Wsud Guidlines - Int - 05-06f - Hi PDF

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Water Sensitive
Urban Design
Site Development Guidelines
and Practice Notes
Prepared by the Hobart City Council
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Contents
Acknowledgment......................................................... 1
Practice notes............................................................32
Introduction............................................................... 3
1 Rainwater tanks...............................................33
2 Infiltration devices............................................ 37
3 Paving . ............................................................ 43
4 Landscaping.....................................................48
5 Drainage design................................................64
6 Wastewater reuse..............................................68
7 Rain gardens and bioretention systems.............72
8 Vegetated swales and buffers............................. 74
9 Water efficient home fittings and appliances..... 76
10 Stormwater ponds............................................. 79
11 Wetland design, construction & maintenance...90
12 Hard engineering systems............................... 103
How to use this document............................................4

Type of development.................................................. 6
Single Residential Development...................................7
Residential Subdivision Development........................ 11
Residential Multi-unit Development..........................15
Streetscape Development........................................... 19
Vehicle Parking Area Development............................23
Commercial and Industrial Development................... 27
Appendix A Site Planning........................................ 109
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Acknowledgment
Permission for use of content sourced from Water Sensitive Planning for the Sydney Region.
(produced through the Water Sensitive Urban Design in the Sydney Region Project involving the Sydney Coastal
Councils Group, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and the Upper Parramatta River Catchment
Trust) is gratefully acknowledged by the Council.
Input from the Tasmanian Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment and the use of the Melbourne Waters
WSUD Engineering Procedures: Stormwater as a key research document is also acknowledged.
Hobart City Council, 2006

No part of this document is to be copied, published or stored in any retrieval means (electronic or otherwise) for
financial gain.
However, you are welcome to reproduce material contained in this publication for non-commercial use without
formal permission or charge, provided that you give acknowledgment to the document and the Hobart City Council
as author and publisher.
Indemnity / Disclaimer:
While every endeavour has been made to ensure that the material contained in this document is both accurate and
up-to-date, Hobart City Council, or any person or organisation acting on its behalf, does not make any warranty
or representation, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this publication. Hobart City
Council, or any person or organisation acting on its behalf, does not assume any liability with respect to the use of,
or damages resulting from the information contained within this document. Accordingly, persons or organisations
using this document are encouraged to seek advice from appropriate authorities, manufacturers and experts.
The Council as the planning authority is required to assess each application for a planning permit in accordance
with the provisions of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the relevant planning scheme. The
proposed incorporation of the techniques or approaches proposed in these Guidelines is not to be taken by an
applicant as grounds for approving an application for a planning permit or any other statutory approvals . The
Council will assess each application on merit based on compliance with the law
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Water Sensitive Urban Design

and Practice Notes
Introduction
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Introduction What is WSUD?

Water sensitive design seeks to ensure that development is carefully designed, constructed and maintained so as
to minimise impacts on the natural water cycle. It is part of the contemporary trend towards more sustainable
solutions that protect the environment.
Water sensitive design can help counteract many of the negative impacts of urban development on the natural water
cycle. By utilising appropriate measures in the design and operation of development, it is possible to:
maintain and restore natural water balance
reduce flood risk in urban areas
reduce erosion of waterways, slopes and banks
improve water quality in streams and groundwater
make more efficient use of water resources
reduce the cost of providing and maintaining water infrastructure
protect and restore aquatic and riparian ecosystems and habitats
protect the scenic, landscape and recreational values of streams.
Traditional water supply, stormwater and wastewater practices are largely based on centralised collection,
conveyance, treatment and disposal of water flows. By contrast, water sensitive design promotes a more
decentralised approach that is more attuned to natural hydrological and ecological processes. It gives greater
emphasis to on-site collection, treatment and utilisation of water flows as part of an integrated system that may be
applied in addition to or in lieu of conventional stormwater measures. Elements in the system may include:
use of roof water for toilet flushing, laundry use, hot water systems or irrigation
reuse of surface runoff and greywater for irrigation purposes
infiltration of stormwater to underground aquifers
specially designed landscaping for cleansing runoff and conserving water
protection of native vegetation to minimise site disturbance and conserve habitat
protection of stream corridors for their environmental, recreational and cultural values.
Water sensitive design relies on designers responding to the constraints and opportunities of each individual site.
Consequently, careful consideration must be given to site characteristics such as soil type, slope, groundwater
conditions, rainfall, and the scale and density of development.
This document can be read in conjunction with the document WSUD Engineering Procedures for Stormwater
Management in Southern Tasmania 2005, Derwent Estuary Program, Department of Primary Industries Water and
Environment, which provides more technical detail on the common techniques presented in this document.
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How to use this document
1.
2.
3.
4.
Identify type of development you are proposing from the list and refer to the relevant .
Development Type Guideline.
Analyse the site (refer to Appendix A (Site Planning).
Develop a Site Plan (utilising one or more of the common techniques from the list in the relevant
Development Type Guideline).
Refer to the relevant Practice Note(s) on the Common Techniques to determine design parameters.
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and Practice Notes
Type of development
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Types of Development
Single Residential Development
Residential Subdivision Development
Residential Multi-unit Development
Streetscape Development
Vehicle Parking Areas Development
Commercial and Industrial Development
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Single Residential Development

1. Application
This development type applies to a single dwelling, or dwelling extensions, on a single title. .
Usually a free standing home with associated yard space and ancillary buildings; e.g., sheds, garages, etc.
(note, pic above to be replaced)
2. Objectives
maintain availability of water during restrictions
make more efficient use of water
assist maintenance of garden / landscaping
water supply for fire protection
reduce flood risk
prevent erosion
improve water quality
3. Common Techniques
The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for single residential development.
They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
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Technique
Practice Note Reference
Rainwater tanks
Practice Note No.1
Infiltration Devices
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Wastewater reuse
Practice Note No.6
Rain gardens & Bioretention Systems
Practice Note No.7
Vegetated swales and buffers
Practice Note No.8
Water Efficient Home (Fittings and Appliances)
Practice Note No.9
4. Site strategy
Any combination of the techniques (i.e., rainwater tanks, porous paving, filtration/ infiltration devices, landscape
practices) listed above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum
effectiveness, these measures need to be carefully designed as part of an overall strategy that considers local site
conditions.
The figure below shows a possible overall strategy for a typical suburban home. A rainwater tank supplies rainwater
for toilet flushing, washing machine, and for outdoor use whilst water efficient fittings reduce mains water
consumption elsewhere. During prolonged or heavy rain, water overflows from the rainwater tank to a retention
trench. Stormwater runoff from paths, driveways and lawns is directed to garden areas. Excess runoff from
impervious surfaces is directed to the retention trench, or overflows to the street drainage system.
Landscape practices also influence selection of species to reduce water demand. Recycling greywater from washing
machines, baths and showers could also water parts of the garden.
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Example of an overall stormwater strategy for a typical suburban dwelling

Appendix A (Site Planning) provides more detail on how to prepare an integrated site plan .
that incorporates water sensitive design considerations.
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Credits:
This document was prepared by the Development Planning and Hydraulic Engineering Units, Hobart City Council.
Portions of this document have been reproduced with the kind permission of the Upper Parramatta Catchment
Trust, Sydney Coastal Councils Group, and the Western Sydney Regional organisation of Councils and the
Auckland Regional Council.
Copyright
No part of this document may be copied, published or be stored in any retrieval means (electronic or otherwise) for
financial gain, without the written permission of the Hobart City Council.
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Residential Subdivision Development

1. Application
This development type applies to the subdivision of land for residential purposes, .
creating at least one or more additional lots.
Residential swale drainage at Lynbrook Estate,

Melbourne. Shallow batter slopes on the drain allow
driveway crossovers without the need for culverts.
Swale width and regular drains delivering flow to a
piped underground stormwater system mean that
flows are rarely deeper than grass height.
2. Objectives
Integrate natural and/or existing site topographical features into the subdivision design.
Maximise use of natural and/or existing features for multiple use.
Minimise capital and maintenance costs per household for municipal infrastructure.
Maximise amount of public open space.
Maximise opportunity to direct stormwater runoff into the ground or waterbody .
(where safe, compatible and appropriate to the function of the area or waterbody).
Maintain availability of water during restrictions
Make more efficient use of water
Assist maintenance of garden / landscaping
Water supply for bushfire protection
Reduce flood risk
Prevent erosion
Improve water quality
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The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for subdivision
development. They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
Technique
Rainwater tanks
Practice Note No.1
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Wastewater reuse
Practice Note No.6
Rain gardens and Bioretention systems
Practice Note No.7
Practice Note No.8
Stormwater Ponds
Practice Note No.10
Wetland design, construction and maintenance
Practice Note No.11
4. Site strategy
practices) listed above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum
conditions.
The figure below shows a possible overall strategy for a residential subdivision development. In addition to the
features shown, water sensitive design subdivisions offer opportunities for:
Narrow road reserves which reduce the area requiring irrigation.
Integrates design of accesses and crossovers to maximize scope for retention of existing vegetation .
and for new plantings.
Variation in road reserve widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management and substantial plantings.
Footpath alignments that respond to natural features and stormwater management to create spaces .
that are easy to maintain and efficient to irrigate.
Porous paving for accesses, driveways and parking areas.
Common trenching and closer alignment of services to improve scope for reduced verges to retain existing.
vegetation and plant new vegetation.
Appropriate landscape practices that include the selection of species to reduce water demand.
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Access way .
(low traffic volume)
Houses front onto creek
Footpath
Existing vegetation and.

creek maintained .
and restored
Constructed wetland .
and gross pollutant trap.
on tributary watercourse
Narrow road reserve reduces

area requiring irrigation
Integrated design of crossovers maximises
scope for retention of existing vegetation and
for new planning
Variation in reserve width facilities
integrated stormwater management
Footpath alignment response to

natural feature and stormwater
management to create spaces
that are easy to maintain and
efficient to irrigate.
Examples of a stormwater system for a residential subdivision

Appendix A (Site Planning) provides more detail on how to prepare an integrated site plan that incorporates .
water sensitive design considerations.
Source: EPA NSW
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Credits:
Copyright
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Residential Multi-unit Development

1. Application
This development type applies to the development and use of land for multi-unit residential purposes, .
on a single lot.
Residential unit development

in St Kilda, Melbourne.
Development utilises greywater
treatment and reuse, stormwater
reuse, bioretention gardens and
permeable paving.
2. Objectives
Integrate natural and/or existing site topographical features into the development design.
Minimise capital and maintenance costs per household for infrastructure.
Water supply for bushfire protection
Reduce flood risk
Prevent erosion
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The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for residential
multi-unit development. They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
Technique
Rainwater tanks
Practice Note No.1
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Wastewater reuse
Practice Note No.6
Practice Note No.7
Practice Note No.8
Water efficient fittings & appliances
Practice Note No.9
Stormwater Ponds
Practice Note No.10
Practice Note No.11
4. Site strategy
practices) lited above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum effectiveness,
these measures need to be carefully designed as part of an overall strategy that considers local site conditions.
The figure below shows a possible overall strategy for a multi-unit development. In addition to the features shown,
water sensitive design multi-unit developments offer opportunities for:
Narrow driveways to maximise the permeable area.
Integrates design of driveways to maximise scope for retention of existing vegetation and for new plantings.
Variation in driveway widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management and substantial plantings.
Footpaths integrated with driveways and respond to natural features and stormwater management to create
spaces that are easy to maintain and efficient to irrigate.
Porous paving for driveways and parking areas.
Common trenching and closer alignment of services to improve scope for reduced disturba nce and trenching
to retain existing vegetation and plant new vegetation.
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Schematic of
water sensitive
multi-unit layout utilising
groundwater recharge and
stormwater reuse. [source:
Coombes P. J., Argue J. R.,
and Kuczera, G. (2000):
Figtree Place: A case study
in water sensitive urban
development.
Urban Water Journal,
Elsevier Science,
London, UK, in press]
Example of an overall stormwater strategy for a multi-unit development

