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Water Sensitive Urban Design for Greater Adelaide

The South Australian Government is seeking to integrate Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) into all urban development and buildings to achieve a more secure and sustainable future for Greater Adelaide. 

WSUD provides for the sustainable use and re-use within developments of water from various sources, including rainwater, stormwater, groundwater, mains water and wastewater (including ‘greywater’ and ‘blackwater’).

There are many different WSUD measures or tools which can be adopted, depending on the size and nature of the development, building or open space. Residential, commercial and industrial developments and buildings can all apply WSUD measures. 

As well as a range of technical measures, WSUD is an approach that when applied to design and development can help to make our communities more ecologically sustainable and more pleasant to live and work in.  

A more complete definition of Water Sensitive Urban Design is included below.

This web page contains the Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Technical Manual for Greater Adelaide (http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/wsud) and background information about the WSUD project.

Topics covered here are:

• What is Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)?
• What are the guiding principles of WSUD?
• WSUD ‘toolkit’ – WSUD measures for Greater Adelaide
• Designing a WSUD Strategy for Your Development
• WSUD measures for different types and scale of development
• How can you use WSUD when building a house?
• How can you use WSUD in residential subdivisions?
• How can you use WSUD in streetscapes?
• Can WSUD be applied on industrial and commercial sites?
• How can you use WSUD in public open spaces
• Keeping up with best practice!
• Your comments?
• For more information
• Upcoming training
• Project overview – Institutionalising WSUD project
• Achievements
• Acknowledgements

More information is available at the Water for Good website.

Documents

WSUD Technical Manual for Greater Adelaide July 2009

The table below presents the WSUD Technical Manual on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Also included is a summary sheet for each chapter, which outlines the chapter's general content.

For a quick ‘snapshot’ of WSUD and how it applies to Adelaide go to Summary Sheet 1.

The structure of each chapter generally includes information such as legislative requirements, design process and tools, construction, maintenance and operating requirements, some indicative costs, case studies plus a list of useful resources.

State model planning policies supporting the principles and application of water sensitive urban design have been included in Version 4 update of the Better Development Plan Library (in the Natural Resources Module) that was released in late 2008.

This can be found at http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/bdplibrary

What is Water Sensitive Urban Design?

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is an approach which integrates the management of all water resources and the total water cycle into the urban development process.

WSUD includes:

• Utilising water saving measures within and outside domestic, commercial, industrial and institutional premises to minimise requirements for drinking and non-drinking water supplies;
• Storage, treatment and beneficial use of runoff (at building and street level, including stormwater);
• Treatment and reuse of wastewater; and
• Using vegetation for treatment purposes, water efficient landscaping and enhancing biodiversity and amenity.

There are many different WSUD measures which together form a ’tool kit‘ from which individual measures can be selected to form a specific response suiting the characteristics of any development (or redevelopment).

Those measures are outlined in the Summary Sheets and described in detail in the WSUD Technical Manual.

Guiding Principles of WSUD

There are a number of guiding principles that underpin the objectives for water management and the implementation of WSUD in Greater Adelaide.

These principles should be addressed when undertaking the planning and implementation of water management.  These guiding principles and how they could be applied are outlined below.  Many opportunities exist for WSUD measures to address more than one principle.

The WSUD ‘Toolkit’- WSUD measures suitable for Greater Adelaide

There is a wide range of WSUD measures which can be applied to developments in the Greater Adelaide Region. Those that are best suited to our region include (but are not limited to):

An introductory overview of these WSUD measures is provided on pages 4-11 of Summary Sheet 1,2,3. 
Further detail, including technologies and design features, can be found in the Water Sensitive Urban Design Technical Manual for Greater Adelaide.

The Technical Manual and further information is available at http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/wsud  or
by contacting the Department of Planning and Local Government on telephone 08 8303 0724 or email plnsa.orders@saugov.sa.gov.au.

Designing a WSUD Strategy for Your Development

There are numerous ways to include WSUD principles into your development to improve how you deal with water quantity and water quality issues.

Choosing optimal WSUD strategies at a given site will be dependent on various factors including:

The most appropriate WSUD approach will require input from a range of disciplines, including architects, landscape architects, engineers, planners, regulators and local community members with an appreciation of WSUD to produce innovative and optimal solutions.

