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Sustainable Urban Drainage emerged and gained prominence during the late 90s. Despite this progress, there is little uniformity in subjects and definition of terms within the overall sustainability theme. This tends to create a duplication of objectives and confusion about the correct use of techniques and procedures. This paper seeks to identify, map and evaluate 'Sustainable Urban Drainage' as a scientific domain, using relationships between underlying subthemes. We analyzed 3,805 publications by 8,237 authors with relation to 11,957 citations using sociometric and bibliometric techniques. The results confirm the existence of the knowledge domain with one main nucleus and 20 independent networks. Core subthemes such as stormwater management, low impact development, integrated urban water management, bioretention, and best management practices are distinguishable as the main domain.

The feasibility of using floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) to treat runoff typical of commercial nurseries was investigated using two 8-week trials with replicated mesocosms. Plants were supported by Beemat rafts. Five monoculture treatments of Agrostis alba (red top), Canna x generalis Firebird' (canna lily), Carex stricta (tussock sedge), Iris ensata Rising Sun' (Japanese water iris), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), two mixed species treatments, and an unplanted control were assessed. These plant species are used for ornamental, wetland, and biofuel purposes. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removals were evaluated after a 7-day hydraulic retention time (HRT). N removal (sum of ammonium-N, nitrate-N, and nitrite-N) from FTW treatments ranged from 0.255 to 0.738gm(-2)d(-1) (38.9 to 82.4% removal) and 0.147 to 0.656gm(-2)d(-1) (12.9 to 59.6% removal) for trials 1 and 2, respectively. P removal (phosphate-P) ranged from 0.052 to 0.128gm(-2)d(-1) (26.1 to 64.7% removal) for trial 1, and 0.074 to 0.194gm(-2)d(-1) (26.8 to 63.2% removal) for trial 2. Panicum virgatum removed more N and P than any other FTW treatment and the control in both trials. Results show that species selection and timing of FTW harvest impact the rate and mass of nutrient remediation. FTWs can effectively remove N and P from runoff from commercial nurseries.

Sustainable Urban Drainage emerged and gained prominence during the late 90s. Despite this progress, there is little uniformity in subjects and definition of terms within the overall sustainability theme. This tends to create a duplication of objectives and confusion about the correct use of techniques and procedures. This paper seeks to identify, map and evaluate 'Sustainable Urban Drainage' as a scientific domain, using relationships between underlying subthemes. We analyzed 3,805 publications by 8,237 authors with relation to 11,957 citations using sociometric and bibliometric techniques. The results confirm the existence of the knowledge domain with one main nucleus and 20 independent networks. Core subthemes such as stormwater management, low impact development, integrated urban water management, bioretention, and best management practices are distinguishable as the main domain.

Ponds or lakes which provide treatment and storage of stormwater.

Permeable pavement on the top layer is efficient for storm water run off.

A biorentention cel, or rain garden, is a best management practice (BMP) designed to treat stormwater runoffs from roofs, driveways, walkways, or lawns. Where it can be used, how it works, what it does, maintenance, performance, limitations, expected cost

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Assessing climate change impacts on the reliability of rainwater harvesting systems” (Alamdari et al., 2018) [1]. This article evaluated the water supply and runoff capture reliability of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems for locations across the U.S. for historical and projected climate conditions. Hypothetical RWH systems with varying storage volumes, rooftop catchment areas, irrigated areas, and indoor wSater demand based upon population from selected locations were simulated for historical (1971–1998) and projected (2041–2068) periods, the latter dataset was developed using dynamic downscaling of North American Regional Climate Change (CC) Assessment Program (NARCCAP). A computational model, the Rainwater Analysis and Simulation Program (RASP), was used to compute RWH performance with respect to the reliability of water supply and runoff capture. The reliability of water supply was defined as the proportion of demands that are met; and the reliability of runoff capture was defined as the amount stored and reused, but not spilled. A series of contour plots using the four design variables and the reliability metrics were developed for historical and projected conditions. Frequency analysis was also used to characterize the long-term behavior of rainfall and dry duration at each location. The full data set is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analysis of this work.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species” (Spangler et al., 2018). This Data in Brief article provides data on concentrations of common ions, macro- and micro-nutrients and metals every other week during a floating treatment wetland (FTW) mesocosm experiment, and macro- and micro-nutrient contents in cumulative plant tissues, data on continuously monitored water temperature, and nitrogen and phosphorus removal curves assessed every other week. The full data set is made available to enable critical or extended analysis of the research.

In many coastal areas, high water tables are present, complicating installation of some stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that rely on infiltration. Regional estimates of the seasonal high water table (SHWT) often rely on sources such as soil surveys taken over a decade ago; these data are static and do not account for groundwater withdrawals or other anthropogenic impacts. To improve estimates of the SHWT, we developed a GIS-based methodology relying on surface water elevations. Data sources included a 1.5-m (5.0ft) resolution Lidar-derived digital elevation model (DEM), aerial imagery, and publicly available shapefiles of water boundaries. Twenty-six groundwater monitoring wells were screened to eliminate well locations influenced by pumping, yielding 22 wells. In coastal Virginia, tidal water bodies and ditches form terminal boundaries for discharge from the water-table aquifers and permit water table elevations to be fixed at the landward boundaries of surface water bodies. Water table elevations interpolated from well data and boundary elevations were used to create a triangulated irregular network representing the water table elevations for November 2012, which was the date of the DEM. An adjustment factor, calculated from the highest recorded April water table depth from long-term groundwater monitoring data, was added to estimate the SHWT elevation. SHWT elevations were subtracted from the DEM to yield SHWT depth, which was compared with long-term monitoring well data, yielding an R2 value of 0.91. Residual errors were random, although the method underpredicted the highest expected SHWT and overpredicted the median SHWT. The SHWT depth map was validated by using water table depths from 57 soil borings at 10 different sites, and consistently matched observations better than available soil survey estimates. The SHWT depth map could be useful for BMP siting and feasibility studies in similar hydrogeological settings.

