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Seasonal and situational impacts on the effectiveness of a decentralized stormwater management program in the reduction of runoff volume (Cincinnati OH; USA)
Citation:
SHUSTER, W. D., M. A. MORRISON, AND H. W. THURSTON. Seasonal and situational impacts on the effectiveness of a decentralized stormwater management program in the reduction of runoff volume (Cincinnati OH; USA). Presented at NOVATECH 2010 7th International Conference on Sustainable Techniques and Strategies in Urban Water management, Lyon, FRANCE, June 27 - July 01, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
A decentralized, retrofit approach to storm water management was implemented in a small suburban drainage on the basis of a voluntary reverse auction. This campaign led to the installation of 83 rain gardens and 176 rain barrels on approximately 20 percent of 350 residential properties in the watershed. One area of the drainage showed unusually high (~50%) adoption of the rain garden and rain barrels (up to four) that were offered. We studied this neighborhood for the potential of these practices to reduce stormwater volume and how effectiveness would be modulated by changes in connectivity of impervious surface to the management practices, and seasonal impacts on the comparative practicality and function amongst the gardens and barrels. Seasonal impacts were negligible for rain gardens (which maintained detention capacity across the seasons). Rain barrels played a more minor role due to the relatively small amount of detention that they offer, although this management practice apparently offered other non-structural benefits. We found that landowner engagement in disconnecting larger extents of impervious surface would be critical in making this program most effective.
