Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin
Traditionally, the planning, investment, management, and evaluation of combined sewer networks has been the domain of hydraulic modelling using narrowly defined indicators associated with spill frequencies, flows and waterbody environmental quality standards. Due to concerns about the increasing fre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Nature-Based Solutions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411524000041 |
| _version_ | 1797334772300644352 |
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| author | Tom Wild Gregory Fuchs McKenna Davis |
| author_facet | Tom Wild Gregory Fuchs McKenna Davis |
| author_sort | Tom Wild |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditionally, the planning, investment, management, and evaluation of combined sewer networks has been the domain of hydraulic modelling using narrowly defined indicators associated with spill frequencies, flows and waterbody environmental quality standards. Due to concerns about the increasing frequency and impact of combined sewer overflow (CSO) ‘spill’ events, many cities and citizens are realising or reassessing the problems that accompany these systems, and considering alternatives including nature-based solutions (NBS). We report on an investigation of the impacts of urban stormwater management and CSOs, addressing key issues of framing, assessment and measures of success. With increasing interest being directed towards NBS for urban water management, we asked the questions: Which additional or alternative measures of success might be applied to judge the success or otherwise of different approaches? What outcomes are viewed as beneficial or problematic, what benefits should be optimised and what adverse impacts should be designed out? Reflecting on recent impact assessment guidance and drawing on research in a city with a globally leading reputation for innovation and ecological sustainability practices (Berlin), we explore how the conceptual, practical and methodological frameworks might evolve over time. Factors affecting investments in stormwater management, whether involving conventional hard infrastructure or using NBS, go well beyond simple measures of flow, storage, volume and frequency. Public notions of value and legitimacy in urban water management are changing fast. We conclude with recommendations as to how city stakeholders may together develop more comprehensive assessments of combined sewer impacts and stormwater management practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc45131a645a494cadb9386220acd419 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-4115 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature-Based Solutions |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc45131a645a494cadb9386220acd4192024-02-02T04:40:39ZengElsevierNature-Based Solutions2772-41152024-06-015100113Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in BerlinTom Wild0Gregory Fuchs1McKenna Davis2The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Ecologic Institute, Pfalzburger Str. 43/44, Berlin 10717, GermanyEcologic Institute, Pfalzburger Str. 43/44, Berlin 10717, GermanyTraditionally, the planning, investment, management, and evaluation of combined sewer networks has been the domain of hydraulic modelling using narrowly defined indicators associated with spill frequencies, flows and waterbody environmental quality standards. Due to concerns about the increasing frequency and impact of combined sewer overflow (CSO) ‘spill’ events, many cities and citizens are realising or reassessing the problems that accompany these systems, and considering alternatives including nature-based solutions (NBS). We report on an investigation of the impacts of urban stormwater management and CSOs, addressing key issues of framing, assessment and measures of success. With increasing interest being directed towards NBS for urban water management, we asked the questions: Which additional or alternative measures of success might be applied to judge the success or otherwise of different approaches? What outcomes are viewed as beneficial or problematic, what benefits should be optimised and what adverse impacts should be designed out? Reflecting on recent impact assessment guidance and drawing on research in a city with a globally leading reputation for innovation and ecological sustainability practices (Berlin), we explore how the conceptual, practical and methodological frameworks might evolve over time. Factors affecting investments in stormwater management, whether involving conventional hard infrastructure or using NBS, go well beyond simple measures of flow, storage, volume and frequency. Public notions of value and legitimacy in urban water management are changing fast. We conclude with recommendations as to how city stakeholders may together develop more comprehensive assessments of combined sewer impacts and stormwater management practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411524000041Combined sewer overflowCSORiver pollutionWater framework directiveUrban drainageValues |
| spellingShingle | Tom Wild Gregory Fuchs McKenna Davis Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin Nature-Based Solutions Combined sewer overflow CSO River pollution Water framework directive Urban drainage Values |
| title | Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin |
| title_full | Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin |
| title_fullStr | Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin |
| title_short | Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin |
| title_sort | sitting in our own soup combined sewers climate change and nature based solutions for urban water management in berlin |
| topic | Combined sewer overflow CSO River pollution Water framework directive Urban drainage Values |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411524000041 |
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