The preferred optimum solution at one site - such as utilising runoff (i.e. rainwater and stormwater) or reusing treated wastewater -  may not be appropriate at another.  A wide range of feasible solutions are usually available. 

As a general rule, site conditions and the characteristics of any target pollutant(s) influence the selection of an appropriate type of treatment measure, while climate conditions and catchment characteristics influence the hydrologic design and ultimately the overall pollutant removal effectiveness of measures.
Examples of WSUD strategies for the following forms of development are contained in the WSUD Technical Manual.

An outline of some of these appear on pages 13-15 of Summary Sheet 1. Further information can be obtained from the Water Sensitive Urban Design in Greater Adelaide Technical Manual. 

WSUD Measures for Different Types and Scale of Development

Research and experience demonstrates that WSUD measures can be designed for all different types and scale of development, including inner city areas where limited space is available.  Appropriate planning and design are required to ensure successful WSUD outcomes.  

The implementation of WSUD, either in a greenfield, brownfield, infill or retrofit context, requires careful consideration of the broad objectives and principles of WSUD for the Greater Adelaide Region and the required objectives and targets that may be specific to a site. 
To accomplish this, a formalised process will help determine whether a proposed strategy is suitable and/or appropriate and whether it integrates detailed planning, engineering, landscaping and ecology.

Consideration of water management should occur in the initial layout and design of a development rather than as an ad-hoc development requirement or one that is left until all other elements (such as lot layouts and street design) have been completed.

How can you use WSUD when building a house?

There are various WSUD techniques which can be used when developing water management strategies for single housing developments. 

For example, a rainwater tank can supply rainwater for toilet flushing, washing machine, and for outdoor use while water-efficient fittings reduce mains water consumption elsewhere.  Landscape practices also influence selection (and location) of species to reduce water demand and to achieve biodiversity outcomes.

During prolonged or heavy storms, rainwater can overflow from the rainwater tank to an infiltration (or retention) trench.  Runoff from paths, driveways and lawns is directed to garden areas (i.e. a rain garden). Excess runoff from impervious surfaces is directed to the retention trench, or overflows to the street drainage system.  Pervious pavements can be installed to minimise runoff and improve infiltration to groundwater.

How can you use WSUD in residential subdivisions?

WSUD use in residential subdivisions offers opportunities for:

• Narrow road reserves which reduce the area requiring irrigation (and maintenance);
• Integrating design of access and crossovers to maximise scope for retention of existing vegetation and for new plantings that minimise water requirements;
• Variation in road reserve widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management and substantial plantings;
• Pervious paving for footpaths and parking areas;
• Appropriate landscape practices that include the selection of species to reduce water demand;
  Constructed wetlands to detain, retain and treat urban runoff;
• Wastewater treatment and reuse to irrigate public open spaces.

How can you apply WSUD in streetscapes?

Roads account for a significant percentage of the overall impervious hard surfaces created within a typical development and therefore can significantly change the way water is transported through an area and the volume of runoff that is generated.  These areas also generate water borne pollutants that can adversely impact on receiving waterway health (e.g. fine sediments, metals and hydrocarbons).  Consequently, it is important to mitigate the impact of runoff generated from road surfaces.

A WSUD streetscape integrates road layout, and vehicular and pedestrian requirements with water management needs.  It uses design measures such as maximising pervious areas, local stormwater detention (and retention) in road reserves and managed landscaping.

Water sensitive streetscapes offer opportunities for:

• Varying road and road reserve widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management, maximise and enhance open space and landscaping possibilities and streetscape amenity;
• Integrating footpaths within road reserves to respond to natural features and stormwater management to create spaces that are easy to maintain and efficient to irrigate;
• Incorporating pervious paving in roads, driveways and parking areas where appropriate;
• Incorporating water absorbing drainage facilities (e.g. swales or bioretention swales) into the streetscape, using surface exposed systems, rather than underground piping systems;
• Incorporating local filtration by using rock/gravel filter beds with drainage channels; and
• Appropriate landscape practices that include the selection of species to reduce water demand (including artificial turf).

