The end of the sectoral approach? Understanding the role of integration in urban water management

Urban areas are highly dependent on their urban water systems, which provide essential services such as access to clean drinking water, public health protection, and flood control. Global developments increasingly threaten the provision of these services: changing weather patterns, ongoing urbanization processes, and depleting natural resources...

The effect of uncertainties on the performance of real-time control of urban drainage systems

REAL-time control (RTC) is a technique used to dynamically control urban drainage systems to utilise the existing infrastructuremore optimally. It can be used to achieve a number of objectives aiming to improve the functioning of the urban drainage system, typically through the reduction of pollution. When heavy rainfall occurs, combined sewer...

Graph-based identification of critical elements in urban water infrastructure

The purpose of this thesis was to develop and demonstrate methods for determining the criticality of elements in networks. The impact failures could have on the network performance was its primary focus. A second objective was to determine whether the developed method could be applied successfully based on network characteristics. To achieve...

Ageing of plastic pipes in urban drainage systems

Plastic materials, such as PVC and HDPE, have become dominant construction materials for sewer systems, mainly due to their reputed chemical resistance. Nonetheless, plastic sewer pipes have operated for decades in a hostile environment, raising concern among sewer managers over the longevity of their drainage systems. Therefore, the main aim of...

On the build-up of storm water solids in gully pots

A substantial part of urban surfaces is to some extent impermeable. Rainfall on these areas turns into runoff, which mobilises solids present on these surfaces. This runoff is removed from urban built areas by different type of drainage systems via gully pots. The objective of a gully pot is twofold, namely 1) to convey runoff to the drainage...

Uncertainty analysis in integrated catchment modelling

The adoption of increasingly restrictive water quality standards is directed to maintain natural ecosystems in a good status. Complying with such standards requires significant investments in water infrastructure and operations. Consequently, mathematical simulation is usually applied to assist in the decision-making process for such large-scale...

The impact of sewer condition on the performance of sewer systems

Sewer systems are underground infrastructure networks, comprising pipes, manholes and ancillary works, that collect and transport rainfall runoff and sewage to wastewater treatment plants. These systems protect society from exposure to faecal contamination and flooding of urban areas due to heavy storm events to a predefined service level....