Urban planning that incorporates trees can have multiple benefits. Trees in urban areas have multiple benefits including increased infiltration and other benefits including shade and amenity value.
- Elaborated by NWRM project experts, validated by th European Commission
In the past, various activities were undertaken to straighten rivers, such as the stabilisation of river banks with concrete or other types of retention walls.ﾠ Such actions limited riversﾒ natural movements, leading to degradation of the river, increased water flow, increased erosion and decreased biodiversity.ﾠ Natural bank stabilisation reverses such activities, allowing rivers to move more freely.ﾠ Where bank stabilisation is nevertheless necessary, such as in residential areas, natural materials such as roots or gravel can be used.ﾠ Natural materials are preferable as they allow water to infiltrate into the bank.ﾠ They also provide better living conditions for aquatic fauna.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Collecting and storing rainwater for subsequent use ﾖ for example, using water butts or larger storage tanks.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (or SUDS) are a sequence of water management practices, green infrastructures and measures designed to drain surface water in a manner that mimics the natural hydrologic cycle and will provide a more sustainable approach to rainwater management than what has been the conventional grey infrastructure practice of routing run-off through a pipe to a receiving watercourse.
MAR is the purposeful recharge of water to aquifers for subsequent recovery and environmental benefit. Within the context of urban environment, MAR covers the injection and infiltration of captured stormwater ﾖ as such, it is linked to SuDS measures such as rainwater harvesting and infiltration techniques, but worth differentiating as a case where the primary purpose is to increase recharge to aquifers in addition to attenuating surface runoff,Mechanisms used to undertake the recharge should be highlighted. In this respect one can envisage:(i) surface structures to facilitate/augment recharge (such as soakways and infiltration basins);(ii) subsurface indirect recharge - artificial recharge is undertaken through wells drilled within the unsaturated zone;(iii) subsurface direct recharge - artificial recharge is undertaken through wells reaching the saturated zone.The regulatory approach to be adopted for each of the above three mechanisms could differ considerably, due to the fact that the level of natural protection to groundwater is vastly different for each of the mechanisms.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Small-scale depressions used for storage and infiltration, typically at a property-level and close to buildings (e.g. to infiltrate roof drainage at a property level).
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Sediment capture ponds are widely used to "slow down" water being drained from boreal forests. The main function of the sediment capture ponds is to remove prevent pollution of receiving waters downstream of a forest by removing suspended sediment and associated pollutants.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
In the past, rivers have been straightened by cutting off meanders (historically, many rivers in northern and western Europe have been straightened and channelized to facilitate log floating and/or speed up the drainage of water and control/limit the river bed movements).ﾠ Re-meandering is bringing a river back closer to its naturally meandering state by creating a new meandering course and by reconnecting cut-off meanders.ﾠ Re-meandering slows down the flow of a river.ﾠ The new form of the river channel creates new flow conditions and very often also has an impact on sedimentation.ﾠ The newly created or reconnected meanders also provide habitats for a wide range of aquatic and land species of plants and animals.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Planting and maintaining tree cover in near-stream areas can have multiple benefits including erosion and nutrient leaching control. They will also slow the stream velocity during high flow flood events and may have beneficial effects on stream temperature. Maintaining treed forest buffers during clearcutting can help minimizing the adverse effects of forestry on water quality and may have additional biodiversity benefits.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
Gently sloping vegetated strips of land that provide opportunities for slow conveyance and infiltration. Designed to accept runoff as overland flow from upstream and to slow the progress of this runoff.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission
