Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Yorkshire Region

Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Yorkshire Region

Professional Development Day, 26 May 2016

“Integrated Storm Water Management”

Brian Smith Drainage Strategy Manager

Accompanying notes

Slide 1

This is about the fundamentals of life. It’s about how and where we work and learn; and how and where we live and play. It’s about the growth of the economy; and the protection and preservation of our environment. It’s about us all, whether we live in the city or rural communities. And it’s about how we’re going to prepare for a sustainable future

However, there are very real external pressures that we have to prepare for now, to ensure intergenerational equity. More people, bigger towns and cities, and& the effects of climate change will mean a greater demand for water. More unpredictable weather with resultant consequences of increased flooding and pollution.

We may have to think very differently about the future – about how we manage too much or too little water. How we recycle water, and how we use this precious resource to ensure that it’s not wasted.

It’s about finding a balance between valuing and restoring the nation’s natural capital, and supporting society’s aspirations for better places to live and work.

Slide 2

As you can see from the slide, only 1% of the planets freshwater is available for human use. Water scarcity is a global issue and we should all be prioritising investment in solutions to tackle this problem. The world economic forum recently concluded that global water crises are the biggest threats facing planet over next decade. However, there is a growing awareness and understanding with decision makers that water is as important for cities as energy or climate - and there are risks and opportunities related to water that will affect economic development and prosperity.

Urbanisation will dramatically change our built environment. 82% of the UK's population now live in urban environments, and growth is predicted to continue. We can make a positive impact and contribute to creating functional, energy efficient, low carbon, climate resilient cities.

Integrated storm water management is an effective way to make this transition.

Slide 3

In 2015 UN members adopted a set of goals toend poverty,protect the planet andensure prosperity for allas part of new sustainable development agenda. For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: governments, private sector, civil society & people like you and me

SDG 6 relates to clean water and sanitation but water is the common thread running through all the SDGs.

The quotation is from past presidents of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and is, I feel quite pertinent to the challenges we are facing.

Slide 4

Having started at a global, high level perspective I would not like to bring it down to a Yorkshire Water/water company perspective.

So what is the compelling need for change? We have an aging infrastructure lacking flexibility in regard to demands of a changing climate and population. These will have both direct and indirect effects on local and regional water resources and environmental impacts, putting our drainage infrastructure under increasing strain.

To continue operating as we currently do, and in addition meet full requirements of European Water Framework Directive, our electricity demand will increase, as will our carbon footprint. Continuing solely with an approach of maintaining and enhancing the sewer network is no longer sustainable. Radical changes are required to address the root causes, and how we manage storm water. It is interesting that 30-70% of flows in our combined sewers are from highway drainage. It will require a huge effort to reduce volumes of storm water entering our sewer networks.

Slide 5

Along with the compelling need for change there are also some emerging pressures. There is a growing demand for water services – from domestic agriculture and industry. This impacts on security of supply and leads to infrastructure stress. There is also the highly volatile energy price forecasts which affect financial and business planning, and investment programmes. There is increasing pressure for sustainable solutions and a growing need to give customers value for money. There is a growing strain on public purse.

We live in an uncertain world that makes sudden and unanticipated demands on our infrastructure. ‘Future shocks’ could have a damaging effect on finance-ability and investor confidence which is closely linked to the increasing competition for private sector finance.

We, and our infrastructure, need to be flexible and adaptive. Failure to be flexible and to adapt makes it increasingly difficult to compete and grow. Working in same way and hoping conditions will improve won’t work as a Strategy. So, you can see that all this is leading to a need for change.

Slide 6

This slide Illustrates how ISWM links to, and is central to, other areas of Business interests. It demonstrates the diverse range of activities in which YW is involved. However, it can’t be considered or delivered in isolation - Partnership working, co-operation and collaboration are essential.

Through integrating our waste water networks using dynamic optimally controlled systems we can reduce peak flows and balance flows to treatment, thereby reducing energy costs. This will also deliver increased water supply security, river quality and environmental improvements as well as significant reductions in flooding; and improve network resilience to future demands.

Financial and performance improvements can be achieved through an integrated approach to investment and delivery

I believe that there are opportunities for a complete shift, fundamentally in how we can manage water in urban areas. Long term control plans through use of green and blue infrastructure can provide the adaptive capacity to deal more effectively with the challenges accelerated by climate change.

Slide 7

Perhaps we need to ask this question - "what is the market failure we are trying to address"?

System performance and customer service are impacted. What is our role in supporting economic growth and supporting or accelerating the governments home building agenda?

I think that we, together, can create the conditions in which we can innovate, invest and grow. However, this will require a need to look more longer term and adopt a strategic approach to integrated infrastructure planning and investment. Develop a holistic rather than fragmentary approach to drainage matters.

There will also be a need for culture change. We will need to identify the institutional and professional barriers, and how these can be addressed.

