City-scale strategies for urban drainage to regulate quantity and quality of flow

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Urban drainage systems have never been under so much pressure, with intense rainfall events, urbanisation and populations all increasing. The impacts on surface runoff and overloading of combined sewer systems are resulting in nationwide issues of poor water quality and flooding in key urban environments. Cities require new urban drainage strategies that: incorporate the best available data and information about storm runoff and pollution pathways, understands and takes into consideration current urban form, planning and regulations, and are developed with all relevant stakeholders within boundaries of management and regulation. While conventional (grey) infrastructure still has a significant role to play in urban drainage and pollution management, Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) can provide flexible and more affordable means of reducing water entering drainage systems and slowing flow responses, and providing attenuation and treatment of pollution sources before they enter watercourses. Evidence is needed to understand how, where and when BGI aids flood risk and pollution mitigation over time and space in combination with existing infrastructure. This WIRe CDT PhD will develop a strategy framework for urban drainage and also improved understanding of BGI performance; assess long-term performance and costs of BGI, including management and maintenance; and aid design of future BGI strategies to mitigate climate-induced flood risk in urban areas.