In many coastal areas, high water tables are present, complicating installation of some stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that rely on infiltration. Regional estimates of the seasonal high water table (SHWT) often rely on sources such as soil surveys taken over a decade ago; these data are static and do not account for groundwater withdrawals or other anthropogenic impacts. To improve estimates of the SHWT, we developed a GIS-based methodology relying on surface water elevations. Data sources included a 1.5-m (5.0ft) resolution Lidar-derived digital elevation model (DEM), aerial imagery, and publicly available shapefiles of water boundaries. Twenty-six groundwater monitoring wells were screened to eliminate well locations influenced by pumping, yielding 22 wells. In coastal Virginia, tidal water bodies and ditches form terminal boundaries for discharge from the water-table aquifers and permit water table elevations to be fixed at the landward boundaries of surface water bodies. Water table elevations interpolated from well data and boundary elevations were used to create a triangulated irregular network representing the water table elevations for November 2012, which was the date of the DEM. An adjustment factor, calculated from the highest recorded April water table depth from long-term groundwater monitoring data, was added to estimate the SHWT elevation. SHWT elevations were subtracted from the DEM to yield SHWT depth, which was compared with long-term monitoring well data, yielding an R2 value of 0.91. Residual errors were random, although the method underpredicted the highest expected SHWT and overpredicted the median SHWT. The SHWT depth map was validated by using water table depths from 57 soil borings at 10 different sites, and consistently matched observations better than available soil survey estimates. The SHWT depth map could be useful for BMP siting and feasibility studies in similar hydrogeological settings.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species” (Spangler et al., 2018). This Data in Brief article provides data on concentrations of common ions, macro- and micro-nutrients and metals every other week during a floating treatment wetland (FTW) mesocosm experiment, and macro- and micro-nutrient contents in cumulative plant tissues, data on continuously monitored water temperature, and nitrogen and phosphorus removal curves assessed every other week. The full data set is made available to enable critical or extended analysis of the research.

Discusses the use of rain barrels for collecting water runoff from roofs.

Discusses rain gardens as a means for managing stormwater runoff.

Discusses water runoff from roofs and ways of redirecting this runoff.

Discusses the use of grass drainage swales to improve management of stormwater runoff.

Discusses the use of buffers as a way for managing stormwater.

Discusses permeable pavement as a means to improve management of stormwater.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Assessing climate change impacts on the reliability of rainwater harvesting systems” (Alamdari et al., 2018) [1]. This article evaluated the water supply and runoff capture reliability of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems for locations across the U.S. for historical and projected climate conditions. Hypothetical RWH systems with varying storage volumes, rooftop catchment areas, irrigated areas, and indoor wSater demand based upon population from selected locations were simulated for historical (1971–1998) and projected (2041–2068) periods, the latter dataset was developed using dynamic downscaling of North American Regional Climate Change (CC) Assessment Program (NARCCAP). A computational model, the Rainwater Analysis and Simulation Program (RASP), was used to compute RWH performance with respect to the reliability of water supply and runoff capture. The reliability of water supply was defined as the proportion of demands that are met; and the reliability of runoff capture was defined as the amount stored and reused, but not spilled. A series of contour plots using the four design variables and the reliability metrics were developed for historical and projected conditions. Frequency analysis was also used to characterize the long-term behavior of rainfall and dry duration at each location. The full data set is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analysis of this work.

Assessing climate change (CC) impacts on urban watersheds is difficult due to differences in model spatial and temporal scales, making prediction of hydrologic restoration a challenge. A methodology was developed using an autocalibration tool to calibrate a previously developed Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of Difficult Run in Fairfax, Virginia. Calibration was assisted by use of multi-objective optimization. Results showed a good agreement between simulated and observed data. Simulations of CC for the 2041–2068 period were developed using dynamically downscaled North American Regional CC Assessment Program models. Washoff loads were used to simulate water quality, and a method was developed to estimate treatment performed in stormwater control measures (SCMs) to assess water quality impacts from CC. CC simulations indicated that annual runoff volume would increase by 6.5%, while total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus would increase by 7.6%, 7.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. The simulations also indicated that within season variability would increase by a larger percentage. Treatment practices (e.g., bioswale) that were intended to mitigate the negative effects of urban development will need to deal with additional runoff volumes and nutrient loads from CC to achieve the required water quality goals.

Assessing climate change (CC) impacts on urban watersheds is difficult due to differences in model spatial and temporal scales, making prediction of hydrologic restoration a challenge. A methodology was developed using an autocalibration tool to calibrate a previously developed Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of Difficult Run in Fairfax, Virginia. Calibration was assisted by use of multi-objective optimization. Results showed a good agreement between simulated and observed data. Simulations of CC for the 2041–2068 period were developed using dynamically downscaled North American Regional CC Assessment Program models. Washoff loads were used to simulate water quality, and a method was developed to estimate treatment performed in stormwater control measures (SCMs) to assess water quality impacts from CC. CC simulations indicated that annual runoff volume would increase by 6.5%, while total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus would increase by 7.6%, 7.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. The simulations also indicated that within season variability would increase by a larger percentage. Treatment practices (e.g., bioswale) that were intended to mitigate the negative effects of urban development will need to deal with additional runoff volumes and nutrient loads from CC to achieve the required water quality goals.