Accredited Stormwater Management

The better management of urban stormwater using non-piped drainage systems is now seen to be de rigeur in most countries. Nevertheless, the performance of these systems is not as well understood as traditional sewered systems especially in relation to pollutant removal efficiency. In recent years, the use of proprietary systems for stormwater management has increased rapidly in response to escalating water quality regulatory requirements particularly in urban environments where land space is limited and the potential use of other natural ‘green’ solutions are less practical. The review presented here has utilised the various extant approaches for performance assessment and accreditation currently in use. A framework for accreditation of proprietary stormwater treatment devices is presented drawing on international standards but aimed at the European context. This includes a novel ‘Priority Pollutant Passport’ (PPP). It is concluded that the management of stormwater cannot be done using one type of system alone but rather through the use of a tool-box of measures selected for use in the particular context being considered.