Can you use WSUD on industrial and commercial sites?

Typically in office buildings, water usage is dominated by toilet flushing. Relatively small demand exists for drinking water and garden irrigation. Little greywater generation is expected as there is generally minimal showering in these buildings.  The commercial sector goes beyond offices to include schools, universities, hospitals, markets and event venues.

Industrial water use is dependent on the specific industry and site. For example, water use ranges from cooling water for industrial equipment to very high-purity water for technology companies. Industry should use ‘fit-for-purpose’ water and be able demonstrate best water management and practice.

Commercial and industrial sites can reduce water demand through efficient toilets and appliances. Buildings with large catchment areas can harvest rainwater which can be utilised for toilet flushing and irrigation, as such sites often have large garden areas. Runoff can also be harvested from large carpark areas.

Other opportunities for industrial sites include multiple uses of water within a manufacturing site, the use of treated wastewater for process cooling applications and harvesting runoff for onsite use. As industrial developments and their water use are varied throughout the Greater Adelaide Region, approaches should be developed on a case-by-case basis.

How can you use WSUD in public open spaces?

Integration of public open space with conservation corridors, stormwater management systems and recreational facilities is a fundamental objective of WSUD. Public open space areas can potentially incorporate stormwater conveyance, detention, retention and treatment systems as landscape features within a multiple use corridor.

The following are examples of techniques which can be used to integrate water management and the open space network:

• Incorporation of waterways and wetlands within parks as ecological and/or recreational features;
• Integration of playfields within the basin of a dry detention basin;
• Design of subsurface storage and/or infiltration systems beneath playfields within parks or school yards; and
• Development of gardens within open space areas such as bioretention systems.

Keeping up with best practice!

The WSUD Technical Manual for Greater Adelaide reflects current best practice informed by designers, industry, planners, council staff, developers, researchers and others.  So it’s important to regularly review the manual’s information to ensure that it is up to date.  Later this year DPLG will update the documents to reflect innovations in research and practice.

Your comments?

Your feedback can also help us to improve the WSUD documents.   
Your comments or suggestions on the presentation and/or content of the documents, including case studies or demonstration projects, are welcome and can be emailed to dplg.publicsubmissions@saugov.sa.gov.au

For further information:

For CDs of the WSUD Technical Manual, please contact Planning Services within the Department of Planning and Local Government on:

Phone: (08) 8303 0724
E-mail: plnsa.orders@saugov.sa.gov.au

A printed version of the WSUD Technical Manual in two volumes is also available for a charge of $55 plus gst. This price is subsidised by the Department of Planning and Local Government but only while present stocks are available. Please contact Planning Services within the Department of Planning and Local Government as above.  

For information about the project, please contact:

Christine Lloyd
Department of Planning and Local Government
E-mail: lloyd.christine@saugov.sa.gov.au

Upcoming training

A detailed program of training is being developed. More information on this will be released shortly.

The first step is a seminar on Water Sensitive Urban Design being conducted for local government in partnership with the Local Government Association (SA) to be held on 30th September 2009. Due to strong demand an additional seminar will be held on 4^th November 2009. Further details can be found at http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/ 

WSUD Project Overview

The Institutionalising Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) project investigated how to formalise WSUD principles and ensure application of best practice to all forms of urban development and activities in the Greater Adelaide Region.

The project was established in January 2007 with substantial funding from the Australian Government and additional funding by various state Agencies as well as the Local Government Association (SA). 

The Department of Planning and Local Government (DPLG) led the project and was assisted by a project steering committee comprising representatives from key stakeholders within state and local government, the water industry and the development industry.

Following an open tender call in February 2007, a consultant consortium was appointed to provide additional specialist expertise necessary to achieve the project objectives.  The consortium was led by Australian Water Environments and includes expertise from the University of South Australia.

The project has produced reference tools tailored to suit local conditions (eg climate, soil and hydrology) for consistent application by state and local government, design practitioners, urban planners and the development industry, as well as providing more general information for the broader community. 

The four project outputs are:-

1.  Draft Framework for implementing WSUD

The draft Framework details the present regulatory and policy system for implementing WSUD in the Greater Adelaide Region but its general principles could be applied across the State. 