Appendix A (Site Planning) provides more detail on how to prepare an integrated site plan that incorporates water
sensitive design considerations.
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Credits:
Copyright
No part of this document may be copied, published or be stored in any retrieval means (electronic or otherwise) .
for financial gain, without the written permission of the Hobart City Council.
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Streetscape Development
1. Application
This development type applies to Streetscape development.
High density industrial street

in Melbourne with bioretention
planters treating road runoff
at regular intervals along
the full length of road.
2. Objectives
Minimise capital and maintenance costs for infrastructure.
Maintain availability of water during restrictions.
Make more efficient use of water.
Assist maintenance of garden / landscaping.
Reduce flood risk.
Prevent erosion.
Improve water quality.
Improve amenity.
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The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for streetscape
development. They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
Technique
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Practice Note No.7
Practice Note No.8
4. Site strategy
A water sensitive design streetscape integrates road layout, vehicular and pedestrian requirements with water
management needs. It uses design measures such as maximizing permeable areas, local stormwater detention in
road reserves, managed landscaping, and so on.
Any combination of the techniques (i.e., porous paving, filtration/ infiltration devices, landscape practices) listed
above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum effectiveness, these measures
need to be carefully designed as part of an overall strategy that considers local site conditions.
The figure below shows a possible overall strategy for industrial / commercial development. In addition to the
features shown, water sensitive streetscapes offer opportunities for:
Narrowing roads to reduce impervious paved areas.
Integrating design of driveways and crossovers to maximise scope for retention of existing vegetation .
Varying road and road reserve widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management, maximise and enhance.
open space and landscaping possibilities and streetscape amenity.
Integrating footpaths within road reserves to respond to natural features and stormwater management .
to create spaces that are easy to maintain and efficient to irrigate.
Incorporating porous paving in, driveways and parking areas.
Incorporating water absorbing drainage facilities (eg, grass swales) into the streetscape, using surface .
exposed systems, rather the underground piping systems.
Incorporating local filtration by using rock/gravel filter beds with drainage channels.
Common trenching and closer alignment of services to improve scope for reduced disturbance and trenching.
to retain existing vegetation and plant new vegetation.
Installing aesthetically appealing features, with emphasis on verge treatment via natural elements such as.
locally occurring rock, vegetation, etc., rather than via concrete or bitumen pavement.
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Diagram of water sensitive residential

streetscape showing biofiltration swale
street drainage. Lower street contains
nature strip swale with culvert
driveway crossovers whilst other
(shown vertical in diagram) has street
drainage directed to a biofiltration
medium strip.
[source: adapted from
Derwent Estuary Program, 2004.
WSUD Engineering Procedures for
Southern Tasmania,
Department of Primary Industries and
Water, Hobart.]
Example of an overall stormwater strategy for streetscape development

Appendix A (Site Planning) provides more detail on how to prepare an integrated site plan that incorporates water
sensitive design considerations.
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Credits:
Copyright
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Vehicle Parking Area Development

1. Application
This development type applies to the development and use of land for vehicle parking purposes.
Bioretention planters in a large

car park. Car park runoff is
directed into garden beds
with underdrainage
(and overflow points) to clean
and slow runoff.
Runoff enters garden bed via
breaks in the curb
(see bottom right of garden).
2. Objectives
Integrate natural and/or existing site topographical features into the vehicle parking area design.
Minimise capital and maintenance costs.
Reduce flood risk
Prevent erosion
Improved vehicle parking facility aesthetics.
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The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for vehicle
parking area development. They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
Technique
Rainwater tanks
Practice Note No.1
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Wastewater reuse
Practice Note No.6
Practice Note No.7
Practice Note No.8
Stormwater Ponds
Practice Note No.10
Practice Note No.11
4. Site strategy
Vehicle parking areas can be large generators of polluted stormwater run-off. Creative design options minimise the
extent of impervious surfaces in parking areas and subsequent impacts on downstream waterbodies.
Gently sloping grassed areas or recessed basins can be incorporated in vehicle parking areas. These may be used
to pond water to allow filtration of pollutants and the deposition of sediment. This is commonly accomplished by
incorporating specifically designed or modified inlet structures that permit the temporary storage of stormwater.
Water sensitive vehicle parking areas are best achieved on sites that are relatively flat to gently sloping, with soils
suitable for infiltration (eg, sandy soils). It is essential that overflow paths for major storms are identified and that
these conform with established standards. It is desirable to incorporate various stormwater processes in the design
of vehicle parking storage design.
Any combination of the techniques (i.e., porous paving, filtration/ infiltration devices, landscape practices) listed
above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum effectiveness, these measures
need to be carefully designed as part of an overall strategy that considers local site conditions.
The figure below shows a sample overall strategy for a water sensitive design vehicle parking area. In addition to the
features shown, such vehicle parking areas offer opportunities to:
Optimise lane widths to maximise the permeable area.
Integrate design of lanes to maximise scope for retention of existing vegetation and for new plantings.
Integrate stormwater management and substantial plantings.
Integrate footpaths and to respond to natural features and stormwater management to create spaces .
that are easy to maintain and can be irrigated efficiently.
Include porous paving for laneways and parking spaces.
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Common trenching and closer alignment of services to improve scope for reduced disturbance .
and trenching to retain existing vegetation and plant new vegetation.
Diagram of car park layout design.

Bioretention planters collect and treat all
car park runoff.
Note design varies little from standard design,
however, planters are utilised for stormwater
treatment, in turn negating irrigation
requirements.
[source: Department of Primary Industries
and Water]
Example of an overall stormwater strategy for a vehicle parking area development
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Copyright
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Commercial and Industrial Development

1. Application
This development type applies to the development and use of land for Industrial and Commercial Development.
Urban wetland at
Docklands, Melbourne.
Stormwater treatment
incorporated into an
effective water feature.
2. Objectives
Maximise use of natural and/or existing features.
Minimise capital and maintenance costs for service infrastructure.
Maximise opportunity to direct stormwater runoff into the ground or waterbody (where safe, compatible and
appropriate to the function of the area or waterbody).
Assist maintenance of landscaping
Water supply for fire protection
Reduce flood risk
Reduce peak discharges downstream
Prevent erosion
Improve aesthetics
Improve amenity
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The following techniques are commonly used in water sensitive design strategies for industrial /
commercial development. They are described in more detail in the relevant practice note.
Technique
Rainwater tanks
Practice Note No.1
Practice Note No.2
Paving
Practice Note No.3
Landscaping
Practice Note No.4
Drainage Design
Practice Note No.5
Wastewater reuse
Practice Note No.6
Practice Note No.7
Practice Note No.8
Water efficient fittings & appliances
Practice Note No.9
Stormwater Ponds
Practice Note No.10
Practice Note No.11
4. Site strategy
Any combination of the techniques (i.e., rainwater tanks, porous paving, filtration/ infiltration devices, .
landscape practices) listed above can be very effective at achieving the objectives mentioned above. For maximum
conditions.
The figure below shows a possible overall strategy for industrial / commercial developments. .
In addition to the features shown, water sensitive design industrial / commercial developments .
offer opportunities for:
Maximising permeable areas.
Integrating design of driveways and parking areas to maximise scope for retention of existing vegetation .
Varying driveway widths to facilitate integrated stormwater management and substantial plantings.
Integrating footpaths with driveways and to respond to natural features and stormwater management .
to create spaces that are easy to maintain and efficient to irrigate.
Using porous paving for driveways and parking areas.
Incorporating common trenching and closer alignment of service infrastructure to improve scope .
for reduced disturbance and trenching to retain existing vegetation and plant new vegetation.
Using appropriate landscaping measures and practices that include the selection of species .
to reduce water demand.
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Diagram of a possible
industrial site layout
incorporating a mini-wetland
landscape feature, green roof,
vegetated swales delivering
car park runoff to the
mini-wetland, rainwater
harvesting for non-potable
uses and a bioretention rain
garden to collect driveway
runoff and water tank
overflow.
[source: Department
of Primary Industries
and Water]
Example of an overall stormwater strategy for an industrial / commercial development
Appendix A (Site Planning) provides more detail on how to prepare an integrated site plan that
incorporates water sensitive design considerations.
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Credits:
Copyright
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and Practice Notes
Practice notes
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Practice Notes
1 Rainwater tanks
2 Infiltration devices
3 Paving
4 Landscaping
5 Drainage design
6 Wastewater reuse
7 Rain gardens and bioretention systems
8 Vegetated swales and buffers
9 Water efficient home fittings and appliances
10 Stormwater ponds
11 Wetland design, construction and maintenance
12 Hard engineering systems
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Practice Notes
Harvesting roof water

Each time it rains water runs into
roof gutters then enters the Councils
stormwater system and ultimately,
flows into the River Derwent.
The water sensitive development can
utilise a considerable amount of this
water through the use of rainwater
storage tanks. This has the dual benefit of reducing the amount of treated
water being used for purposes other
than drinking and reducing the volume of pollutant-carrying stormwater entering the Derwent.
Water tanks come in a variety of
shapes and sizes including standard
exterior tanks made from galvanised
steel (or similar), plastic or fibreglass
and wall-cavity tanks, subsurface
tanks, special rainwater storage guttering and under floor water storage
pillows.
Uses for roof water

It is often mistakenly assumed that
using rainwater solely for outdoor
uses (such as garden watering) will
produce substantial mains water savings. Variations in seasonal rainfall
and outdoor water use patterns can
result in poor utilisation of rainwater, resulting in long periods during
which tanks are full (In Hobart, usually throughout winter).
This problem can be remedied by using rainwater to supply interior uses

such as toilet flushing. Not only does
this ensure that stored rainwater is utilised at a relatively constant rate, but
it allows rainwater to refill the storage
more often. Using rainwater for various uses (such as toilet flushing and
garden watering), each with different
usage patterns, can result in optimum
mains water savings and large reductions in stormwater discharges.
Water tank sizing

Some important considerations when
selecting a water tank size are budgetary constraints, available space, uses
of the tank water, roof catchment
area and local rainfall. However, in
an urban environment where the reticulated supply is always present as
a back up, all collected water use is
beneficial so any size tank is preferable to none!
The approximate volume of water

harvestable from a roof in Hobart can
be determined from the graph below.
Simply measure the roof catchment
area to the dark line then across to see
the approximate harvestable volume
from your roof.
To provide some indication of seasonal variation in the volume of water
a tank in Hobart will collect, the light
grey graphs on either side of the dark
line represent median harvestable volumes in the driest month (February)
and the rainiest month (October)..
15000
Monthly harvestable volume (L)
This Water Sensitive

