CUE 5 Urban Drainage Flashcards
Why is run off higher in urban areas?
More precipitation
More impermable surfaces
Less plants
Describe how cities are designed to get rid of water as quickly as possible
Sloping roofs
Rounded guttering
Cambered roads
Storm drains
Give three issues other than flooding associated with urban areas drainage?
Pollution: contaminated water by toxic chemicals used in industrial processes
Sediment : grit and similar particles enters the rivers e.g. From building sites, blocks habitats
Fluctuations flow: very variable flow hard for ecosystems to cope
Describe the unsustainable urban drainage in LA
Large storm drains removed all ecosystems
The whole system is reliant on it not failing anywhere, e.g. Earthquakes could cause whole thing to be flooded
Describe some sustainable urban drainage systems
Bioswale gardens - deal with rapid precipitation, plants adapted to absorbing lots of water
Water butts
Permeable paving
