Water Sensitive SA is conducting research into the adoption of more sustainable water sensitive urban design (WSUD) practices in an idealised ten allotment townhouse infill development.
The study considers three development configurations nominally within the City of Marion Council area. The base case comprises of a heavy infill development, typical of the type of development within Adelaide’s inner metropolitan areas. Two alternative WSUD approaches were then assessed. The first scenario encompasses a reduction to lateral house footprint in order to increase the available area for common greenspace and WSUD infrastructure. The second scenario adopts the same house footprint as scenario one, while providing the balance of land area as private greenspace in preference to common greenspace.
The effectiveness of potential WSUD solutions to improve stormwater runoff quality are assessed applying the Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC) modelling platform, with the hydrological results compared for accuracy in the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). An assessment of ambient temperatures as a result of the urban heat island effect will be conducted for both development cases. The ENVI-MET model is being trialled to predict ambient temperatures.
The outcomes of the research will assist us to rethink opportunities to reintegrate water into the landscape on private developments yielding benefits including microclimate enhancement, stormwater quality improvement and reduction in stormwater discharge.