Research in DRIZZLE
Our research is divided under three themes, Stormwater Quality, Stormwater Quantity and Integrated Stormwater Solutions.
Stormwater Quality
Urban areas contain numerous diffuse pollutants sources, which are released during wet weather.
One of the most important sources is wash-off of urban surfaces, including building facades and road pavements, and wash-out of stormwater transport elements, such as gutters, sewers and ponds. Two aspects of stormwater pollutants are of particular importance: (i) entry of harmful chemicals or microbiological agents into urban stormwater, and (ii) remedial measures, usually in the form of treatment. In order to develop treatment solutions, knowledge on the content of the water to be treated is needed.
Theme leader and co-leader: Heléne Österlund and Alexandra Müller
Stormwater Quantity
In keeping with many parts of the world, Sweden is undergoing rapid climate change.
Temperatures are predicted to increase by 3-5oC by 2080 leading to changes in precipitation, with more rainfall occurring in autumn, winter and spring seasons leading to increased runoff rates and volumes. In particular, the frequency of extreme short-term rainfall events is predicted to increase, leading to increased winter floods.
Warmer temperatures will increase rates of evaporation contributing to an increasing number of low flow days in rivers and occurrences of drought across many parts of Sweden. With 85% of Sweden’s population living in urban areas, how we manage rainfall in urban areas has a huge impact on quality of life from physical and mental health wellbeing perspectives.
The largely impermeable nature of cities can result in the generation of large volumes of stormwater over short periods of time. Traditional piped systems are increasingly overwhelmed with stormwater flows viewed as a wastewater to be disposed of as quickly as possible as opposed to a resource to meet local (non-potable) demands.
DRIZZLE researchers are leading the way nationally and internationally as we identify, evaluate and implement a range of approaches to facilitate a shift in how we view and manage stormwater flows. From field studies evaluating flood mitigation measures to reducing modelling uncertainties and the novel use of sponge like materials to provide ‘pop-up’ flood mitigation, it’s been a busy year for the DRIZZLE stormwater quantity researchers.
Theme leader and co-leader: Lian Lundy och Ico Broekhuizen
Integrated Stormwater Solutions
Integrated management of stormwater with multi-functional blue/green infrastructure, which targets the environmental and technical aspects (water quality and quantity/flooding), as well as socio-economic aspects is both a great opportunity, but also a great challenge.
However, this integrated approach is crucial to utilise the opportunities which multi-functional blue/green infrastructure provides, thus helping to achieve more sustainable cities and communities. This potential is underlined by the fact that integrated stormwater management, with blue/green infrastructure, can directly contribute to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), e.g. SDGs 6 Clean Water, 9 Innovation and Infrastructure, 11 Sustainable Cities, 13 Climate action, 14 Life below water, 15 Life on Land, 3 Good health and well-being and 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. Given the collaborative character of large parts of DRIZZLE, it also contributes to achieving SDG 19 Partnership for the Goals.
Thus, integrated research involving technical, environmental and socio-economic aspects is needed to develop knowledge on how to successfully implement integrated, multifunctional systems. Accordingly, further evaluation of blue/green infrastructures’ technical, environmental and social-economic potentials, but also limitations, is required to enable and ensure that it delivers optimally. Synergies between different aims must be identified and conflicts of interests must be explored and solved. This is the overarching aim of the theme in DRIZZLE.
Theme leader and co-leader: Godecke-Tobias Blecken och Kelsey Flanagan