We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Blue–Green Infrastructure Effectiveness for Urban Stormwater Management: A Multi-Scale Residential Case Study
Summary
Despite its title referencing urban stormwater management, this paper studies the effectiveness of blue-green infrastructure — such as rain gardens and permeable pavements — at managing stormwater runoff from residential areas under climate change conditions. While stormwater is a major carrier of microplastics to waterways, this study focuses on hydraulic performance rather than microplastic removal, and is only tangentially relevant to the topic.
Climate change, urbanization, and extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and drought present major challenges for urban water management. This paper proposes a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of blue–green infrastructure (BGI) as a sustainable stormwater management solution across different residential development scales. Two contrasting case studies are examined: a small terraced housing catchment and a large housing estate. A multi-criteria analysis (MCA) supports a structured comparison of BGI effectiveness, while a complementary SWOT analysis informs strategic implementation approaches. The results demonstrate the practical applicability of the framework and underscore that successful stormwater management requires both innovative technologies and reform in urban planning governance. This study offers valuable insights into building climate-resilient cities.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The Occurrence and Removal of Microplastics from Stormwater Using Green Infrastructure
This review examines microplastic occurrence in urban stormwater and the potential of green infrastructure — particularly bioretention systems and constructed wetlands — to capture and remove plastic particles before they reach surface water bodies.
Analysis of Bioretention Capability in Removing Microplastic Particles from Stormwater
This study tested the ability of bioretention systems (vegetated stormwater gardens) to remove microplastic particles from stormwater, finding effective removal across multiple particle sizes and types. Bioretention infrastructure shows promise as a practical tool for preventing microplastics from stormwater runoff from reaching rivers and coastal waters.
Microplastics: The Occurrence in Stormwater Runoff and the Effectiveness of Bioretention Systems for Removal
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in stormwater runoff and tested the removal efficiency of bioretention systems including green roofs, bioswales, and bioretention cells, finding that these green infrastructure systems can significantly reduce microplastic loads before they reach surface waters. The study provides baseline data on stormwater as a microplastic transport pathway and evaluates a nature-based treatment solution.
Review of emerging contaminants in green stormwater infrastructure: Antibiotic resistance genes, microplastics, tire wear particles, PFAS, and temperature
This review examines how green stormwater systems like rain gardens and permeable pavement handle emerging contaminants including microplastics, tire wear particles, and PFAS chemicals. While these systems were not originally designed to capture such pollutants, the review finds that with proper design modifications they could serve as a first line of defense. This matters for human health because stormwater runoff carries microplastics and other contaminants into the waterways that supply drinking water.
Distribution of microplastics in rainfall and their control by a permeable pavement in low-impact development facility
A low-impact development permeable pavement system in South Korea captured approximately 98% of microplastics present in rainfall runoff, with polyethylene fragments under 100 µm being the most common particle type. The study shows that green infrastructure designed for stormwater management can double as an effective barrier against microplastic entry into freshwater systems, an important finding for urban water quality planning.