Practice Note relates to
Rainwater Tanks
1 Rainwater Tanks
10000
5000L
5000
120m2
0
0
50
100
150
200
250
Roof catchment area (sq m)
Harvestable volume graph with example of how to estimate harvestable

volume from a roof catchment area of 120m2 .
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300
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Practice Notes
1 Rainwater Tanks
or terrocotta tiles, as this can lead to
accelerated corrosion of guttering.
It is also worthy of note that harvestable volume is likely to increase with

elevation due to climate variability
across Hobart.
Install a first-flush trap to collect the

initial roof runoff from each rainfall, which may contain a build-up
of dust.
This graph utilises data from the

Bureau of Meteorologys Battery
Point climate station.
Install a suitable trap or filter prior

to the tank inlet to prevent contaminants entering the tank.
Any chemically treated wood (eg.

treated pine) in contact with water
to be used for drinking should be
painted to prevent chemicals leaching into the water.
Estimating the volume of water required for different uses is more difficult because it is highly dependant
on household practices. To supply
water for toilet flushing requires approximately 500L per person per
month. Water for gardening varies
enormously depending on the nature
of the vegetation and soils as well as
the eagerness of the gardener. Water
demanding gardens (and gardeners)
may use greater than 15,000L of water
per month.
IMPORTANT! Ensure all traps

and filters are regularly operated
and maintained.
All water storage will require

a Council Plumbing Permit
application.
Do not drink tank water if you have

unpainted lead flashings on your
roof, unsealed lead screw washers
on a steel roof, lead-based solders,
or if lead-based seal paints have
been used on the roof.
A storage system should have an inlet above the top water level, a visible
air gap complying with plumbing
regulations, a means to scour and
clean out accumulated sediment
and an outlet positioned above the
maximum level of sediment.
Considerations for
design and maintenance
Water collected on private property is considered a private water
supply and is the responsibility of
the property owner. Any water to
be used for drinking is required
to meet the National Health &
Medical Research Councils guidelines. Care should be taken to avoid
contamination;
Any materials in contact with water

to be used for drinking must comply with AS/NZS4020 (Australian/
New Zealand Standard: Testing of
products for use in contact with
drinking water).
Avoid corrosion caused by dissimilar metals, eg. dont use stainless
steel screws on steel or on aluminium pre-painted roofing materials.
Do not use copper roofing or guttering materials upstream of aluminium or galvanised or Zincalume
steel products.
Remove any foliage overhanging

the roof to decrease leaf litter, bird
and possum droppings and other
animal contamination.
A concrete or soldered galvanised

tank should be lined with an approved tank liner/coating if the water is for drinking (compliant with
AS/NZ4020).
Cover all guttering with a screen to

prevent leaves entering or accumulating in gutters.
Do not use galvanised gutters in

combination with materials such as
Zincalume or Colourbond steel
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Where the tank or storage gutter is

topped up from mains water, backflow prevention must be installed
to protect Councils public water
supply to AS/NZ 3500 (National
plumbing and drainage set).
The overflow from the tank must be
fed to Councils stormwater system
or an alternative Council-approved
system as approved by Councils design engineer.
All planning and plumbing regulations must be complied with.
Property owners should consult
Councils Planning Information
Officer on 6238 2155 to discuss individual requirements.
Any installation on properties in
the Battery Point or Sullivans Cove
planning scheme areas will require
a planning permit application.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
1 Rainwater Tanks
If a building is classified as heritage or lies within a heritage zone,

Council must receive a Heritage
Application in conjunction with the
application for a Plumbing Permit.
Tanks with a capacity greater than
35,000L will require a Building
Permit. A tank stand exceeding 1.2m
in height from the natural ground
level will also require a Building
Permit application.
All pipe materials conveying water from a storage system must be
labelled Rainwater where above
ground. Where below ground
they should be covered with ID
tape, as required by AS/NZ 1345
(Identification of the contents of
pipes, conduits and ducts).

The plumber must place a sign above
the outlet stating Rainwater.
The plumber must install a flow restrictor on any potable supply line
to a tank.
Ensure a suitably qualified person
(registered plumber) installs the
tank or storage gutter and associated plumbing.
Check to see if you qualify for a rebate from Hobart City Council for
installing your tank.
the tank can be cleaned out. Water

samples may also be taken to a laboratory for testing if any uncertainties remain. It is a good idea to test
samples after contamination has
occurred and the problem has been
fixed to ensure the water is of an
acceptable quality. Samples should
be tested for total plate count, total
coliforms and E Coli. If materials
contamination is suspected, samples should also be tested for metals, e.g. lead, zinc, copper.
If material has accumulated in the

tank or if contamination is suspected, the tank can be dosed with
chlorine tablets (in accordance with
manufacturers instructions) and
Common setups
Screened.
roof gutters
A simple first flush device made from readily available

PVC fittings and a ball
downpipe
Leaf screen
First flush capture

decice
tank
Sealed .
water tank
A typical series of safeguards to ensure tank water is

free of contamination.
The contaminated first flush of water enters the chamber,

causing the ball to float up and allow the rest of the water
to flow to the tank without mixing with the contaminated
first flush. A weep hole in the base of the chamber allows the
water to drain before the next rainfall. The chamber should
be cleaned of sediment periodically.
35
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
1 Rainwater Tanks
Tanks to supply toilet cisterns

Using tank water to supply a toilet cistern is usually the best way to maximise use of the tank supply and ensure
greatest water savings. However, for public health reasons, the set up must be failsafe so that an internal toilet is never
without water and there is no risk of cross-contaminating town water.
air gap between

mains supply and
maximum water
level
inlet
mains supply
maximum water level
household supply
float control for

top up
overflow,
plumbed to
stormwater
network
pump
mains water top up zone
mains
supply
household supply
References
Deeks, B. & Milne, T., 2005,
WSUD Engineering Procedures
for Stormwater Management in
Southern Tasmania 2005, Derwent
Estuary Program, Department
of Primary Industries Water and
Environment, Hobart.Useful
proprietary supply
switching device
Websites
Atlantis: www.atlantiscorp.com.au
No part of this document is to be copied,

published or stored in any retrieval means
(electronic or otherwise) for financial gain.
Rocla Pipes: www.rocla.com.au

James Hardie Industries: www.
jameshardie.com.au
University of South Australia: .
www.unisa.edu.au
University of Newcastle: .
www.eng.newcastle.edu.au/
~cegak/Coombes
36
However, you are welcome to reproduce

material contained in this publication
for non-commercial use without formal
permission or charge, provided that you
give acknowledgment to the document
and the Hobart City Council as author and
publisher.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
2 Infiltration Devices
Infiltration basin under normal conditions,.

with generous grassed area for water soakage .
(Source: WSUD in the Sydney Region)
Water sensitive development involves simple design and management practices .

that take advantage of natural site features and minimise impacts on the water cycle. .
It is part of the contemporary trend towards more sustainable solutions .
that protect the environment.
This Water Sensitive Practice Note explains how to design and configure .
stormwater infiltration devices.
37
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Introduction
This Practice Note describes various
types of stormwater infiltration devices for dwellings and other small-scale
development. There is growing interest in infiltration as an alternative or
supplement to conventional drainage techniques (where site conditions
permit) due to its many environmental and economic benefits. These may
include reduced peak stormwater
flows, reduced downstream flooding,
reduced stormwater drainage capital
costs, improved groundwater recharge
and improved stormwater quality.
Conventional stormwater practice
typically involves discharging stormwater to a constructed street drainage
system. Such systems are highly effective for removing stormwater from
the site, but can also contribute to
flooding risk, erosion and sedimentation and water quality decline in
downstream catchments. Prior to the
construction of urban drainage systems in the late 19th Century, one of
the most common methods for managing stormwater was on-site gravel
infiltration pits. These provided temporary storage, and allowed stormwater to percolate to the surrounding soil at a rate limited by the soils
permeability.
Modern infiltration devices are much
more efficient than their traditional
counterparts. They are constructed
so as to minimise clogging by silt
material, and can be designed to
Stormwater overland flow via

grassed and vegetated areas.
Sand loam layer

200mm thick.
Stormwater infiltrates
to sub soil.
Fig 1: A typical infiltration strategy
overflow to landscaped areas or the

street drainage systems when their
storage capacity is exceeded during
major storms. A number of pollutant
removal mechanisms operate within
modern day infiltration devices and.
if correctly designed, an infiltration
device can remove most pollutants
from stormwater.
This Practice Note draws upon the
latest design and performance research for Australian conditions. The
research results confirm that infiltration is a very practical option for
managing stormwater provided that
site conditions such as slope, soil salinity, soil permeability and reactivity
to water are correctly taken into account refer Design issues on page
6.
System Overview
Infiltration devices can be used to
manage stormwater run-off from
roofs, paved surfaces,
Overflow to street
drainage system
infiltration .
device
rainwater tank overflows and grassed

and vegetated areas (see Fig 1). Runoff
from each of these sources can be directed by pipes and overland flow to
an infiltration device. Prior to entering
an infiltration device, the stormwater
must receive pre-treatment. This removes sediment and other material,
improves the quality of runoff and
helps minimise the risk of clogging
the infiltration device. Infiltration is
best applied as part of an overall strategy for managing stormwater on the
property. The effectiveness of infiltration is improved with the use of complementary devices such as rainwater
tanks, porous paving and landscape
measures (see Practice Notes 1, 3 and
6 respectively). For example, mulching, contour banks, garden beds, vegetation and other landscape measures
can be used to encourage infiltration
and provide pre-treatment or runoff.
Types of Devices
There are a number of stormwater
38
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Perforated concrete pipe 0.9cm dia
with fitted cover, 0.1m above surface
Inflow from roof
Lid
Overflow pipe
0.3m below
surface
back fill
Pipe perforated
by 8,5mm dia
holes.
@ 0.5m centres
Geotextile fabric
over all holes and
bottoms of pipe
Fig 2: The leaky well infiltration system
Gravel trench 300mm
below surface and
filled with coarse
gravel (30mm)
Top of pipe at
ground surface
Overflow to street
Inflow
Geotex fabric
envelope
Perforated PVC trap 250mm dia

with inspection cover and socket
for 80mm dia stormwater pipe
Perforated
distribution
pipe 75mm dia
Fig 3: Design for a retention trench

infiltration device options available.
The most commonly .
used devices include:
leaky wells.
retention trenches.
infiltration basins.
infiltration cells.
seepage pipes.
Leaky Wells
A leaky well consists
of a vertical perforated pipe with a lid
at the ground surface
and an open bottom.
Stormwater enters via.
an inlet pipe at the top.
and an overflow pipe.
caters for excess storm-.
water. .
The holes in the walls
and the open bottom are
covered with geotextile
fabric to cleanse stormwater as it percolates
into the surrounding.
soil (see Fig 2).
Leaky wells store stormwater until