The Framework concludes that the existing system provides a good foundation for implementation. It includes recommendations for improving the effectiveness of implementation to get WSUD ‘on the ground’.  DPLG government agencies will test the feasibility and potential impacts of implementing the recommendations.

2.  WSUD Technical Manual for Greater Adelaide

The Manual provides technical guidelines and information about WSUD measures that can be applied to all types and scale of development in our local conditions.

It contains 15 chapters including details on 11 WSUD techniques that are suitable for local application.  They provide, for example, the detail of how to undertake site analysis, select appropriate WSUD tools and design methods for different types and scale of development and what information to provide to authorities.  Chapters include local case studies and indicative costs.  Summary sheets outlining each chapter’s general content are also provided. 

These guidelines are practical and technical in nature and reflect current best practice.  They were developed in partnership with key stakeholders in government and industry and research organisations.  Target audiences for the WSUD Manual include state and local government, planners, designers, developers and the general community.

3.  WSUD Training workshops

The second phase of the project focussed on capacity building and training.  Four WSUD training modules were prepared as half day workshops tailored to key stakeholder audiences and to varying levels of experience with WSUD and were presented by relevant experts from the consultant consortium. 

The workshops targeted audiences in local government, planners, developer/builders and design practitioners.  A total of 7 sessions were held in May and October 2008.  The workshops were designed for approximately 15 people, aiming for optimal adult learning.  A total of 95 people attended the workshops.  Their formal and informal feedback was overall strongly supportive of these sessions.

The workshops provide a foundation for additional capacity building and training to be undertaken on the release of the WSUD documents.  DPLG is working in partnership with the Local Government Association (SA) to deliver the first stage of training and capacity building program and will also work with a wide range of other stakeholders. 

The training sessions reinforced the linkages between government and industry and the value of working across disciplines, which are critical elements in achieving effective WSUD outcomes for the short and longer term.  They can also assist in raising community awareness about water sensitive urban design.

4.  Model planning policy

The project also informed preparation by DPLG of model planning policy for inclusion in the State Planning Policy Library and subsequently in council area Development Plans.  This will promote consistency in assessing new development proposals against clear WSUD policies.

The most recent update of the State Planning Policy Library (version 4.1) contains policies that support WSUD principles and techniques.  The policies are contained in the Natural Resources Module of the Better Development Plan Library and can be accessed at http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/bdplibrary

The WSUD Technical Manual provides the detailed information to assist applicants and councils in design and assessment of development applications.

Achievements

Key outputs from the project were completed on schedule in accordance with the grant funding contract.  

The WSUD documents developed by the project provide a coherent foundation for consistently applying WSUD principles to optimise urban water management and the liveability of communities in Greater Adelaide.

WSUD principles and the documents were considered during the preparation of Water For Good and the draft 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide which is currently undergoing public consultation until 30th September 2009.  The WSUD documents complement these plans.

The WSUD documents reflect current best practice informed by government, designers, developers, industry, planners and researchers.  At each stage of the project, stakeholders contributed to the draft document development through participation in the steering committee, targeted focus group workshops and broader consultation to test draft documents and draft training modules.

This approach highlights the importance of regular reviews to ensure the manual’s content is kept up to date and of building upon working partnerships.

Acknowledgements

The WSUD manual was developed in partnership with specialist consultants, government agencies, councils and industry groups. The project partners gratefully acknowledge all individuals and organisations that provided comments, suggestions and photographic material.

The Department of Planning and Local Government was the overall Project Manager working with the project Steering Committee which included representatives from: 

• Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board;
• Australian Water Association (AWA);
• Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI);
• Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC);
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA);
• Housing Industry Association (HIA);
• Local Government Association (LGA);
• Department of Planning and Local Government (DPLG);
• South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board;
• South Australian Water Corporation;
• Stormwater Industry Association (SIA); and
• Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).  

The Land Management Corporation and the Master Builders’ Association also contributed to the project. 

A consultant team was engaged to provide specialist technical advice in preparing the Technical Manual - the consultants were Australian Water Environments, the University of South Australia, Wayne Phillips and Associates and QED.