Previously, stormwater management practices dealt mainly with water quantity issues such as downstream flooding and erosion. However, water quality issues have not been addressed as extensively. In recent years, a new and broader approach to stormwater management has been developed based on water quality and quantity, also resource management concerns. Yet still, the stormwater management projects which have been done, were predominantly based on the engineering and safety standards. An opportunity has been missed to introduce environmental, social, and aesthetic components.
Water does play a valuable aesthetic role in the landscape.
Stormwater management design that uses water in a creative and integrative way could provide a better urban environment. Based on a literature review a comprehensive design framework was developed that incorporated engineering standards with potential multi-purpose solutions. To illustrate the utility of this design framework it was applied to a site within Guelph, Ontario. An expert-based evaluation was conducted which examined how successful the design was in achieving both physical and human objectives. The design was comprehensive in providing environmental, social and aesthetic as well as functional solutions to enhance the quality of our surrounding environment.