Impacts of climate change on urban stormwater runoff quantity and quality in a cold region

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 954; p. 176439
• Main Authors: Yang, Yang, Zhu, David Z., Loewen, Mark R., Zhang, Wenming, van Duin, Bert, Mahmood, Khizar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Climate change; Cold region; Pollutant loading; Rainfall disaggregation; SWMM; Urban stormwater quality; Climate change; Pollutant loading; Rainfall disaggregation; SWMM; Urban stormwater quality; Cold region
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176439

Climate change poses significant challenges to urban environments affecting both flood risks and stormwater pollutant loadings. However, studies on variations in stormwater runoff quantity and quality in cold regions, which are highly sensitive to climate change, are notably limited. Integrating climatic, hydrologic, and hydraulic modelling, the study assesses the potential impacts of climate change on stormwater runoff volume and pollutant dynamics in a Canadian urban watershed (Calgary). A two-year field program was conducted to support the calibration and validation of the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Intensity–duration–frequency curves were employed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on peak flow rate and flooding duration. In addition, typical dry, average, and wet years were applied to continuously simulate stormwater runoff quantity and quality during the 2050s and 2080s. The results suggest substantial increases in peak flow rates and flooding durations, particularly for the 5-year return period rainfall, with 1-h, 4-h, and 24-h peak inflow rates increasing by 74.3% (170.7%), 89.2% (158.4%), and 64.1% (102.8%) in the 2050s (2080s) Furthermore, the runoff quantity is projected to rise by 2.4–10.2% in the 2050s and 11.8–17.5% in the 2080s. Total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) loadings are anticipated to increase by 2.0–36.1%, 3.1–21.4%, and 4.1–20.7%, respectively. As a result, the current stormwater system could overload and stormwater quality is likely to deteriorate under the impact of climate change. The findings are beneficial for cold regions to develop adaptive strategies that enhance urban water security and environmental sustainability under climate change. [Display omitted] •SWMM is effective in simulating runoff quantity and quality in cold urban regions.•IDF curves are expected to intensify in Calgary under climate change.•Peak flow rate and flooding duration are projected to increase.•Dry and average years have higher increases in pollutant loadings than a wet year.•Pollutant washoff loadings are affected by rainfall characteristics.