Adaptive water management through hybrid infrastructure: Addressing floods and water scarcity in the Sunter River Region

The Sunter River basin faces significant challenges related to flooding and water scarcity, driven by broken embankments and high rainfall intensity. This study aims to design an adaptive water management system that mitigates flood risks during the rainy season while conserving rainwater for use during the dry season. This research employs area calculation using the Polygon Thiessen method to analyze rainfall distribution. Rainfall data with 90% reliability is processed using the F.J. Mock method, while the Mononobe theory is applied to determine rainfall intensity. The study proposes a hybrid infrastructure that integrates rainwater harvesting (RwH), green roofs (GRo), infiltration trenches (ITre), and ground reservoirs to manage and conserve water resources effectively. The analysis indicates that the hybrid infrastructure can harvest approximately 401,345 m³ of rainwater annually. The infiltration trench system is designed to manage runoff from the Sunter River’s drainage channel, with a capacity of 143,259 m³/s, based on a 5-year return period. The trench dimensions are 2.5 meters in depth and 3 meters in width. Rainwater storage for RwH and GRo employs fiberglass reinforced panel tanks in a modular knock-down system with dimensions of 1m x 1m x 1m, reinforced with slab structures and C-channel plates. This infrastructure is strategically constructed over the Sunter River to optimize land use and mitigate flooding. The proposed system offers a sustainable solution to address water management issues in urban areas, reducing flood risk while enhancing water availability during dry periods. This hybrid infrastructure model can be adapted and replicated in other flood-prone and water-scarce regions, contributing to improved resilience against climate variability. This study presents an innovative approach by integrating multiple water management techniques into a single hybrid infrastructure system. By addressing both flooding and water scarcity through adaptive design, the research provides a novel contribution to sustainable urban water management practices in the Sunter River region.