Global policy analysis of low impact development for stormwater management in urban regions

Ni-Bin Chang, Jia-Wei Lu, Ting Fong May Chui and Nicholas Hartshorn

Land Use Policy, 2018, vol. 70, issue C, 368-383

Abstract: Population increase and migration from rural areas to urbanized regions have resulted in the formation of gray cities mainly comprised of impervious surfaces. High quantities of stormwater runoff containing pollutants from gray cities cause problems including inland flooding and water pollution. An innovative and evolving response to this global issue is the development of green cities that utilize low impact development (LID) and analogous initiatives. This paper aims to assess LID efforts and relevant governmental policies from a global perspective. It provides a vantage on major evolving LID technologies, where the best policies regarding planning, design, construction, and management are still not well known. The case studies of LID and relevant governmental policies around the world are presented to facilitate future quantitative and qualitative stormwater management in urban regions. This study found that the western and eastern regions around the globe have different driving forces and attitudes regarding implementing LID. These differences are reflected in the name of their LID-like initiatives with varying ramifications. The western regions, such as the United States, pay more attention to restoring water quality, whereas the eastern regions, such as China, prioritize flood prevention and rainwater harvesting. Levying stormwater fees and indirect subsidies by offering a discount are effective for promoting LID to some extent. This paper also provides an in-depth discussion in regard to the latest essence of LID technologies, which magnify their ability to manage stormwater while also providing societal, environmental, hydrological, and aesthetic benefits. Governments should encourage and support the development of green cities by using LID and analogous initiatives.

Keywords: Global policy; Urban regions; Stormwater management; Low impact development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:70:y:2018:i:c:p:368-383

DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.024

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