Urban Drainage

Question 1

Why is it important for quick surface run-off to happen in urban areas?

Answer 1

• Impermable surfaces make it difficult for rainwater to infiltrate to the ground
• Surface run-off will prevent flooding

Question 2

What are the four main characteristics of urban catchment areas?

Answer 2

• Impermable surfaces
• Reduced soil infriltration
• Surfaces to allow quick surface run-off
• Multiple storm drains to river

Question 3

Give three ways to show how urban water catchement areas can be managed:

Answer 3

• Urban planning = Develeopers can design infrastructure features to allow rainwater rn-off
• Storm drains= Allow water to quickly return to river
• River rechanneling = Rivers are artificially manipulated to flow water away from urban areas

Question 4

Is urban water catchment management a useful measure?

Answer 4

Yes = Prevents flooding, can be simple and cheap with existing resources

No= Can be expensive of large-scale, environmental consequences, many urban areas are in water-stressed states

Question 5

What does ‘SUDS’ stand for?

Answer 5

Sustainable urban drainage systems

Question 6

Why do we use SUDS?

Answer 6

To manage rainwater in urban environments

Question 7

What is catchment management?

Answer 7

A way of managing rivers and improving drainage systems by looking at the whole river catchment, and the interactions between water and land.

Question 8

What are the two main methods to manage river catchments?

Answer 8

• Hard engineering
• Soft engineering

Question 9

What are the 3 main methods SUDS use to decrease flooding, water pollution and drought in urban areas?

Answer 9

• Vegetated trenches
• Vegetated roofs
• Containers on roofs

Question 10

How do vegetated trenches (SUDS) decrease flooding, water pollution and drought in urban areas?

Answer 10

• Increase interception of rainfall and store water.
• Help to increase infiltration, decreasing run off and channel flow, lowering the flood risk and reducing the number of pollutants entering watercourses.

Question 11

How to vegetated roofs (SUDS) decrease flooding, water pollution and drought in urban areas?

Answer 11

• Intercept rainfall and increase evapotranspiraton, reducing flood risk

Question 12

How do containers on roofs decrease flooding, water pollution and drought in urban areas?

Answer 12

• Catch and store rainwater for reuse.
• Reduces drought risk.

Question 13

What is the aim of river restoration and conservation?

Answer 13

Restore river systems to a more natural state.