Sustainable
Rainwater Management

Properly deployed rainwater management systems alleviate the impact of stormwater runoff and flooding. They also play a central role in sustainable water management.

Holistic and sustainable approaches to rainwater management help organizations mitigate environmental concerns like water quality, pollution, and soil erosion. Utilizing rainwater as a resource makes it easier to manage water scarcity, saves money, and conserves resources.

Let's take a closer look at rainwater stormwater management, to understand why it’s necessary and how it works.

<h2>What is Rainwater Management?</h2>Rainwater management refers to controlling and utilizing rainwater. Also known as stormwater management, rainwater management reduces or prevents damage caused by rainwater runoff. In ideal conditions, the soil absorbs and filters rainwater, which flows into waterways or replenishes aquifers. However, heavy rainfall obstructs this process, leading to saturated ground. During a deluge, rainwater flows across saturated ground, eventually running into drainage channels like road ditches and storm drains. Although this solves an immediate problem, this rainwater is often riddled with pollutants, chemicals, and bacteria. These pollutants may then enter waterways and wetlands. Rainwater management is particularly crucial in urban areas. Concrete sidewalks and roofs make it impossible for rainwater to soak into the earth naturally. Rainwater quickly runs off into sewers and man-made channels. This leads to soil erosion, flooding, and infrastructure damage. Rainwater management addresses these problems and provides reliable solutions. <h2>Why is Rainwater/Stormwater Management Necessary?</h2>Rainwater and stormwater management offers an effective solution to a wide range of economic and environmental issues and helps mitigate the consequences of climate change. Below, we’ll take a closer look at why rainwater/stormwater management is so necessary. <h3>Combating Flooding</h3>Stormwater drainage systems help avoid and alleviate flooding in urban areas. Heavy rain events can quickly overwhelm sewers and conventional drainage systems - an issue compounded by surface sealing which limits the drainage of surface water. <a href="/en-us/trench-drainage/bg-filcoten">Drainage channels like BG-FILCOTEN</a> and the <a href="/en-us/retention-systems">retention system citybloq</a> effectively minimize the risk of flooding in urbanized areas. Available in a variety of gratings, these reliable trench chains are made from HPC (High Performance Concrete) to effectively collect surface water. <h3>Reducing Soil Erosion</h3>Rainwater management also reduces soil erosion. This is particularly important as soil erosion damages soil fertility and creates sediment layers in rivers, contributing to flooding. Erosion also pollutes waterways by depositing soil, fertilizers, and pesticides. <h3>Increased Access to Water</h3>Rainwater harvesting helps overcome water scarcity and places less pressure on public water utilities. This lessens the need for expensive infrastructure to access groundwater and lowers costs. What’s more, rainwater harvesting and use are more energy-efficient than pumping groundwater. <h3>Improved Water Quality</h3>Stormwater management measures such as rainwater harvesting can also improve water quality. Correctly implemented rainwater harvesting improves local ecosystems and recharges groundwater sources like aquifers. <h3>Less Damage to Urban Infrastructure</h3>In urban areas, outdated rainwater drainage system infrastructure can cause many problems. Constant exposure to surface water can lead to soil expansion, damaging any kind of pavement and foundations. Regular freezing also damages roads, as thawing leads to frost-heaving and cracked roadways. Domestic rainwater drainage systems protect properties against mold and rot. Effective house rainwater drainage preserves foundations, helping to mitigate damage and cutting maintenance costs. Facades and terrace channels like <a href="/en-us/trench-drainage/bg-flex">BG-FLEX </a>protect building structures by collecting surface and wall water. <h3>Helps Eliminate Pests and Waterborne Pests</h3>Heavy flooding and standing water are also significant public health risks. Along with introducing pollutants into the environment, standing water serves as a breeding ground for many pests, including mosquitoes which can spread malaria and viral infections. <h2>How Does Stormwater Management Work?</h2>Rainwater and stormwater management controls the quality and quantity of rainwater runoff. There are many ways to manage rainwater, depending on environmental and cost factors. For instance, users can install storage tanks and retention basins. Gardens absorb rainwater runoff from roofs and buildings, while permeable pavements allow water to drain into the soil effectively. Green infrastructure projects also offer many reliable and cost-effective rainwater/stormwater management solutions. Combined, these systems mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff, protecting the surrounding environment from flooding, soil erosion, and pollution. <h2>What To Consider When Installing Rainwater/Stormwater Management</h2>Whether users are adapting existing structures or starting from scratch as part of new developments, many requirements must be considered when planning for rainwater management. Key factors include: <ul><li>Reliability - A key requirement of every system is its reliability when collecting and draining rainwater. Materials must be resilient and suitable for their task.</li><li>What to do with rainwater - Precipitation can be left to evaporate or seep away or reused for new purposes. Reuse is preferred for green infrastructure (GI) projects.</li><li>Pollutant removal - Water reuse systems require the removal of harmful pollutants such as heavy metals and microplastics. Rainwater management systems must filter out hazards before they reuse rainwater or allow it to evaporate. Filtration channels remove pollutants from surface water after collection, allowing water to be safely released into the ecosystem or discharged to watercourses.