ISGM - Integrated stormwater and groundwater management (2023-2028)

The infiltration of stormwater to groundwater offers a range of advantages from stormwater management (a low energy approach to manage runoff) and groundwater management (maintain river and lake water levels) perspectives. However, the practice also poses risks (e.g. contamination). Whilst opportunities to reduce risks are available, the need for and level of risk reduction offered by e.g. soil type and nature-based solutions (NBS) vary in relation to site-specific characteristics. With NBS widely promoted as best practice for stormwater management, the need to develop better understanding of the impact of stormwater infiltration on groundwater is now urgent.

Tackling this challenge is the core focus of the multi-disciplinary ISGM consortium. The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration led by Luleå University of Technology in partnership with Norrvatten, Sollentuna Kommun, Sigtuna Kommun, Lumire and Trafikverket.

Consisting of researchers and stakeholders from drinking water supply, municipal and transport authorities, ISGM implements a co-developed risk characterisation and reduction plan within four case studies. Key outputs include new data on the behaviour of conventional and emerging pollutants in groundwater under wet and dry conditions, including the impact of site conditions and NBS.

Data will be used to field test available decision support tools and the preferred approach will be implemented within Norrvatten’s monitoring and risk management work stream. Hence, the focus of ISGM is to take a systems approach to address a complex water management issue, with key lessons for international audiences facing similar challenges.

Specific questions to be addressed include how does groundwater quantity and quality respond to rainfall events of differing magnitude (including intervening dry weather events)? How will this alter under future climatic conditions? What is the role of soil type/depth and NBS in reducing pollutant loads? In relation to stormwater regulations, how do practitioners understand the integrated management of surface and groundwater bodies?

Further, whilst decision-support tools (DST) to map groundwater vulnerability and identify appropriate NBS have been developed, these are typically theoretical or have only been tested under a limited range of field conditions, providing another major knowledge gap which ISGM will address.

The project is financed by FORMAS under its Blue Innovation implementation project funding stream and runs from December 2023 – November 2028.

Involved in the project from Urban Water Engineering at Luleå University of Technology are:

• Franz Kevin Geronimo
• Lina Otte
• Nils Brattgård
• Maria Viklander
• Godecke Blecken
• Sylvia Kowar
• Carina Lundmark from ETKS