Water management demonstration sites using SuDS are under construction in the Valencia Region of Spain
The EU LIFE+ Project AQUAVAL will demonstrate innovative solutions to problems related to runoff quantity and quality in the urban environment through the integration of part of the hydraulic infrastructure into the urban landscape using Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). The focus is to decrease the impacts of urban development (e.g. combined sewer overflow (CSO) spills, pollution, flooding, etc.) and adding social and environmental values to the programmed actions.
In the frame of this ambitious project, water management demonstration sites using SUDS as a complement to the existing water infrastructure are being built in two cities in the Valencian Region of Spain. The sites in the small cities of Xàtiva and Benaguasil, will provide showcases for Southern European Regions in the development of a sustainable drainage culture.
Seven sites with a range of common urban spaces and land uses were selected to reduce drainage problems, increase educational and social opportunities and, at the same time, consider stakeholders' preferences and opinions.
SUDS are under construction at the moment at six of the sites, while the seventh site, a permeable parking for the public indoor swimming pool in Benaguasil, was opened to the public last October.
The effectiveness of these systems in the Mediterranean region will be demonstrated by site monitoring until the end of the project (June 2013). In addition, stormwater management plans and urban-water policies will be drawn up for the two cities to give excellent examples which could be used in other Southern European regions.
C. Jefferies (1) CEng MICE and S. Perales Momparler (2) CEng MICE, ICE Member in Spain
1 University of Abertay Dundee, Urban Water Technology Centre, Level 5 Kydd Building, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, Scotland. C.Jefferies@abertay.ac.uk
2 PMEnginyeria, Avda. Aragón, 18-1-1, 46021, Valencia, ESPAÑA. sperales@pmenginyeria.com