</li><li>Aesthetics - Rainwater systems may need to integrate with architectural styles or landscapes. Ideally, commercial and domestic rainwater drainage systems should be low-impact additions to an environment, enhancing its appearance, rather than detracting from it.</li><li>Context - Commercial buildings generally have significantly higher drainage demands. Commercial areas typically experience high traffic levels and drainage systems must cope with the stress of heavy vehicles. Surface sealing requirements are also important. Commercial buildings may endure higher runoff volumes during heavy rainfall, and the stormwater drainage system must accommodate this.</li><li>Longevity - Rainwater drainage systems should perform optimally for many years. Easy maintenance should also come as standard, with drainage systems requiring minimal servicing throughout their lifespan.</li></ul> <h3>Effects of Climate Change on Stormwater Management</h3>In many parts of the world, increased precipitation is an unavoidable consequence of climate change, especially during the summer months. Heavy rainfall events are rising in frequency, leading to unprecedented floods. Cities may lack preparation for such disasters. Record temperatures and extended periods of drought also contribute to water scarcity. Rainwater is becoming an increasingly precious resource. Communities urgently need rainwater management solutions to harvest, filter, and use rainwater. Climate change is an everyday fact of life for billions of people worldwide, with clear and severe impacts on cities and urban areas. For example, in 2024, Toronto experienced one of its wettest days, recording more than 98 mm in rainfall. Insufficient stormwater management systems failed, leading to flooded subway stations and highways. More than 170,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages, and the cost of infrastructure damage exceeded $1 billion. Recent events in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also show the need for modernized rainwater drainage technology. In the UAE, planners are used to desert conditions. But in April 2024, Sharjah and Dubai received over 258 mm of rainfall in one day. Highways and rail services suffered as rainfall led to flooding. However, international travel felt the biggest impact. Floods quickly overwhelmed Dubai International Airport and surrounding roads. Over 1,200 flights were canceled, and costs have reached $110 million.Updating rainwater drainage systems is now a priority in both Toronto and Dubai. However, flash flooding can overload municipal infrastructure almost anywhere. In early 2024, San Diego faced severe flooding conditions as a powerful storm drenched the region with torrential rain. The intensity of the storm overwhelmed the city's drainage infrastructure, leading to significant flooding in various neighborhoods. Emergency services were dispatched to rescue stranded residents, and numerous homes suffered water damage. With roads submerged, transportation services were disrupted, particularly affecting major thoroughfares. The economic impact was considerable, with recovery and repair costs escalating as the city worked to address the aftermath and fortify its stormwater management systems against future events. Technical solutions like <a href="/en-us/retention-systems">BG-AQUA citybloq</a> lighten the load placed on such networks. They create a buffer zone that stores stormwater, before releasing it once networks become clear. This protects key infrastructure against extreme events. <a href="/en-us/trench-drainage/bg-gatic">The BG-GATIC</a> system also drains external hard surface areas without compromising aesthetics. This innovative high capacity slot drain would suit situations like Dubai where flooding can spread rapidly across urban and infrastructural spaces. <h2>Rainwater Utilization and Ecological Factors</h2>Decentralized water treatment is a key aspect of rainwater management. Sometimes referred to as decentralized sanitation, it involves wastewater treatment at the source. Decentralized water management is a more cost-effective alternative than centralized alternatives. It avoids the need for treatment plants and complex infrastructure and can be implemented at different scales. Decentralized systems integrate with individual properties or single buildings, while larger solutions can serve entire communities. Rainwater infiltration needs to be taken into account when designing decentralized systems. Infiltration refers to rainwater entering the subsoil - a crucial process to the environment and the overall water cycle. The problem is, rainwater and stormwater runoff can contain harmful pollutants. This is especially true in high-traffic areas. Oil and fuel residues, heavy metals, and microplastics from vehicle tires can all be present in runoff. A rainwater drainage system must remove as many of these substances as possible before rainwater can seep away or be discharged. The same applies if rainwater is being harvested for everyday utilization. <a href="/en-us/trench-drainage/bg-filcoten/green">Filtration trench drains like BG-FILCOTEN green</a> are a practical solution. They provide high-performance filtration for rainwater runoff by removing the contaminants before they reach groundwater or local waterways. They promote sustainable rainwater management and support cleaner, safer urban water systems. <h2>Drainage Systems for Modern and Sustainable Rainwater Management</h2>At BG Graspointner, our extensive range of drainage solutions supports a more sustainable approach to rainwater management. From surface drainage systems for residential properties to large-scale solutions for commercial locations and public spaces, our products are the obvious choice if you want to modernize your rainwater treatment and infiltration systems. Feel free to explore our full range of drainage channels online or discuss your requirements in more detail. Give us a call today or send an email to our sales team.

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