it can percolate to the surrounding
soil. Before entering the device, all
stormwater should be filtered by a
sediment trap to remove sediment,
leaves and debris. An advantage of
the leaky well is that the accessible
39
chamber allows sediment to be readily removed. Consequently it is more

resistant to failure due to clogging.
Note that the dimensions shown in
Fig 2 are nominal - refer to the section
below on Design issues for more detail on site considerations and design
specifications.
Retention trenches
A retention trench consists of a trench
lined with geotextile fabric and filled
with coarse gravel, and placed under a 300 mm layer of sand or loam.
Stormwater is conveyed to the trench
via an inflow pipe after passing
through a sediment trap. A perforated
distribution pipe allows stormwater
to percolate to the gravel. An overflow pipe directs excess flow during
very heavy rain to landscaped areas
or street drainage systems (see Figure
3).
The sediment trap prevents clogging
of the trench with sediment, leaves
and debris, whilst the geotextile
fabric cleanses the stormwater as it
percolates from the trench to the surrounding soil. The detailed design for
a retention trench can vary provided
it includes the basic elements referred
to above. Note that the dimensions
shown in Fig 3 are nominal - refer
to the section below on Design issues
for more detail on site considerations and design specifications. Refer
to the section below on Design issues
for more detail on site considerations
and design specifications.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Infiltration basins
Stormwater inflow
Basin with grassed surface
Geotextile
fabric
Gravel
Subsoil
Overflow to
street drain
Infiltration to
subsoil
Water table
Fig 4: Design for an infiltration basin
An infiltration basin collects and

stores stormwater runoff until it infiltrates to the surrounding soil and
evaporates to the atmosphere. By removing a portion of stormwater runoff, infiltration basins reduce stormwater peak discharges and volumes
to downstream catchments. They
also improve the quality of stormwater discharged to the receiving
environment.
An infiltration basin is designed as
a depression with good grass coverage over a layer of coarse gravel surrounded by geotextile fabric. A 300
mm layer of topsoil is usually placed
between the gravel layer and the
grassed surface. Stormwater entering the basin is filtered to remove sediment, leaves and debris
by sediment traps, vegetated areas
or specially designed gutter systems. Stormwater fills the basin
and the gravel layer, percolates to
the soil and overflows to landscaped
areas or street drainage systems when
the basin fills.
A schematic diagram for an

infiltration basin is shown in
Fig 4. Infiltration basins are
more suitable for larger lots
where there is plenty of space
refer to the section below
on Design issues for more detail on site considerations
and design specifications.
Their design should be wellintegrated with landscape
measures (see Practice Note
No. 6).
An infiltration cell is a modular plastic cell (similar to a milk crate) that

can be used in a retention trench instead of gravel fill. As with a retention trench, infiltration cells are surrounded with geotextile fabric and
placed under a 300 mm layer of sand
or loam. An infiltration cell generally
has a greater volume of void space
than a conventional gravel-filled retention trench. Consequently it can
provide a greater storage volume per
unit of area.
Seepage pipes
A
Sand or
loamseep-
age
Seepage
pipe
pipe
Sand or
is
gravel
a
pipe
Fig 5: Design for a seepage pipe
with
pervious walls that allows stormwater to percolate into the surrounding
40
Design Considerations
Unsuitable soils
Infiltration devices must be avoided
or carefully designed in areas with:
High water table levels.
Wind blown or loose sands.
Infiltration cells
Ground surface
soil. Seepage pipes are installed in a

similar fashion to retention trenches.
The pipe is surrounded by sand or
gravel in a trench and covered with
sand or loam to a thickness of 300 mm.
(see Fig 5).
Clay soils that collapse .

in contact with water.
Soils with permeability of less
than 0.36 mm/hr.
Soil assessment and permeability
testing must be undertaken as part
of the design process for infiltration
devices. For details about suitable locations or hazard areas, contact your
local council.
Clearance from buildings

Soils can shrink or swell depending on their clay and water content,
presenting potential problems for
building foundations. However, research shows that only minimum soil
movement is associated with the intermittent release of stormwater from
infiltration devices. The possibility of
an infiltration device impacting on
the structural integrity of a building
can be eliminated by observing minimum clearances. The recommended
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
can limit the potential

Soil type
Clearance effectiveness of infiltration devices. Infiltration
Sand
>180mm/hr
1m
devices can be successful in areas with high
Sandy clay
180-36mm/hr
2m
water tables provided
4m
Medium clay 36-3.6mm/hr
the water table is stable.
5m
Reactive clay 3.6-0.036mm/hr
Infiltration is not recommended for areas where the water
minimum separation between an table is rising. If infiltration devices
infiltration device and a building for are proposed as part of WSUD stratevarious soil types is shown in the fol- gies, the site(s) should be investigated
lowing table.
for water table behaviour during the.
design phase.
Hydraulic
conductivity
Slope
Infiltration devices should not be installed on steep slopes. Installation of

infiltration devices on slopes greater
than 5 degrees (10%) is not recommended unless a detailed engineering analysis is undertaken at the design stage.
Rock
Infiltration devices should not be
placed in rock that has little or no
permeability. Studies have shown
that infiltration is possible in severely
weathered or fractured rock (for example, sandstone).
Engineering testing is essential in
these circumstances to ensure that
the rock will accept infiltration. In the
case of shallow soil cover, testing is
required to ensure that seepage does
not cause any hazards or nuisance to
downstream sites.
Water tables
The presence of a high water table
Sediment
Sediment can be deposited on roofs
from the atmosphere at approximately 2 kg per 100 square metres of
roof area per annum. It can also be
deposited from runoff on other surfaces in established suburbs at about
0.7 tonnes per allotment per year. The
management of sediment is therefore
a very important issue in the design and construction of infiltration
devices.
Special measures must be implemented to provide pre-treatment for
stormwater containing sediment,
leaves or other debris before it enters
an infiltration device. For example,
runoff from roof downpipes should
be directed to an effective sediment
trap.
Runoff from impervious surfaces such
as paved areas, courtyards, walkways
and driveways should be directed to
grassed surfaces, vegetated areas or
41
a sand-loam layer that is at least 200

mm thick. The only direct input to an
infiltration device should be overflow
from a roofwater tank, since the tank
serves to remove sediment and other
matter (see Practice Note 1: Rainwater
Tanks).
Sizing infiltration devices

Many councils require infiltration
devices to be designed with sufficient
Ground surface
Inflow
Overflow to
street drain
100mm in
diameter
Low level overflow.
to street drain 25mm in diameter
Fig 6: low level overflow for clay soils
capacity to store the inflow for a onein-three months average recurrence

interval design storm, with an emptying time of less than 24 hours. For
example, an infiltration device filled
with gravel (30 mm nominal particle
size) and a catchment roof area of 150
square metres will need to have the
following volumes:
2.5 cubic metres in a sandy soil
3.8 cubic metres in a sandyclay soil
4.5 cubic metres in a medium
clay soil.
Contact your local council for specific design requirements in your area.
In medium clay soils a low-level overflow pipe may need to be installed to
ensure an emptying time of 24 hours.
This is illustrated in Fig 6.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
References
Allen, M.D. & Argue, J.R. (1992).
Stormwater management in
Adelaide: the on-site retention
component, in International
Symposium on Urban Stormwater
Management, Sydney, 310-317.
Argue, J.R. (2002). On-site
Retention of Stormwater:
Introduction and Design Procedures.
Urban Water Resources Centre,
University of South Australia.
Argue, J.R., Geiger, W.F.
& Pezzaniti, D. (1998).
Demonstration projects in source
control technology: theory and
practice, in HydraStorm98,
Adelaide, 189-194.
Coombes, P.J., Kuczera, G., Argue
J.R., Cosgrove, F., Arthur, D.,
Bridgman, H.A. & Enright, K.
(1999). Design, monitoring and
performance of the water sensitive
urban development at Figtree Place
in Newcastle. in Proceedings of
the 8th International Conference
on Urban Storm Drainage, Sydney,
1319-1326.
Coombes, P.J. (2002). Rainwater
Tanks Revisited: New Opportunities
for Urban Water Cycle Management.
Unpublished PhD. thesis, University
of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW.
Environment, Hobart.
Department of Land and Water
Conservation (2002). Indicators
of Urban Salinity. DLWC,
Sydney. Department of Land and
Water Conservation (2002). Site
Investigations for Urban Salinity.
DLWC, Sydney.
42

for non-commercial use without
formal permission or charge, provided
that you give acknowledgment to
the document and the Hobart City
Council as author and publisher.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
3 Paving
Close up view of permeable paving. Gaps in pavers are filled with clean
gravel allowing water to infiltrate to the ground below.
Water sensitive development involves simple design and management practices that take
advantage of natural site features and minimise impacts on the water cycle. It is part of the
contemporary trend towards more sustainable solutions that protect the environment.
This Water Sensitive Practice Note describes how to design
and install paving so that it manages and treats stormwater.
43
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
3 Pavings
Directing stormwater runoff from
paved surfaces to landscaped areas,
gardens and lawns rather than to
the street drainage system.
Using porous paving systems.
The application of these methods to
a typical residential lot is shown in
Fig. 1.
What is Porous Paving?

Porous paving is an alternative to conventional impermeable pavements
with many stormwater management
benefits. These surfaces allow stormwater to be filtered by a coarse subbase, and may allow infiltration to the
underlying soil.
A number of porous paving products
are commercially available including:
Pavements made from special
asphalts
Concrete grid pavements
Concrete, ceramic or plastic modular pavements.
Introduction
Urbanisation causes a significant increase in the area covered with paved
(or impervious) surfaces, such as
roads, driveways, courtyards, etc.
Paved surfaces can have significant
adverse impacts on the water cycle.
They contribute to increased peak
and total stormwater discharges, increased downstream flooding, streambank erosion, sewer surcharges,
and the need for expensive drainage

infrastructure. Paved areas also reduce infiltration to the subsoil which
also can result in loss of groundwater,
moisture for dependent vegetation,
and downstream pollution of waterways and aquatic habitats.
Such impacts can be reduced by:
Minimising the area of paved
surfaces.
44
Porous paving can be utilised to promote a variety of water management

objectives, including:
Reduced (or even zero) peak stormwater discharges from paved areas
Increased groundwater recharge
Improved stormwater quality.
Reduced area of land dedicated
solely for stormwater management.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
3 Paving
Common Techniques
overcome the deficiencies of the earlier asphalt porous paving products.

