Storm Water and Contamination Control Efficiency Evaluation for Construction of a Neighborhood Project Using Low Impact Development

State Key Lab of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, 10048, Chegongzhang West St. No. 20, Haidian District, Beijing, China

^a Corresponding author: zhaoyang1224@163.com

Abstract

Urban flooding and water pollution are urgent problems to be solved in urban development. The improvement of urban drainage and water quality in urban construction using ecological measures is an important research task. Low impact development (LID) is a new concept in soil and water conservation aimed at improving urban rainwater use and reducing non-point source pollution. This paper discusses the best management practices (BMPs) related to storm water and contamination control efficiency by comparing pre-development and post-development neighborhoods (both conventional and LID designs). The study area was Weatherford, Oklahoma, United States. The results showed that conventional design had the lowest total runoff but highest peak rate, infiltration trenches with rain barrels were more efficient than bioswales, and the use of LID design would reduce total runoff and peak rate significantly. However, LID design would increase construction and annual maintenance fees.