Retrofit Upgrade of Stormwater Controls with Real-Time Mechanism for Smart and Sustainable Urban Water Resources Management

Urbanization and increased precipitation due to climate change have exacerbated stormwater management problems. Such changes are resulting in an increased strain on infrastructure, public health, and property. Urban development alters natural hydrology and hydraulics, resulting in habitat modification, increased inundation, decreased biodiversity, loss of groundwater recharge, and deteriorating water quality. Such problems are magnified in older urban areas with combined sewer systems. Traditional approaches for managing urban stormwater are faltering and falling short of managing stormwater in terms of quantity and quality as the volume, intensity, and frequency of urban floods increase. Common abatements have been to enlarge outlets, increase storage capacity, and add green infrastructure (GI); however, such improvements are static and incapable of modifying inherently variable flows or adapting to growing and changing urban landscapes. Modern GI combined with upgrades to existing stormwater controls such as dry detention ponds can provide better mitigation opportunities for effective urban stormwater management and, hence, combined sewer overflow (CSO) controls. As part of the current phase of this project, a scenario-based Smart Real-Time Control (SmaRT Control) system for urban runoff management is demonstrated using a combination of Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and PySWMM programs. Using the City of Chattanooga Zoo site as a case study, this work has showcased potential peak flow reduction, which is expected to minimize CSOs and downstream flooding. In addition, the proposed project provides an opportunity for the stored stormwater use at the site.