Various water saving projects are also being implemented.
These projects reduce reliance on mains water and the volume of stormwater discharged to Sydney Harbour and/or Botany Bay.
Water Smart & Sensitive Urban Design
Water smart & sensitive urban design (WSUD) is about developing urban designs and plans that improve the quality and volume of water that would otherwise be carried through the stormwater drains. Usually, stormwatr travels with high velocity, picking up pollutants and sediments and discharging them into Sydney Harbour and Cooks River.
WSUD is achieved by integrating pervious surfaces and vegetation into the urban design. Integration of plants and permeable surfaces allows stormwater to be retained, slowed down and filtered so that the pollutants in the stormwater are reduced and our waterways are protected.
WSUD also is water smart as it utilises stormwater to meet the water needs of the street vegetation reducing our reliance on drinking water
The City is developing design codes and guidelines that the urban designers and engineers can use to make WSUD integral to all urban plans and designs that are developed and implemented as part of its capital work projects and infrastructure upgrades.
Raingardens
WSUD can be integrated on roadsides, road side tree pits, and open spaces. City of Sydney has constructed raingardens in a number of locations including Joynton Avenue (Zetland), Bay Street and Harris Street (Ultimo).
View an image gallery featuring some of the City's raingardens.
What is a raingarden?
Raingardens look like regular garden beds, but they act as stormwater treatment systems.
Urban stormwater traditionally flows to a stormwater drain and enters the Cooks River or Sydney Harbour without treatment.
Raingardens allow stormwater to be directed into a garden for treatment. The stormwater is also used to water the plants in the garden, saving precious drinking water.
Raingardens are designed to slow water flow. The soil mixture in a raingarden is designed to retain and hold water and the plants selected for use in raingardens are native to Sydney and have deep root systems that easily absorb rainwater and pollutants.
Click on the image above to see a larger diagram of a raingarden in action.
Downloads
- City of Sydney Water Savings Action Plan | 236Kb
- SQIRTS Solander Park Final Report | PDF 4.5Mb
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