Ivan Milovanović has newly defended his thesis in Urban Water Engineering.
2 October 2025
New solutions for cleaner stormwater
How can cities better manage the polluted water that runs off roofs and streets during rainfall? In his doctoral thesis, Ivan Milovanović at Luleå University of Technology has investigated how particles and metals in stormwater can be removed more effectively – both in laboratory settings and in real-world installations.
“Stormwater often contains metals such as copper and zinc, and without treatment they risk spreading to lakes and rivers. My research focuses on finding solutions that are sustainable in practice over the long term,” says Ivan Milovanović, a recently graduated PhD student in Urban Water Engineering at Luleå University of Technology.
Tested filter materials and new designs
In laboratory experiments, Ivan Milovanović showed that sloped bottom walls of a bottom grid structure in sedimentation basins improved particle removal by up to 22 percent. He also tested different filter materials used in stormwater treatment systems, where peat and bark proved particularly effective in capturing dissolved zinc.
Field studies of installations equipped with zeolite filters – porous mineral materials with a strong capacity to bind metals –produced clear results: copper was reduced by up to 85 percent and zinc by nearly 94 percent. At the same time, the studies showed that filter performance decreases over time and that high hydraulic loads can reduce treatment efficiency.
“It is not enough to know that a filter works in the beginning, we need to understand how it performs after years of operation under varying conditions,” says Ivan Milovanović.
Contributing to sustainable urban development
The results demonstrate that the design of stormwater treatment systems – from the slope of the walls to the choice of filter material – has a significant impact on how effectively pollutants are removed. The thesis provides new knowledge for municipalities, consultants, and decision-makers aiming to develop more sustainable solutions for stormwater management.
“The goal is to contribute to cleaner urban water environments while making systems more robust and sustainable,” says Ivan Milovanović.
Sweden's largest research group in Urban Water Engineering
Luleå University of Technology has Sweden's largest research group in Urban Water Engineering, with 51 researchers, many of whom are working to find solutions for how we can better manage stormwater in the cities of the future.
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Ivan Milovanovic
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