They include:
Asphaltic paving
Rain
Porous
pavement
Concrete grids .
poured in-situ
Road sub-base
Precast concrete grids
Direct infiltration
to natural ground
(permeable soils)
Subsoil drainage pipes .
(impermeable soils)
Fig 2: Asphaltic porous paving systems
Asphaltic porous paving is laid on

a sand/gravel sub-base over natural
soil (see Figure 2).
Rainfall percolates through a porous
asphalt layer to the road sub-base,
where it is stored until it infiltrates to
the surrounding soil. When installed
in impermeable soils (eg, medium
to high clay content soils, like those
formed on Jurassic Dolerite), subsoil
drainage pipes are placed below the
road sub-base to allow stormwater
to overflow into the street drainage
system.
Early porous paving, typically asphalt,
relied on percolation of stormwater
through the pavement and storage in
the sub-base prior to infiltration to
the soil. They were often subject to
failure due to sediment clogging, and
are less recommended than newer porous paving products.
Grid and modular paving

More recent porous paving designs
Concrete, ceramic or plastic.

modular pavers.
These products generally contain surface voids that are filled

with sand or gravel. Stormwater
filters through these voids to
a sand or gravel sub-base, thereby
cleansing the stormwater. Gravel retention trenches and geotextile fabric
can also be installed, thereby creating
a very effective stormwater treatment
chain. During heavy rain, excess
stormwater overflows to the street
drainage system when the trench becomes full (see Figure 3).
Grass may also be grown in voids,
but this is generally unsuccessful due
to insufficient soil depth and nutrients, heavy wear and tear and retained
heat in the pavers. In very low traffic
areas, consider using turf rather than
porous paving.
Plastic modular block pavers
retain less heat than concrete
ones, making them more
suitable in hotter locations
or climates.
Porous paving is an excellent stormwater management measure for low-traffic
surfaces in driveways and
45
car parks. Unfortunately history has

shown many failures due to poor design, construction and maintenance
practices.
Consequently, the following design
and maintenance issues need to be
carefully addressed.
Clogging
Partial or total clogging with sediment and oil is a major potential
cause of failure, and must be avoided.
Clogging can occur during or immediately after construction, or through
long-term use. The likelihood of clogging can be avoided by the following
measures.
Do not install porous paving in
positions that are likely to receive
large quantities of sediment and debris washed down by stormwater, or
windblown sand or other material.
Carefully protect porous paving from sediment inputs during
construction.
Do not use porous paving for accessways with high traffic volumes or
Rain
Overflow .
pipe
Porous Pavers
Sand/gravel .
sub-base
Geotextile fabric
Retention trench
(course gravel)
Geotextile fabric
Infiltration
to subsoil
Fig 3: Grid and modular porous paving systems
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
with regular heavy vehicle traffic.
Undertake regular vacuum sweeping or high pressure hosing to remove sediment (direct runoff to
grassed areas).
Install sediment traps, vegetated filter strips or specially designed gutter systems to pre-treatstormwater
inputs to remove sediments.
Infiltration capacity
Porous paving sometimes has a poor
reputation of having insufficient infiltration capacity. In most cases this
can be attributed to sediment-induced clogging, soils with insufficient
infiltration capacity and designs with
insufficient storage volume. These
problems can be readily overcome by
using modern design practices to:
Provide a retention trench below
the sub-base.
Provide an overflow to the street
drainage system or other stormwater managementmeasure.
Limit the runoff area contributing
stormwater to the porous paving
surface.
Aquifer contamination
Porous paving can, in some cases,
result in a risk of contamination of
shallow aquifers by toxic materials
derived from asphalt, vehicular traffic
and road use.
This risk can be minimised or
eliminated by following these deign
principles.
3 Paving
Do not construct porous paving
over shallow aquifers.
Do not use porous paving on streets
with high traffic volumes.
Install a sand sub-base over a retention trench with geotextile fabric lining to capture contaminants.
Structural integrity
If properly installed, porous pavements have similar load bearing and
design life performance to conventional pavements. Impairment of the
structural integrity of porous paving
by traffic loads or heavy vehicles can
be avoided by adhering to relevant design and construction specifications.
Slopes
Porous paving should not be constructed on slopes greater than 5 degrees (10%) unless an engineering design is completed to assess the impact
of the paving system on downstream
environments and the stability of surrounding areas.
Unsuitable soils
Porous paving must be carefully designed in areas with:
High water table levels.
Wind blown or loose sands.
Clay soils that collapse in contact
with water.
Soils with a hydraulic conductivity
of less than 0.36 mm/hr.
Under such circumstances, soil assess-
46
ment and permeability testing must

be undertaken as part of the design
process for porous paving. For details
about suitable locations and hazard
areas, contact your local council.
Rock
Porous paving should not be placed
over rock that has little or no permeability. Studies have shown that infiltration is possible in severely weathered or fractured rock (for example,
sandstone).
Engineering testing is essential in
these circumstances to ensure that
the rock will accept infiltration. In the
case of shallow soil cover, testing is
required to ensure that seepage does
not cause any hazards or nuisance to
downstream sites.
Suitable locations
Porous paving can be utilised in
streets with low traffic volumes (such
as cul-de-sacs), car parks and for paving within residential and commercial
development. Acceptable performance can be achieved provided that the
correct design and construction procedures are followed, including any
manufacturers recommendations.
Maintenance Issues
Concrete grid, ceramic and modular plastic block pavers require less
maintenance than asphaltic porous paving as they are less easily
clogged. They are also easier to repair..
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
The performance and life of these
pavements can be increased by regular vacuum sweeping or high pressure
hosing (once every three months) to
remove sediments.
As with traditional pavements, asphalt porous paving requires occasional resurfacing. Concrete grid, ceramic and plastic modular blocks require a maintenance schedule similar
to that for conventional road surfaces.
This involves retaining the pavers and
replacing part of the sand layer to remove contaminants.
Indicative water quality

The contaminant removal processes
in porous pavements include adsorption, straining, bioreaction and microbial decomposition. Correctly designed and maintained porous paving will retain approximately:
3 Paving
Costs
References
Construction cost of porous paving is

similar to that of traditional pavement
and is less than the cost of traditional
paving when savings in stormwater
infrastructure is considered. Research
shows that porous paving can be up
to three times less expensive than traditional road and stormwater management approaches.
Argue, J.R. (2002). On-site Retention of

Stormwater: Introduction and Design
Procedures. Urban Water Resources
Centre, University of South Australia,
Adelaide.
Construction costs for porous paving are similar to that for traditional
paving materials, and are less than the
cost of traditional paving when savings in stormwater infrastructure are
considered. When installed as part
of an integrated stormwater management system, porous paving can be
up to three times less expensive than
traditional road and stormwater management approaches.
80% of sediment
Useful websites
60% of phosphorus
Atlantis: www.atlantiscorp.com.au
80% of nitrogen
Rocla Products: www.rocla.com.au
70% of heavy metals
University of South Australia: www.

unisa.edu.au
98% of oils and greases.

(with a sand sub-base).
Studies show that oils and greases are
subject to microbial decontamination in porous paving. The addition
of sand filters and retention trenches with geotextile fabric lining (see
Practice Note 2: Infiltration Devices)
further increases the effectiveness of
porous paving as a stormwater treatment measure.
Argue J. R; Gieger, W. F. & Pezzaniti

D. (1998). Demonstration projects
in source control technology: theory
and practice, Proc. Hydrastorm 98
Symposium, Adelaide. The Institution
of Engineers Australia, Canberra.
Deeks, B. & Milne, T., 2005, WSUD
Engineering Procedures for Stormwater Management in Southern
Tasmania 2005, Derwent Estuary
Program, Department of Primary
Industries Water and Environment,
Hobart.
OBrien, E.J., Rowlands, W.G., Dolton,
J.H., Sibun, H.J. & Burchmore, J.J.
(1992). Coastal stormwater discharge
in selected Sydney catchments, in
International Symposium on Urban
Stormwater Management, Sydney,
129-136.
Wong, T.H.F. & Eadie, M.L. (2000).
Water sensitive urban design: a
paradigm shift in urban design, in
Proc. 10th World Water Congress,
Melbourne.
publisher.
47
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
advantage of natural site features and minimise impacts on the water cycle. It is part of
contemporary trends towards more sustainable solutions that protect the environment.
This Water Sensitive Practice Note describes a variety of landscape measures and practices
that can be used to manage stormwater flows, utilise stormwater within the site, minimise
supplementary watering, promote efficient water use and good plant growth.
48
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
Introduction
This Practice Note describes a variety of landscape measures that can
be used to manage stormwater flows,
utilise stormwater within the site and
minimise supplementary watering of
landscaping.
Vegetable garden
Lawn area kept to a minimum
Tank
These include:
rock or gravel basins
vegetated filter strips
contour banks
soak or bog areas
wind and sun protection
plant selection
minimising lawn and lawn
selection.
efficient irrigation
For optimal results, these measures
need to be undertaken in conjunction with careful site planning (see
Appendix A to Development Type
Guidelines), drainage design, and appropriate landscape practices.
Car
parking
space
Retention trench
Street drainage system
Carriageway
Trees and Shrubs
Common Techniques
Rock or gravel basins
Rock, stone or gravel can be used to
line stormwater basins or channels.
This can act to slow the rate of flow,
dissipate energy and prevent surface
erosion. It is a particularly useful
method for managing concentrated
stormwater discharges due to topography or from adjoining properties,
stormwater easements, downpipes or
water tank overflow pipes.
Locally-sourced rock should be used
Vegetated filter strip
An intergrated suite of stormwater management measures on a typical

urban allotment. The landscape deign is an intergral part of the overall
system.
wherever possible as this will minimise energy inputs and allow the design to blend with the local landscape.
Rock should not be removed from
undisturbed areas as this potentially
destroys fauna habitat and promotes
erosion. Obtain rock from on-site excavation works, other local construction sites or a local quarry. Avoid us-
49
Garden bed or contour

bank
Turf .
and ground covers
Mulching
Stormwater flow direction
Porous paving
ing blue metal as runoff from it will

alter the soil pH.
On steeper slopes, rocks or stones
need to be adequately secured to
prevent dislodgment and downslope
movement.
The size and composition of rocks or
boulders must remain in proportion
to the scale and style of the project
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
and the site. Larger sites can accommodate larger features and unit materials without being overwhelmed,
although it is possible to contain
some large elements within a smaller area provided that it is cohesively
designed.
Large pebbles or deep beds of gravel
can be used to complement landscape
themes. They can be used as an alternative to organic mulches for preventing soil moisture loss.
Vegetated filter strips

