Land-Use and Legislation-Based Methodology for the Implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems in the Semi-Arid Region of Brazil

Priscila Barros Ramalho Alves, Iana Alexandra Alves Rufino, Patrícia Hermínio Cunha Feitosa, Slobodan Djordjević and Akbar Javadi
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Priscila Barros Ramalho Alves: Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
Iana Alexandra Alves Rufino: PPGECA, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB 58428-830, Brazil
Patrícia Hermínio Cunha Feitosa: PPGECA, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB 58428-830, Brazil
Slobodan Djordjević: Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
Akbar Javadi: Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: In developing countries, the urbanisation process occurs with empirical urban management, a high increase of impermeable areas, and a lack of connection between water resource management and planning. In Brazil, concentrated rainfall and ineffective urban drainage systems add to this context and may impact the population with flash floods. Although sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are widely used for flood mitigation, it is still not very well known how those strategies behave in semi-arid regions, where most of the time the weather is very dry. In Brazil, flood mitigation still mostly involves structural measures such as larger pipes or channels, with limited guidance for SuDS use due to the great resistance to change by citizens and managers. This study sought to analyse the efficacy of SuDS in Campina Grande, a semi-arid region of Brazil. A land-use and legislation-based methodology was developed with physical, climate, hydrological and governance data for three catchments and 312 sub-catchments in 30 applications and simulations. Simulations suggest that these strategies would be appropriate for semi-arid regions, with reductions in the flooded area, flooding volume, and impacts. This study is of relevance for cities with a similar climate to reach a sustainable level of urban drainage services, supporting the integration of urban planning and water resources management.

Keywords: sustainable drainage systems; semi-arid; flooding mitigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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