The influence of Low Impact Development (LID) on basin runoff in a half-urbanized catchment

A case study in San Antonio, Texas

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Xinxin Sui (National University of Singapore, Student TU Delft)

F.H.M. van de Ven (TU Delft - Water Resources, Deltares)

Research Group
Water Resources
Copyright
© 2023 Xinxin Sui, F.H.M. van de Ven
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128793
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 Xinxin Sui, F.H.M. van de Ven
Research Group
Water Resources
Volume number
616
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Abstract

Low Impact Development (LID) was promoted as an alternative to conventional urban drainage methods. The effects of LID at the site or urban scales have been widely evaluated. This project aims to investigate the impact of LID implementation on basin runoff at a regional scale in a half-urbanized catchment, particularly the overlap of urban and rural sub-flows at peak times. A SUPERFLEX conceptual model framework is adapted as a semi-distributed model to simulate the rainfall-runoff relationship in the catchment for San Antonio, Texas, as a case study. Scenario analyses of both urban development and LID implementation are conducted. Results show that (1) the infill urban development strategy benefits more from runoff control than the sprawl urban development; (2) in non-flood season, permeable pavements, bioretention cells, and vegetated swales decrease peak runoff significantly, and permeable pavements, bioretention cells, and green roofs are good at runoff volume retention; (3) contrary to the general opinion about the peak reduction effect of LID, for a partly urbanized, partly rural basin, the LID implementation delays urban peaks and may cause larger stacking of rural and urban peak runoffs, leading to larger basin peaks under extremely wet conditions.