Vegetated filter strips are strips of
grasses and shrubs placed across
stormwater discharge routes. They
act to remove pollutants by filtering
stormwater runoff, enabling limited
infiltration and reducing stormwater
discharge velocities.
Filter strips must receive stormwater
as sheet flow. Concentrated flow will
scour the surface and is likely to dislodge groundcover and plant roots,
leading to failure. To ensure sheet
flow, minimise the length of unobstructed stormwater discharge upstream of the strip.
Factors such as width of the strip, gradient, soil permeability and density
of vegetation influence the effectiveness of filter strips. Various combinations of these variables are possible
depending on site features (natural
slope, soil properties, choice and
placement of plants), and how the
filter strip fits into the overall scheme
for the site.
4 Landscaping
Wider strips can hold greater volumes of water, as will those with
higher embankments on the downslope side. Filter strips on land with a
slope less than 5 degrees (10%) are
better able to trap sediment. Soil that
is friable (easily crumbled - eg, soils
formed on permian, tertiary, triassic,
or quaternary geology) and with an
open pore structure allows greater
infiltration of water, compared to
compacted and heavy soils (eg, soild
formed on jurassic dolerite geology).
Using vegetation to act as a baffle to
slow down stormwater flow must be
balanced against obstruction of flow
that may cause backing up of waters
and localised flooding. Plant species
chosen must be capable of withstanding conditions of periodic saturation
of soil, foliage or trunk.
Filter strips need to be regularly monitored and checked after major storm
events. They may require periodic
repair, mowing, replanting and sediment removal to remain effective.
Because they offer a form of garden
bed (and possibly an area of turf for
casual recreation), vegetated filter
strips are recommended for low and
medium density urban areas as a
multi-purpose landscape element.
Contour banks
Contour banks are low earth mounds
placed perpendicular to the direction
of overland stormwater flow. They are
very effective for reducing stormwater
peak discharges and volumes, promot-
50
ing infiltration and controlling erosion. On larger sites they can be used
in series, and to link other landscaped
areas in a system of stormwater control and harvesting. Combinations of
contour banks, mulching and vegetated filter strips provide a very effective suite of stormwater management
measures.
Contour banks are usually quite resilient, and require little or no maintenance. Special attention may be required to establish vegetation (shrubs,
turf, grass and other groundcovers)
on the contour banks. If constructing a larger dimensioned bank wall
(for example, on a steep site or where
large volumes of stormwater need to
be accommodated), avoid planting
trees on the bank as their large root
systems will destabilise the earthen
embankment.
Sediment may need to be removed
from the upstream side of the bank
from time to time. Accumulated
sediment will smother low-growing
vegetation, and will restrict the efficiency and carrying-capacity of the
system. Provided that it is free of contaminants, collected sediment can be
used to supplement topsoil elsewhere
on the site. Ensure that all relocated
sediment is contained and stabilised
(such as with mulch or matting) to
prevent it being the subject of further
erosion.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
Soak or pond areas

(includes swales and ponds)
Other landscape devices may be better suited to the site and location of
the detention feature.
Soak Area.
Flood level
Topsoil
Agricultural
drain
Many sites contain natural depressions or low points containing species that indicate temporary bogginess (for example, sedges, swamp
grasses and frogs). Consider utilising
such sites within the system rather
than altering existing drainage patterns, thereby promoting retention of
valuable habitat.
The creation of an area that holds
water as a temporary wetland is dependent on underlying geology, water table height, quality and quantity
of water received into the soak area
and the type of vegetation it contains.
Bog area
Humus rich
soil
Gravel
Avoid any dramatic alteration

to the quality and volume of
water. Replication of this system elsewhere, given the same
geological, soil and drainage
conditions, is also possible
with careful observation, design and monitoring.
An artificial soak or bog area can also

be built at the edge of a pond. This
can act as a refuge for fish and other
pond creatures when the water level
is low.
The practicality and appropriateness
of establishing a soak or bog area
will depend on whether there is likely
to be any impacts on buildings, soil
structure or ecosystem values.
Further issues are outlined below.
Expected stormwater volumes
The site may have a small catchment,

such as a vehicle parking area or turning circle. This needs to be reflected in the dimensions of
the soak area. Maturing vegetation with growing trunks
will displace some volume of
Permeable
water as it is received, but this
barrier
can be taken up more quickly
with the more extensive root
Pond
system and transpiration rate
of the larger plant structures.
Stabalised base or
pond line
51
Plant species selection

Species choice is dependent on the
function of the constructed soak area.
Some plants are more tolerant of contaminants. For example, runoff from a
vehicle washing area can be collected
and infiltrate in a separate area that
acts as a buffer to other, more sensitive plantings. Select species that will
withstand periods of soil saturation
and anaerobic conditions.
The species best suited to the sites
soil and climatic conditions are those
that grow naturally within the local
area. In most cases, preference should
be given to local provenance species.
Exceptions may be required where
species do not tolerate a manufactured or disturbed soil profile, or a
high nutrient or sediment loading
from urban stormwater flows.
Always check with your local

council or regional botanical
gardens that plants chosen
are not environmental
weeds in your area.
The following lists includes a combination of native and exotic plants that
could be used as part of an ornamental planting scheme. They are suited
to conditions of silty or uncompacted
soils with some organic matter and a
pH of 5-7.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
Matting plants
Sagittaria sagittifolia
These species colonise and stabilise

the edges of soaks, dams, ponds or
wherever water levels may fluctuate,
inundating them for a brief period.
Thalia dealbata (Water Canna)

Triglochin striata
(Streaked Arrowgrass)
Blechnum penna-marina
(Alpine Water Fern)
Check for the local species that suit

your site and locality.
Trees & larger shrubs
Cotula coronopifolia
(Water Buttons)
Allocasuarina species (Sheoak)
Crassula helmsii
(Swamp Crassula)
Callistemon species (Bottlebrush)
Isotoma fluviatilis
(Swamp Isotome)
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Marsilea species (Nardoo)
Mazus pumilo (Swamp Mazus)
Montia australasica
(White Purslane)
Baekea species
Casuarina species .
(River Oak, Swamp Oak)
Eucalyptus species (Gum Tree)
Leptospermum species (Tea-Tree)
Melaleuca species (Paperbark)
Maintenance of soak areas
Colocasia antiquorum (Taro)
The biggest threat to a soak or bog

area is contaminated waters, so the
selection of plants is dependent on
the role of the soak area. For example,
if it is to collect stormwater directly
from paved areas with vehicular traffic, only the hardiest species are likely
to survive. More filtered or cleaner
waters in a less polluted situation will
allow a greater diversity of species to
be selected.
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Stormwater pollutants
Cyperus papyrus (Sedge)
Stormwater quality is adversely affected by fertilisers from gardens and

lawns and oily deposits made by vehicles on sealed surfaces. Stormwater
pollutants, including nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other substances are eventually deposited in
Myriophyllum species. (Milfoil)

Pratia species.
Ranunculus inundatus
(River Buttercup)
Sphagnum species (Moss)
Viola hederacea (Native Violet)
Low growing plants and shrubs
Drosera species (Sundew)

Iris ensata (syn I. kaemferi)
(Japanese Flag Iris)
Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag Iris)
Nymphoides crenata
(Wavy Marshwort)
52
the soil, and are toxic to some plants,

especially native species. Stormwater
pollutants also encourage weeds and
the growth of algae in ponds, thereby
displacing other less vigorous plants.
Regular monitoring
Check for excess build-up of sediment, especially after major storm
events. Silty deposits may smother
smaller matting plants, preventing regeneration. Remove any litter or other
inorganic debris.
Sun and wind protection

Providing protection from harsh climatic forces makes garden areas more
pleasant and reduces moisture loss
from soil and plant tissue. Sun and
wind exposure helps to strip moisture from leaves, requiring the plant
to use greater levels of available soil
moisture than in less exposed conditions. In addition, soil moisture levels
are reduced by high rates of evaporation. This can unnecessarily stress
plants.
Windbreaks can offer substantial
leeward protection, but care is required to ensure other planning/
management issues/values (eg, energy
efficiency, neighbouring residential
amenity, etc.) are not compromised
through overshadowing.
If it is suitable to plant windbreaks,
plant garden beds on the leeward
side, as this will take advantage of.
existing wind protection. Do not
plant directly underneath the canopy
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
of established trees as the ground disturbance is likely to compromise the
health and functioning of their root
zone.
As part of overall site planning, locate
trees so as to provide seasonal shade
to garden areas with softer plants,
outdoor entertaining areas and to
north and west-facing walls of the
house. Deciduous trees allow winter
sun to penetrate whilst helping to
break wind flow with their network
of branches. Evergreen trees need to
be more strategically placed so that
they do not cast deep shade on living
areas of the house and garden (or on
neighbouring properties).
Consider erecting a lattice screen
or other structure if there is insufficient room to plant a screen for sun
or wind protection. This may double
as a boundary fence. A wire fence can
support climbing plants providing
a privacy screen as well as sun and
wind protection. Shrubs can cover
the lower part of the fence whilst the
climber occupies the top. With solid
walls that face north or west, consider
the effects of light reflection and heat
radiation during the hotter months.
Protection structures may need approval depending on their location,
scale, construction or other specifications check with your local council.
Species selection
Planting a variety of species will help
ensure that there is not a complete
loss of screen planting in the event of
4 Landscaping
unfavourable circumstances such as
prolonged drought, attack by a hostspecific pest, disease or unsuitable
growing conditions. Unless a formal
avenue of a single species is required
for a landscape theme or style, choose
hardy specimens from various genera
with a mixture of habits, but with
similar horticultural, watering and
soil fertility requirements.
If space allows, plant 35 rows with
staggered spacings along the rows.
Place the taller growing species in the
centre row and shorter ones to the
outside rows. This reduces the effects
of turbulent eddies on the leeward
side. Calculate spacings of plants to
roughly two-thirds of their expected
mature canopy width.
Some tree species are genetically more
prone to branch loss or have earned
a reputation as branch droppers.
This may be due to weak structural
growth patterns, or susceptibility to
pests and disease attack. Seek advice
from your local native plant supplier
for the most suited mix of species.
Maintenance
A newly planted windbreak will require closer attention during the
first two growing seasons to ensure
establishment of a balanced root system that is well anchored and widely
spread. Depending on local soil and
climatic conditions a regime of deep
waterings and a 80-100 mm layer of
organic mulch will encourage this.
The mulch should be topped up an-
53
nually to help suppress competitive

weed growth, stabilise soil temperature and reduce moisture loss.
If planting trees close to houses or
water tanks, keep the roof clear of
overhanging vegetation and check
roofs and gutters weekly for leaves
and other debris.
Check plantings after storm events
and prune any broken limbs back to
major branch junctions. In the event
of severe damage, seek professional
advice regarding tree surgery or removal. Replacement strategies may
be needed to restore the functional
nature of the plantings.
Plant selection
Select plants suited to the sites soil
and microclimatic conditions. Some
species are able to withstand low soil
moisture or high wind exposure due
to special adaptations such as hard
leaf tissue, small leaves, deep root systems, deciduous leaves, silvery or furry leaves (or combinations of these).
Local native plants have evolved
to handle local conditions. Other
Australian natives also cope with very
little water. Some exotic plants from
the Mediterranean region, California
and Southern Africa are able to survive on limited water and a range of
soil conditions.
Some plants are so well adapted to
severe conditions that they can colonise and dominate native bush areas. Check with your relevant State
government agencies, local council,.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
lcare group(s), regional botanical gardens or native plant nursery(s) that
plants chosen for your site (including native species from other parts
of Australia) are not environmental
weeds or declared noxious weeds.
Explore your neighbourhood to find
out which species grow well, including street trees and other rarely watered plantings.
Group plants with similar water needs
together so that watering schedules
can suit different parts of the garden.
Examples of different levels of water
use include the following.
High use: Lawns, leafy vegetables,
soft-fruit trees, exotic shrubs like
azaleas and camellias, flowering
herbaceous annuals and many
bulbs.
Medium use: Hardy vegetables like
pumpkins and potatoes, hardy
fruit trees and vines like nut trees
and grapes, many herbs, some exotic shrubs, most grey-leaved or tomentose (hairy) plants, roses and
daisies.
Low use: Most Australian natives including banksias, grevilleas, hakeas,
wattles and eucalypts. Succulents
and cacti and some exotic ornamentals such as bougainvillea also
fall within this category.
Place plants in the areas of the garden
that suit the conditions provided. For
example, place moistureloving plants
in protected spots with deeper soils,
and hardy silvery-leaved plants in full
4 Landscaping
sun, all with layers of mulch on the
surface.
Minimising lawn
Lawns are shallow-rooted groundcovers that generally require regular watering to maintain a green leaf cover.
Compared to garden beds, lawn areas
require significantly more fertiliser,
water and maintenance per unit area
to maintain healthy growth. Lawn areas also require greater inputs of energy, time and money. Fertiliser costs
money and adds to the nutrient burden in run-off. Mowing is time-consuming and motors rely on petrol or
electricity, adding to environmental
pollution.
Rationalising the size and design of
lawn areas can be easily undertaken,
resulting in significant reductions in
water use. There are many options.
Replace lawn areas with vegetable
patches, garden beds, screen planting, or a shade tree and garden
bench.
Site turfed areas closer to the house
for more efficient watering from
roofwater tanks.
Choose other groundcovers and
low-growing shrubs for a green
outlook.
Use other pervious surfaces for trafficked areas, such as mulch, gravel
or permeable paving units. This will
avoid the need to repeatedly repair
worn out tracks across the turf.
Alter maintenance practices to en-
54
courage deeper root growth (reduced mowing frequency, higher

