Abstract:
The inability of current storm water quality models in reproducing historical pollu tographs accurately
and reliably has prompted the need to introduce alternative approaches to simulate stormwater runoff
from urban catchments. In view of the increasing popularity of designing urban stormwater systems
using the Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) approach, it is also essential to adopt a modelling
approach that enables differentiation between the various sources of pollutants such as roofs, roads and
other impervious surfaces. Using data from small urban catchments in Sydney, this research attempts to
improve the accuracy of stonnwater runoff predictions by adopting a more process-based approach.
This resulting runoff model will be enhanced to simulate stormwater runoff quality, subsequently
serving as an important tool in urban catchment management studies. Other findings from the
modelling exercise include the necessity of adopting a finer resolution in which raiufall is to be
recorded and the inferiority of the plane and gutter approach compared to a simplified diagonal
approach in conceptualising the catchment.
