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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
08:49
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Achieving multiple benefits from stormwater harvesting.
V G Mitchell1, A Deletic, T D Fletcher
1Institute for Sustainable Water Resources, Building 60, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia. grace.mitchell@eng.monash.edu.au
Summary
Stormwater harvesting offers multiple benefits for urban water servicing, enhancing stream health and water supply. This research assesses integrated systems, finding collection and treatment methods viable for urban environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Urban Planning
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- Integrated urban water management is increasingly adopted in urban water servicing.
- Stormwater harvesting presents multi-functional benefits, including improved urban stream health and water supply.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a research program assessing the viability of stormwater harvesting.
- To develop recommendations for integrated stormwater harvesting systems.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of collection, treatment, storage, flood protection, and distribution components.
- Assessment of environmental flow consequences of urban stormwater harvesting.
- Evaluation of swales, biofilters, ponds, and wetlands in treatment trains.
Main Results:
- Swales and biofilters in collection systems showed minimal exfiltration and evaporation losses.
- WSUD-type biophysical measures and physio-chemical processes can provide further treatment.
- Stormwater storage capacity is often not a barrier, and flood protection is design-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Integrated stormwater harvesting systems are viable for urban water servicing.
- Collection and treatment components can be effectively designed using various methods.
- Stormwater harvesting contributes to both water supply and environmental flow improvements.
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