A United Kingdom Perspective on Institutional Constraints Limiting Advances in Stormwater Management

Abstract

The traditional approach to water supply and wastewater transport systems in Europe is to supply high quality potable water to the urban community and to transport the resulting ‘consumed’ wastewater to receiving waters beyond the margins of the urban area. The principle of centralised water supply and wastewater treatment, underpinned by high levels of investment in infrastructures and associated maintenance and renewal costs, is still largely unchallenged due to the assumed risks to health and quality of life in the city. Similarly, the traditional approach to urban expansion has been to extend the catchment area for the importation of water for potable supply and the exportation of treated wastewater. Increasing demands for clean water in the city and the resulting burden of pollution loads and ecological damage from urban wastewater can no longer be sustained without causing environmental degradation and societal disbenefits coupled to economic constraints on future growth and development. Within this context, stormwater generated by rainfall on impermeable surfaces within the city is usually regarded as an inconvenience and a potential risk to property and life; for example, as evidenced by catastrophic flooding following extreme rainfall events.