Elsevier

Ecological Engineering

Volume 71, October 2014, Pages 448-457
Ecological Engineering

A closed urban scenic river system using stormwater treated with LID-BMP technology in a revitalized historical district in China

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.049Get rights and content

Highlights

  • An urban river restoration demonstrating a systematic solution was presented.

  • A LID-BMP facilities scheme was proposed to maintain the quantity and quality of the closed urban scenic river system and to reduce stormwater flooding.

  • The SWMM model was developed to assess the water quantity and quality obtained using the LID-BMPs.

  • Deployment of sources for the water system and a water quality maintenance scheme were proposed.

Abstract

Urban river restoration is becoming a concern as a result of economic development. One scientific focus is how to restore urban river systems by integrating principles and practices of land use planning, landscaping, aquatic environmental protection, and flood control. A river revitalization project in a historical district in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China is used here as a case study. The study demonstrates the development of a systematic solution that integrated knowledge of urban planning, landscape ecology, environmental science, and hydrology. In accordance with a low impact development (LID) strategy, the planning objectives were designed to give the district the ability to maintain the quantity and quality of the closed scenic water system and to reduce risks of flooding. Low impact development best management practice (LID-BMP) facilities were selected, placed and designed based on landscape planning and the other factors listed above. A model based on the storm water management model (SWMM) was developed to assess the water quantity and quality benefits to be expected by implementing the LID-BMPs under different storm scenarios. Based on an investigation of the pollution sources and the design of the water system, water quantity requirements were then estimated. Deployment of sources for the water system and a water quality maintenance scheme were proposed. In addition, according to the SWMM modeling analysis, although the stormwater pipe system in the district met only the standard required for 2-year recurrence-interval storms, there would be no local flooding in a 5-year recurrence-interval storm, and the local flooding situation would not be serious even when a 20-year recurrence-interval storm occurred.

Introduction

The Taihu Lake Basin in Southeastern China has one of the highest degrees of industrialization and urbanization in China. However, along with the rapid urbanization and extreme land use changes over the past 30 years, many cities in the Taihu Lake basin such as Suzhou have faced serious urban water system problems. River corridors have been encroached upon, rivers have been truncated, and the numbers of blocked-off rivers and enclosed water systems have increased, all because of urban expansion and retrofit needs (Zhang et al., 2013). Similar situations have occurred in many other cities in China and other countries that have experienced rapid urbanization. Such hydro-modification activities have often resulted in a reduction of streams’ self-purification capacity and ecosystem degradation (Ballo et al., 2009, Du et al., 2012, Moore et al., 2012), which have seriously affected the quality of life and the sustainable development of cities. Urban river restoration to improve the water quality and ecological functions is becoming a concern for the government and the general public all over the world (Mitsch, 2012, Palmer et al., 2014, Hao, 2005). However, urban river restoration is a complex task for local governments, particularly in old historical cities, as it involves interactions among administrative agencies with regard to land use, landscape, aquatic environment protection, flood control, etc. (Sun et al., 2011, Loucks and Jia, 2012). An integrated systematic solution that combines knowledge of urban planning, landscape ecology, environmental science, and hydrology is needed. Low impact development best management practices (LID-BMPs) are an innovative, integrated set of methodologies and engineering systems for urban runoff control (Davis, 2005). In addition to their benefits in flood control, LID-BMPs enhance water quality purification, rainwater harvesting, esthetics, and ecology (Dietz, 2007, Jia et al., 2013b). In this context, incorporating an LID strategy in urban river restoration during new urban development or old urban revitalization has become a focus for urban planners, researchers, and managers (Wong, 2002, USEPA, 2004, Jia et al., 2012). Using the opportunity of performing a revitalization project in the Taohuawu Cultural District in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, we conducted a case study of LID-BMP technology for stormwater harvesting, treatment, and water quality maintenance for closed urban scenic river systems. The main goal of the case study, which is the focus of the present paper, was to develop a plan that would maintain a sound habitat for aquatic life by providing the required water quantity and quality. The ecosystem restoration plan of the closed urban river systems will be considered for implementation by the local government in the ultimate development and management of the historic site restoration project.

Section snippets

The study site

Suzhou is an important, highly developed historical city in Jiangsu Province in eastern China. After a decade of fast economic development, the local government has begun to work rigorously on water pollution control and urban river rehabilitation projects. In this context, a revitalization project for the Taohuawu Cultural District in the Suzhou historical area was proposed by the local government. The Taohuawu Cultural District is the former residence site of Tang Yin, a very famous Chinese

Assessment of effects on rainwater harvest

According to the long-term monthly average rainfall data, the storms usually occur during April to October, which account for 75% annual rainfall amount. The rainfalls in other month are relatively few, and most important, these are usually light rains which are difficult to harvest. In the study, hourly rainfall data during April to October from 2001 to 2007 were collected and analyzed. The data from a representative year for Suzhou, i.e., 2005, was used for the runoff model simulation and

Conclusions

Urban river ecosystem conservation is a major concern for projects involving new urban development and the retrofitting of old cities. LID-BMPs are considered an innovative, integrated method to decrease the negative impacts of urbanization on water systems. A case study was conducted in Suzhou City to create a closed scenic water system using LID-BMP technology in a project to revitalize the Taohuawu Cultural District. It was shown that a closed water system would have the ability to maintain

Acknowledgments

This work was jointly supported by the National Water Pollution Control Special Project (2011ZX07301-003), the Natural Science Foundation Project (51278267), and the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (B07002). The authors thank Mr. Zeng Shentao, Vice President of Suzhou Taohuawu Development and Construction, for his extensive support and assistance in data collection.

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