Urban Drainage Flashcards
What is a wetland
An area of land that stores water and floods in response to excess rainfall
What are the benefits of wetlands
Good community acceptance
Increase property value in the area
Good removal of urban pollutants
What are the drawback of using wetlands
Requires base flow
Can’t be built on steep sites
High land take
What is a swale
Broad shallow, vegetated channel that conveys runoff and prevents floods
What are the benefits of swales
Low capital costs
Easy to incorporate into the environment
Good removal of urban pollutants
What are the drawbacks of Swales
Can’t be built on steep sites
Limited dirtier opportunities to plant trees and vegetation
What is a rain garden
Collects rainwater and prevents flooding
What are the benefits of rain gardens
Easy to maintain
Aesthetic
Cost effective
What are the drawbacks of rain gardens
Requires management
Susceptible to flooding
What is a green roof
Used to improve air quality and reduce heat in the air
What are the benefits of green roofs
Improve air quality
Aesthetic
Encourages biodiversity in cities
What are the drawbacks of green roofs
Require management
Costly
Cannot be built on steep slopes
