Storm Water Management

There is increasing recognition that stormwater management needs to be undertaken in a safer and more ecologically sustainable manner. Stormwater should be regarded as an asset and a resource to be valued, rather than considering it as a nuisance to be disposed of as quickly as possible.

A different approach to the urban storm water management has involved:

• The establishment of a storage-oriented approach for controlling runoff quantity from urban areas;

• The identification of the environmental values (or beneficial uses) of particular water bodies which are to be protected;
• The establishment of water quality management strategies;
• The development and implementation of monitoring and surveillance programs to ensure that runoff quantity and water quality (or environmental) objectives are being maintained.

Some examples of integrated measures which can be adopted include:

• Integrated land use planning to achieve multiple uses for urban land,
• Capture and storage of roof runoff in order to reduce demands on the potable water supply,
• Retaining of storm water runoff in ponds for use in non-potable water supply,
• Use of infiltration facilities to reduce direct storm runoff and increase flows in rivers.

The objectives of stormwater management are:

• To provide safety for the public,
• To minimize and control nuisance flooding and to provide for the safe passage of less frequent flood events,
• To stabilize the landforms and control erosion,
• To protect property,
• To enhance the urban landscape,
• To optimize the land available for urbanization, and
• To minimize the environmental impact of urban runoff on water quality

These objectives could be achieved when:

• The planning, design and construction of new stormwater drainage facilities is adequate to service the requirements of new and future developments.
• There is compatibility with existing storm water facilities, operational methods, and maintenance techniques

• Stormwater facilities provide adequate environmental, community, and asset protection consistent with acceptable planning, design, and construction requirements and the principles of ecologically sustainable development

Planning and development of  Sewage water Development (SWD) system must be guided by a coordinated approach associated with:

• Catchment-based planning and management
• Integrated urban land use planning.
• Infrastructure provision and management practices which reflect social, economic, and environmental values

Stormwater management practices need to be consistent with the objectives of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), which aim to achieve sustainable usage of the nation’s water resources by protecting and enhancing their quality while maintaining economic and social development. Stormwater management practices need to be based on ecologically sustainable development principles and should be integrated with total water cycle management