United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Urban Watershed Management Branch
STATE-OF-THE-TECHNOLOGY ON ADVANCED DRAINAGE CONCEPTS
IMPACT STATEMENT
Fostering and promoting the implementation
of innovative and green technology for new
and retrofitting existing urban drainage
systems will reduce installation and operation
and management costs, energy needs, and
provide for aesthetic enhancement of these systems.
The anticipated overall life-cycle costs for
infrastructure drainage over the next few decades
are in the hundreds of billions of dollars and a
fractional cost savings would amount to billions.
BACKGROUND:
This project is being conducted to satisfy the basic need for urban drainage infrastructure with consideration given to
the most up-to-date technology. Much has been learned about drainage systems in the recent and historical past, and
emphasis is being placed nationally and internationally on infrastructure improvement including green infrastructure,
energy conservation and affordability. This project was implemented to establish a directional roadmap for the
implementation of new and improvement of existing urban drainage systems.
DESCRIPTION:
The National Risk Management Research Laboratory, of EPA's Office of Research and Development, has funded this
research project in support of its Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI) Research Program. The objective of the research
project is to investigate and document a range of innovative technology and management strategies that are emerging
outside the normal realm of business within the U.S that deal with urban watershed management control and failing
infrastructure.
This project will conduct an international survey, including literature review and forums, of new and improved drainage
concepts. The objective is to identify innovative strategies for managing the effects of wet-weather flow control and
failing infrastructure in an urban setting. Investigations of wet-weather flow approaches through control and treatment
at the source are important aspects of this project. The intent is to establish areas where external information can
benefit EPA research and improve drainage (sewerage) systems. This includes gaining an understanding on developing
priorities, research breakthroughs in other countries, and common needs across locations. Innovative systems that treat
stormwater as a beneficial resource are being explored. This effort will focus on practices and technologies that can be
implemented at the urban watershed management and infrastructure interface to combine cost-effective, integrated
solutions. The result will be a document containing innovative urban watershed wet-weather flow management and
control approaches from a national and international perspective.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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The approach used in this work has been to: 1) complete a literature review (which among other things evaluated
emerging technology with a focus on innovative combined sewerage system design and management) to establish a
roadmap for advanced drainage implementation, and 2) conduct forums to enable focused review. Forums were held in
Edinburgh, Scotland and Lyon, France in September and November 2008, respectively, with a total attendance of 89
international experts.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water, Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Water Quality (WQ), Long Term Goal - WQ-3 Source Control
RESEARCH PARTNERS :
Collaborators: Graie, Lyon, France; Sheffield University-U.K.
Contractors: Terra Tech., Inc; Subcontractors: ARC, LLC.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
It is expected that this project will result in increased acceptance of green infrastructure and practices that include:
bioretention/biofiltration cells, porous pavement, rooftop storage, and beneficial use of stormwater; improved aesthetic
values and reduced energy needs of drainage infrastructure; specific implementable topics and technologies; and
lowered national costs for combined sewage overflow control and wet-weather drainage system installation,
retrofitting, and operation and maintenance.
OUTPUTS:
Current and expected project outputs include:
• EPA (2009). Innovative Approaches for Urban Watershed Wet-Weather Flow Management and Control: State of
Technology Review Report (EPA/600/R-09/128)
• Presentation/proceedings paper: Rowney, A.C.; Struck, S.D.; and Field, R. (August 2009). Innovative Approaches
for Urban Watershed Wet-Weather Flow Management and Control: Results of the International State-of-the-
Technology Workshops. 33rd International Association of Hydraulic Research Congress, Vancouver, BC.
• State of the technology Final Report - Expected completion date: December 2009
RESOURCES:
Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/awi/
Urban Watershed Management Research: http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/
EPA (2009). Innovative Approaches for Urban Watershed Wet-Weather Flow Management and Control: State of
Technology Review Report (EPA/600/R-09/128): http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r09128/600r09128.pdf
CONTACTS:
Richard Field, Principal Investigator - (732) 321-6674 orfield.richard@epa.gov
Steven Doub, Media Relations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 or latham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
www.epa.gov/nrmrl
EPA/600/F-09/040
October 2009
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