Mitigating urban flooding through SuDS: strategies for stormwater
management in downtown areas
Abstract
This study assesses the effectiveness of Sustainable Urban Drainage
Systems (SuDS) in mitigating urban flooding and enhancing stormwater
management in Machala, Ecuador. The implementation of SuDS resulted in a
57.64% reduction in flood volume and a decrease in peak flow from 10.50
m 3s -1 to 5.91 m
3s -1. Infiltration capacity
improved from 0.75 mm to 2.43 mm, while average surface runoff was
nearly halved from 19.27 mm to 10.48 mm. A specially designed porous
concrete with approximately 30% porosity showed optimal performance.
These findings indicate that SuDS can significantly contribute to urban
planning and flood management in coastal developing cities. The study
recommends prioritizing rain gardens and porous pavements, creating
local SuDS guidelines, integrating these systems into urban planning,
establishing long-term monitoring, and involving local communities. The
insights gained here offer valuable guidance for other coastal cities in
Ecuador and similar regions, demonstrating a sustainable approach to
managing urban flooding and enhancing water resilience.