blade height, less frequent but
deeper watering).
Replace with grass species that are
slower growing and require less fertiliser and water to remain green.
Check with your local supplier for
native and introduced grasses that
suit local conditions.
Table 1 provides brief details on a variety of readily available low maintenance ground covers that can be used
to replace conventional lawns. They
are all well adapted to coast and ranges of Tasmania.
Table 1 over page.
Efficient irrigation
Only install irrigation systems if
needed. Landscape measures that
collect and utilise stormwater by slow
infiltration can replace reliance on
supplementary water. Irrigation will
generally not be required if plant species are carefully chosen to suit the
soil, climate, aspect and microclimate,
and appropriate planting and maintenance techniques are implemented.
However, some gardeners have high
expectations, or a preference for species that do not thrive with natural
rainfall. The aim in this case is to apply water in the most efficient manner. Points that need to be considered
regarding the choice of irrigation system, its installation and use, are outlined below.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
Name
Description
Location
Soil
Sun
Watering
Mowing
Use
Establishment
Dryarna flavius
Aust. native turf
Dry or boggy
conditions
Any
Full sun to .
part shade
Drought
tolerant
None or .
very little
Can filter .
grey water
Turf rolls .
available. .
Needs watering in
first 3-6 weeks.
Sporobolus
virginicus
Nathers Green
Prostrate fine
leaf native grass
Dry or boggy .
conditions,
handles heat .
and light frost
Many .
(prefers sandy)
Full sun to .
part shade
Drought
tolerant
Few times .
per year
High traffic. .
Can filter .
grey water.
Propagate from
small tubes or plant
division.
Phyla nodiflora
Lippia, Fog Fruit
1-3cm high
creeper, up to .
2m wide. .
2cm lilac flower .
most of year.
Tropical, .
sub-tropical &
temp. regions.
Frost resistant.
Tolerates .
waterlogging .
& salt spray.
Full sun to .
part shade
Some during
None
warmer months.
High traffic
Propagate from
rooted runners .
or plant division
Dichondra repens
Kidney Weed
Rapid growing,
1-2cm high .
1m wide. .
Small green-.
yellow flower .
in Spring.
Moist areas.
Does not
tolerate cold
climates.
Well drained
soil.
Sun or shade
None/low
Takes mild
traffic; recovers
well after wear;.
good around
edges/strips.
Propagate from
plant division,
seed (purchase
from native plant
nurseries) or tube
stock. Can be
invasive dont plant
near less vigorous
plants.
Mazus pumilio
Swamp Mazus
Forms a dense
mat 1m wide.
Small whiteviolet flowers in
Spring.
Frost resistant
Tolerates moist Sun or .

boggy soils.
partial shade
None to few
Survives on.
rainfall if in .
correct position.
Tolerates foot
Propagate from plant
traffic in moist, divisions or plants
shaded areas.
purchased from
native nursery.
Chamaemelum
nobile.
Treneague
Lawn Chamomile
Non-flowering
5-10cm high.
Warm and .
cold climate
Most soil types Moderate sun
Very low water

needs once .
established.
When
necessary
Good
companion
plant. Use as a
tea, shampoo .
and fertiliser.
Propagate from
plant division, seeds
or plants. Needs
considerable weeding
while establishing.
Mentha pulegium
var.
Decumbens
Pennyroyal
2-3cm high,
spreads
70cm/yr. Redpurple flowers
in Summer,
fragrant when
stepped on.
Grows in
warm and cold
climates
Grows in all
soil types,
preferring
moist areas.
Full sun to.

part shade
Only in
extreme heat.
Not drought
tolerant.
None
Suited to high
traffic
Propagate from
runners (cut stem
pieces that have
rooted and replant),
plant division, seeds
or plants purchased
from herb nursery.
Mentha requenii
Corsican Mint
3-6cm high
green cushion,
hardy, tiny
flowers early
Summer,
fragrant when
stepped on.
Suited to
growing among
stones in a
path.
Well drained,
mildly
enriched and
moist soil.
Full sun or.

light shade
Low water
needs
None
Can stand
some traffic
Propagate from
plants (set in early
Spring) or plant
division (in Spring)
Thymus .
serpyllum
Wild Thyme
3-12cm high
carpet, aromatic
leaves, rosy to
white flowers
Grows in
warm and cold
climates
Suited to dry,
well drained
soil as well as
damp clay
Full sun
None to low
Withstands
mowing but
not usually
needed
Suited to
occasional
trampling.
Herb that can
be used to for
tea.
Propagate from seeds,

cuttings (rooted stem
sections) or plants
(in Spring, 20-40cm
apart). Apply manure
or compost in
Autumn and Spring.
Myoporum.
parvifolium.
prostrate form
Creeping .
Boobialla
4cm high.
1-2m wide.
Small white or
pink flowers in
Spring-Summer.
Full sun
Ideal for coastal Any soil with
good drainage.
areas. Frost
hardy. Salt
tolerant.
Drought
tolerant
None
required
Good for weed

suppression
Propagate from
plants (from native
nurseries) or firm
tip cuttings (harder
areas of the plant
stem).
Table 1: Low maintenance groundcovers that can be used to replace lawns.
A few times .
a year
Source: Friends of the Earth.
55
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Match the systems design and specifications to the conditions on your
site, including water source and
quality, soil types and depth, moisture infiltration rates, evapotranspiration rates, frequency and intensity
of rainfall, slope, plant choice and
layout. Consult an irrigation specialist for a tailor-made efficient
system.
Re-fit an existing system with the
most efficient low-flow fittings
(jets, sprays and nozzles, etc.). Fix
any leaks from joiners, hoses and
pipes. Rationalise its layout. Adjust
it to suit the changing requirements
of plants as they mature (generally
reduced water demand).
Connect each garden area to separate valves to create hydrozones.
Plants grouped with similar water
needs are precision-watered to suit
them. Lawn areas will require the
most water.
Water according to the weather and
plant needs, not to a fixed time
schedule. Install soil moisture indicators as a guide. Allow soils
sensors to override an automated
system.
Reduce the frequency of watering
so that plants become less reliant
on irrigation. Monitor plants individually and replace systematic
watering with manual watering of
stressed plants.
Install drip systems for sparsely dis-
4 Landscaping
tributed plants and underground
or surface leak systems for dense
garden beds as they are the most
efficient irrigators there is less
vapour loss from spray or misdirected water.
With spray systems, avoid overlapping areas or directing it onto paths
and driveways.
Ensure that the water is directed to
the roots as much as possible.
Set a timer to turn off watering systems if it is not automated. Adjust
according to the season and plant
needs.
Loamy soils containing a mixture

of coarse and fine particles.
Soil texture determines the soils ability to retain water for use by plants.
Fine-textured clay soils hold the most
water due to the greater surface area
around soil particles. These soils may
be unsuitable for some types of plants.
Sandy soils may dry out quickly in
dry weather. Loamy soils that contain
plenty of organic matter are ideal for
plant growth. Check with your local
plant nursery for advice on local soil
types and soil testing.
Irrigation is best done in combination with mulching of garden beds to

conserve applied water. Always avoid
over-watering to the point where the
soil is saturated and excess water
flows away from where it is intended.
It is best to use plants that are suited

to the sites soil conditions. Adding a
veneer of the best garden mix is not
recommended as this will discourage roots to penetrate deeply into the
soil below. Hardy, deep rooted plants
can help break up poor soils. Organic
matter can be added to soil to encourage microbial and worm activity,
thereby improving soil condition and
moisture retention.
The costs and maintenance of an

efficient irrigation system should
be measured against the benefits.
Consider redesigning and replacing
with plants that have less demand for
constant supplementary water.
If soils have been compacted by construction work or vehicles, remediation can be undertaken to open up
pore spaces, promote aeration, and
improve water infiltration and holding abilities.
Soil preparation
There are a number of soil additives

that can be used to improve general
soil performance. Always seek specialised advice as to the correct rates and
situations for application. Common
soil additives include the following.
Maintain the whole system routinely, inspect for blockages, repair

leaks and replace worn parts.
Preparation of the soil is dependent

on soil type and site conditions. There
are three main types of soil:
Sandy soils that drain rapidly
Clay soils that hold water
56
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Wetting agents for hydrophobic (non-wetting) soils, including
some sandy soils and soils with
lots of organic matter. Watering
results in beads of water runningoff rather than soaking into the
root system. The wetting agent can
be mixed with backfill at planting
times, or applied later.
Gypsum may be added to dispersive or sodic clay soils. Always test
the soil to see if it is needed and to
determine the correct application
rate.
Water-storing crystals can hold
hundreds of times their weight
in water. When mixed with water they form a soft gel and retain
water. This provides a reservoir of
moisture for plant roots during dry
periods.
Where construction or landscaping
works cut into the soil subgrade, apply the saved topsoil (scraped and
stockpiled prior to commencement
of work) to a depth of at least 150 mm
for turf areas, or 400mm for garden
beds. Roughen the surface before applying the topsoil layer, and water
with a fine spray prior to planting to
eliminate air pockets.
To avoid compaction of heavy clay
soils after rain, allow 2-3 days for free
drainage before tilling or using mechanical means to work the ground.
Any additional soil required for landscaping works should be specified to
4 Landscaping
satisfy Australian Standard AS 4419
Soils For Landscaping and Garden
Use, or current standard. This sets requirements for bulk density, organic
matter, weed content, wettability, pH,
electrical conductivity, ammonium
toxicity, phosphorous content, dispersibility, toxicity, nitrogen drawdown, permeability, soil texture and
large particles.
Select the range that suits the proposed type of plants for the site. For
example, Australian native plants have
different requirements and tolerances. As a guide do not use any soil with
more than 20% organic matter in it.
Pre-planting
Planting
Stock selection
The key issues in selecting trees are:
The trunk has adequate stem taper and is self supporting in its
container.
Good root occupancy of the root
ball.
No girdling or kinking of roots
within the root ball.
Roots fill the container without.
being over-grown.
Trees are free from included bark
(unless this is typical of the species
and is known not to lead to structural failure).
Those parts of the site that are to be

landscaped should have all weeds removed prior to the commencement
of landscaping work. Use hand tools
on smaller weeds. As a last resort, apply herbicide by spot application to
larger, perennial or vigorous weeds.
There is adequate root volume to

support and sustain the aboveground sections.
Backfill retaining walls and make

other garden beds after brickwork,
electrical and drainage works and
adjoining pavements have been completed. Apply water to settle the soil
down and eliminate air pockets. This
must be done with a fine gentle spray
to prevent surface erosion.
Tubestock generally give faster

growth, but semi-mature seedlings
need less watering.
Mulch should be applied to each

area left unplanted in the event that
planting is delayed by more than one
week from backfilling or other soil
preparation.
57
Stock selection should be based on

