Evaluation of the effectiveness of green infrastructure on hydrology and water quality in a combined sewer overflow community

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-05, Vol.665, p.69-79
• Main Authors: Chen, Jingqiu, Liu, Yaoze, Gitau, Margaret W., Engel, Bernard A., Flanagan, Dennis C., Harbor, Jonathan M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combined sewer overflow; Cost effectiveness; decision making; green infrastructure; Green infrastructure suitable locations; Hydrologic modeling; hydrologic models; pavements; pollutants; roads; runoff; Urban runoff; water management; Water quality; watersheds
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.416

Evaluation of the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) practices on improving site hydrology and water quality and their associated cost could provide valuable information for decision makers when creating development/re-development strategies. In this study, a watershed scale rainfall-runoff model (the Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Analysis - Low Impact Development model, the L-THIA-LID 2.1 model) was enhanced to improve its simulation of urban water management practices including GI practices. The enhanced model (L-THIA-LID 2.2) is capable of: simulating in more detail impervious surfaces including sidewalks, roads, driveways, and parking lots; conducting cost calculations for converting these impervious surfaces to porous pavements; and, selecting suitable areas for bioretention in the study area. The effectiveness of GI practices on improving hydrology and water quality in a combined sewer overflow urban watershed—the Darst Sewershed in the City of Peoria, IL—was examined in eleven simulation scenarios using 8 practices. The total cost and the cost effectiveness for each scenario considering a 20-year practice lifetime were calculated. Results showed: combined implementation of GI practices performed better than applying individual practices alone; adoption levels and combinations of GI practices could potentially reduce runoff volume by 0.2–23.5%, TSS by 0.18–30.8%, TN by 0.2–27.9%, and TP by 0.2 to 28.1%; adding more practices did not necessarily achieve substantial runoff and pollutant reductions based on site characteristics; the most cost-effective scenario out of eleven considered had an associated cost of $9.21 to achieve 1 m3 runoff reduction per year and $119 to achieve 1 kg TSS reduction per year assuming residents' cooperation in implementing GI practices on their properties; adoption of GI practices on all possible areas could potentially achieve the greatest runoff and pollutant reduction, but would not be the most cost-effective option. This enhanced model can be applied to different locations to support assessing the beneficial uses of GI practices. [Display omitted] •The enhanced model evaluates GI practices effectiveness and their associated cost.•Combined implementation of GI practices performed better than individual application.•More investments did not necessarily result in significant additional reductions.•Similar cost-effectiveness scenarios did not necessarily achieve similar reductions.