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Modeling the Effectiveness of Rain Barrels, Cisterns, and Downspout Disconnections for Reducing Combined Sewer Overflows in a City-Scale Watershed

Author

Listed:
  • Seyed Hamed Ghodsi

    (University at Buffalo)

  • Zhenduo Zhu

    (University at Buffalo)

  • Hazem Gheith

    (Arcadis)

  • Alan J. Rabideau

    (University at Buffalo)

  • María Nariné Torres

    (University at Buffalo)

  • Kevin Meindl

    (Buffalo Sewer Authority)

Abstract

Green Infrastructure / Low Impact Development (GI/LID) is an increasingly popular strategy to manage urban stormwater for individual properties, but the aggregate effect on runoff reduction at the city scale has not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the potential combined effects of rain barrels, cisterns, and downspout disconnections on combined sewer overflows (CSOs) for a medium-sized urban center. To support a city-wide analysis, a novel simulation strategy was implemented using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). In this new approach, a modeling at the source technique for subcatchment delineation was combined with a set of R-language utilities to automatically configure GI/LID management scenarios. The reconfigured SWMM model was used to examine 99 distinct management scenarios based on different sizes, numbers, and locations of the targeted GI/LID features for the city of Buffalo, New York. For a typical hydrologic year, the deployment of large residential rain barrels (1000-gallon) resulted in up to a 12% reduction in predicted CSO volume, while the inclusion of large commercial-roof cisterns (5000-gallon) contributed up to an additional 12% reduction. Large variations in the predicted CSO reductions were observed across the various management scenarios, and the simulation tools were able to identify locations where the GI/LID features were most effective. In general, the modeling at the source approach and the R-language tools substantially enhanced the utility of SWMM for evaluating the effectiveness of GI/LID deployment as a CSO management strategy at the city scale, and the methodology can readily be adapted to cities with similar CSO issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Seyed Hamed Ghodsi & Zhenduo Zhu & Hazem Gheith & Alan J. Rabideau & María Nariné Torres & Kevin Meindl, 2021. "Modeling the Effectiveness of Rain Barrels, Cisterns, and Downspout Disconnections for Reducing Combined Sewer Overflows in a City-Scale Watershed," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(9), pages 2895-2908, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:35:y:2021:i:9:d:10.1007_s11269-021-02875-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-021-02875-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John E. Fontecha & Oscar O. Guaje & Daniel Duque & Raha Akhavan-Tabatabaei & Juan P. Rodríguez & Andrés L. Medaglia, 2020. "Combined maintenance and routing optimization for large-scale sewage cleaning," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 286(1), pages 441-474, March.
    2. Z. Jia & C. Xu & W. Luo, 2020. "Optimizing Green Infrastructure Implementation with a Land Parcel-Based Credit Trading Approach on Different Spatial Scales," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(5), pages 1709-1723, March.
    3. Ana Luiza Melo Rodrigues & Demetrius David Silva & Frederico Carlos Martins Menezes Filho, 2021. "Methodology for Allocation of Best Management Practices Integrated with the Urban Landscape," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(4), pages 1353-1371, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Husnain Tansar & Huan-Feng Duan & Ole Mark, 2022. "Catchment-Scale and Local-Scale Based Evaluation of LID Effectiveness on Urban Drainage System Performance," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(2), pages 507-526, January.
    2. Anna Palla & Ilaria Gnecco, 2022. "On the Effectiveness of Domestic Rainwater Harvesting Systems to Support Urban Flood Resilience," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(15), pages 5897-5914, December.
    3. Fontecha, John E. & Nikolaev, Alexander & Walteros, Jose L. & Zhu, Zhenduo, 2022. "Scientists wanted? A literature review on incentive programs that promote pro-environmental consumer behavior: Energy, waste, and water," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).

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