I mentioned green and blue infrastructure. Green infrastructure work better, cost less, are more reliable and provide more benefits than conventional infrastructure. That said, there are some terrific projects being developed in many cities, in many countries. Progress is afoot and even the glitches help fuel the momentum that continues to grow

Slide 8

There are many benefits of using GI which I am sure you are all aware of including air quality, amenity, biodiversity and ecology, carbon reduction / sequestration, cool runoff temperature, cost reduction, creates green spaces, educational, enabling development, groundwater recharge, health improvements, increase infiltration, insulates buildings, natural evapotranspiration, new jobs and industry, precipitation retention, property values, rainwater harvesting, recreation, reduce runoff, reduce impact on grey infrastructure, release oxygen, therapeutic, tourism, traffic calming, urban agriculture, urban heat reduction, wildlife habitat.

It is not my intention to discuss these in any detail. However I’ve picked out the key points that I feel are most important reasons for why we should be using ISWM.

Slide 9

We are not managing water available to us optimally. We need to better understand future needs and maintain balance of supply/demand. We need to expand our knowledge on water management.

There is a perception there’s no shortage. The public are unaware of problem of water scarcity – this is perhaps compounded by the fact we get high levels of rainfall. There is a public mind-set issue when it comes to using reclaimed water- this might be a barrier to uptake of recycling? Over the coming years we’re going to have to get used to re-use and a better understanding of value of recycling is vital to secure future supplies.

All of this I wrap up in the term Social modelling / Behavioural economics. Australia, Israel and Jordan are more advanced on valuing and recycling water.

Slide 10

I’d now like to take you through some illustrations and examples of some of the approaches elsewhere.

There are very few strategic thinkers. People like – Tom Liptan, Portland (a landscape architect who developed the city’s approach to the use of GI), Tracey Tackett, Seattle; Howard Neukrug, Philadelphia; Tony Wong, Australia; the late Peter Stahre, Malmo (also a landscape architect) and Jeremy Jones, Atkins – the architect behind the approach and delivery of GI schemes in South Wales.

Tom Liptan fostered an internal culture so that GI formed part of the Council’s asset management approach. Most measures enhanced amenity and bio-diversity, but some clearly were multi-functional

Slides 11, 12 and 13

A primary school car park in Portland. Redesigned with swales and green infrastructure to receive the car park run-off. Still functioning well some 15 years on. No car parking spaces were lost as a part of the redesign.

Slide 14

An interesting architecturally designed feature using cascading water into a planter. There might be issues in regard to UK building regulations in respect of proximity to a building (if there was any infiltration). However, the principles of design and managing water are transferrable.

Slide 15

This is a rather interesting, and fun, design linking public art and drainage. A syphon has been designed to transfer the road run-off into the inverted umbrella, creating a cascading waterfall.

Slide 16, 17 and 18

An example from Madison valley, Seattle. Increased flooding over a number of years. Heightened public awareness and political focus for a solution. We have a creative design with native plantings, a dry creek-bed, walking paths and open green space. It stores 6,500m3 stormwater surface storage in the middle of residential area. It fills during very large storms but also serves as community open space when there are no large rain storms. Customer engagement was critical to the success, to gather community input on the project plan, site design and landscaping plan.

Slide 19, 20 and 21

This was a highly developed area of 168 acres with urban run-off which degraded the watercourse’s function as aquatic habitat. What has been designed is an aesthetically pleasing public amenity that integrates with surrounding private development. Water serves as unifying element, meandering through the site. It now provides a unique 2.7 acre public open space amenity in heart of a dense urban neighbourhood. What was once a sterile, paved parking lot is now a unique urban park. The cost of $14.8m generated $200m in private investment.

Slide 22

You are all too familiar with the speed hump/traffic calming measures employed on many of our roads in the UK. Ass you can see, it is not particularly pretty and 100% of road run-off drains to the sewer system. Whereas in contrast, in Portland they have designed planters to act as traffic calming measures and they also take 80% of the road run-off.

Slide 23

Millenium Park, Chicago. Contemporary designers continue to explore new ways that can be utilized as usable space with a greater purpose. The two tall towers on the bottom left are water features. Images of “real” Chicago residents are protected on to the walls and there is a cycle when a fountain is expressed from their mouths. Children shower under the fountain and paddle in the water. It is a great example of bringing water, as a fun element, into the community.

Slide 24

Another example of creating green public open space and water features to serve as a place for community.

Slide 25

An interesting architectural design in Singapore of a green roof over which people can walk.

Slides 26 and 27

The UK also has some good examples. These two are taken from the CIRIA SuDS manual. The Construction Industry Research Information Association (CIRIA) have done most of the UK national work on sustainable drainage and have produced the Industry standard and best practice SuDS manual.

Slides 28 and 29

My youngest son is studying Architecture and is in his final year at The Bartlett, UCL. In his first year he had to design a project in a place in Westminster, central London. His project was called “The Urban Living room” and was a new decentralised energy and network facility. With the increasing number of robots in production, this is leading to increased numbers of unemployed. In this utopian urban living room, the unemployed grew crops to produce biogas to produce the energy required to make the robots. Sort of a circular economy. He researched crops and chose miscanthus grass as the crop providing most yield in terms of biogas. The facility also has leisure areas and beach resorts for the workers who harvested the grass. His design incorporated an effective irrigation system whereby he could capture, store, treat and use rainwater for the crops.

Slide 30

It was interesting that some 9 months after he completed his project I saw this article on vertical farming by RSHP in the Times. I wondered if Richard Rogers had visited the Bartlett show last summer and was inspired by my son’s “Urban Living Room”?