Clarke (1996) Purchasing Landscape
Trees: a Guide to Assessing Tree
Quality.
Hardening off plants

Arrange delivery of plants to a location within the locality of the site at
least four weeks before planting out.
Maintain plant root systems moist
at all times, giving particular attention to watering during the on-site
installation period before and during
planting.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Planting guidelines
To avoid damage to trunks and root
zones of retained vegetation, use
hand tools and barrows in adjacent
areas. Undertake planting according
to any landscape plans and drawings
for the site and observe the following
guidelines.
Ensure that there is an adequate
depth of drained soil for the stock
size to be used.
Do not plant if the air temperature is over 35C or if the soil is
waterlogged.
Relocate existing turf or mulch. At
each planting site set aside mulching materials if already applied.
The planting holes are to be a minimum of twice the width of the container and to the depth of the root
ball. For tube stock excavate to a
depth equal to the root column
and, if possible, to a width of 500
mm.
The sides of the hole should be
rough (not smooth) to promote
new root growth.
Organic matter must not be placed
in the bottom of the hole or in the
backfill.
Ensure that all containers are fully
removed from the root ball and the
hole. No part of the plant should be
damaged during this process.
Depending on container size, remove or gently roughen the outer
5-10mm of the root ball of trees.
4 Landscaping
The plant should be centred in the
hole and then backfilled with site
soil in good tilth.
The top of the root ball must be level with the finished level of the soil
and must remain so.
If fertiliser is to be added it should
be placed in the upper section of the
backfill. The type of fertiliser, rate
of application and area should be
to the manufacturers instructions.
The backfill must be placed around
the root ball to ensure good root
contact without being overly
compacted.
Place remaining excavated soil as a
mound around the edge of the root
ball to create a watering well. This
helps retain water.
Water each plant within one hour
of planting. As a rule of thumb, apply one litre of water for every litre
of container volume. Apply the water through the root ball, but not so
as to damage the plant or dislodge
the root ball. For containerised
stock up to 45 litres, water the plant
bringing the growing medium to
container capacity within one hour
of planting. For stock over 45 litres
ensure that the root ball is moist
and that plants are not wilting.
Depending on soil moisture conditions, additional water may be applied to the soil surrounding the
root ball.
Apply organic mulch to a minimum
radius of 500mm from the trunk,
58
and to a depth of 75 mm.

If tree protection measures are required such as tree guards or marker stakes, these must be installed so
that no damage is done to the trees.
In most situations, trees should
not be tied to stakes (that is, trees
should be self-supporting when
purchased see Stock Selection
above). Where additional support
is required, two or three stakes
should be used. These should be
driven into the soil beyond the root
ball and not interfere with branches
or foliage. Trees should be attached
with jute webbing or other flexible
material that will not damage the
plant. The ties must be low enough
to allow trunk movement but high
enough to provide support for the
root ball.
Remove all other ties and labels
from the plants.
On-going plant care

Maintenance period
Specify a pre-determined maintenance period (up to two years from
completion of landscaping works)
for establishment of landscaping.
During this period, missing, dead or
unhealthy plants should be replaced
with identical species of similar
size and quality at the contractors
expense.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
Watering
Removing tree stakes
Deeply water all new plantings at

least once a week for the first three
months, once a fortnight for the next
six months and once a month for the
subsequent six months. Adjust this
frequency to suit local soil, climatic
and weather conditions, such as falls
of heavy rain. Water should be applied to the root ball and surrounding soil.
Remove stakes from newly planted

trees after the completion of their
first growing season. Take care not to
cause any damage to the trees.
Weed removal
Undertake periodic weed removal at
least once a month. Hand weeding
young plants is recommended as it
causes less ground disturbance.
Removing weeds whilst still immature limits their ability to establish
a wide root network, set seed and
spread.
Herbicide could be used selectively
to control the re-emergence of persistent weeds by using cut-and-paint
techniques or an applicator where
appropriate.
Moderating plant growth

Lightly tip-prune flowering shrubs
at the end of their main flowering
period to encourage bushy growth.
Keep groundcovers 150 mm from
tree trunks to allow inspection of the
tree trunk. Grasses need to be kept
approximately 1m away from new
plants for one to two years to prevent
competition.
Mulching
Mulching has many benefits to plant
health and water conservation. As well
as reducing evaporation, it suppresses
weed germination and growth (by reducing light penetration to the soil
surface) and stabilises soil temperature (beneficial to root development
and soil organisms). Organic mulch
slowly breaks down to supply soil nutrients. Use the following guidelines
to help ensure efficient water use and
good plant growth.
Apply 75-100 mm of organic mulch
over the surface as a blanket on
massed plantings. Top up annually.
Keep mulch at least 150 mm away
from trunks and stems to prevent
rot.
Use a mixture of textures to allow
water to pass through. A combination of chipped bark and leaves
decomposes at different rates and
supplies a variety of minerals and
nutrients.
Avoid introducing pests and diseases from mulch imported to the
site. Obtain materials that satisfy Australian Standard AS 4454
Composts, Soil Conditioners and
Mulches, or current standard.
59
Do not apply fresh organic products directly to the soil (such as

sawdust, woodchips and pinebark).
These materials extract soil nitrogen (nitrogen drawdown), competing with plant uptake and causing
sickly plants. Add fertilizer (manure or blood and bone) before application, or compost the material
before use.
Inorganic mulch can be used, but
does not add humus and nutrients
to the soil. Use crushed rock, gravel
and brick, silicon chip, coarse river
sand, scoria or river pebbles to complement landscape themes or where
loose materials may be blown away.
Avoid blue metal as this can alter
soil pH. Use to a depth of about 50
mm to allow water penetration.
Mulch matting can be used on
slopes where other mulches may
slip. When pegged in position, the
mat forms a stable surface whilst
trees, shrubs and groundcovers establish. Plants can be pocket planted through the matting. Use 100%
organic matting, such as jute. The
matting must not contain inorganic fibre such as nylon.
If using an irrigation system, install
an underground or surface drip system to make sure the water reaches
the soil below the mulch.
Avoid using mulch in areas where it
is likely to be washed away by surface flow during heavy rain.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Design considerations
The design and installation of water
sensitive landscape measures needs to
be undertaken as part of planning for
an integrated functional system for
the whole site or area. Specific issues
that need to be considered include:
Integrated planning: Landscape
measures should be designed in
conjunction with the other stormwater management measures.
Expected flows and discharge rates
should be factored into the design
criteria layout, earth shaping and
the selection of plants and other
materials.
Diversification: Aim to create a diverse system within the landscape
that is not reliant on a single device
to manage stormwater. This will allow other parts of the landscape to
adequately deal with stormwater
flows in the event of failure or exceedance of design capacity.
As an example, a gravel-lined pond
collects overflow from a water tank,
spills over to a turfed filter strip,
drains gently to a series of drainage
swales spot-planted with species
that tolerate temporarily saturated
soil, drains to a soak area and
so on! This interconnecting system
collects flow at a point source, reduces its speed and allows it to progressively infiltrate the soil, thereby
reducing the risk of erosion, sedimentation and flooding and use of
reticulated water supply.
4 Landscaping
Water tanks: The overflow point
from water tanks needs to be positioned or treated so that it does
not cause erosion or other damage, such as localised inundation of
fragile plants.
Vegetated filter strips and turfed
areas: These will become compacted by foot or vehicular traffic,
reducing the soils ability to take
up water. Erosion of the surface is
also likely, leading to soil loss and
downstream sedimentation.
Paved areas: Always consider the
safety of users when minimising
impervious paved areas. The most
frequently used paths (for example,
to the front door) must be laid securely on a well prepared base. This
prevents pockets of settlement and
loose or uneven surfaces that can
become a hazard, particularly to
the frail or aged.
Greywater: The use of domestic
grey water as part of an irrigation
or disposal system should not be
applied consistently to one area as
this can cause a build-up of salts
and other contaminants that can
alter the pH and ecology of the soil
and affect plant health. It is important to know the soils characteristics, infiltration and capacity rates
before relying on such a system.
Maintenance issues
After rain
Avoid walking or driving over wet
60
ground as heavy soils are easily compacted when wet. Soil compaction
significantly reduces infiltration rates.
Avoid disturbing plant foliage immediately after rain as plant diseases are
more easily transmitted into damaged
leaf tissue when moist.
Check for soil erosion, and repair
erosion points before they magnify.
Identify the cause and undertake
corrective measures (redirect drainage, disperse flow and reduce velocity). Check for sediment build-up in
vegetated filter strips, drainage swales,
soak areas and ponds. Collect sediment and stabilise in areas that are
less prone to erosion.
Weeding
Regularly control weeds to reduce
competition for both soil moisture
and nutrients. Hand-pull or hoe
weeds when they are young. Remove
weeds before they set seed for the next
generation.
Avoid broad-scale herbicide application as this may wash-off into water
courses and affect aquatic fauna. If
persistent woody weeds do not respond to manual methods, cleanly
cut near the stem base stem and paint
with herbicide on the fresh wound.
Use herbicides only in accordance
with the manufacturers instructions.
Watering
Newly planted areas will require
more water than established plants.
The first growing season is the most
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
crucial for good root establishment.
New plants need to be monitored, especially in weather extremes. Use the
following guidelines to help ensure
efficient and effective watering.
Apply slow waterings to encourage
deep root penetration.
Decrease watering frequency as
plants settle in.
For maximum watering efficiency, group plants together that have
similar watering needs together
(hydrozoning).
Take care that the underlying subsoil is not saturated as this can be
a cause of wilting leaves. Rectify by
improving subsoil drainage or using species that can cope with the
conditions.
Water according to soil moisture
and plant needs rather than to a
fixed schedule. Test the soil 50mm
below the mulch to see if it is dry
before applying water.
Divide garden beds into sections
and alternate between them at watering times, concentrating on one
with deep soakings.
Minimise evaporation by watering
in the early morning or late afternoon. Apply water to the roots rather than the foliage, as some plants
are susceptible to pest and fungal
diseases if left with damp leaves, especially overnight.
Avoid watering in windy conditions as much water is lost to spray
drift.
4 Landscaping
If using a handheld hose, use a trigger-operated nozzle to control flow
whilst moving between plants.
Care of plants
Protect young plants, especially ornamentals that have large or soft
leaves, by shading from strong sun or
wind. Use shade cloth or a tee-pee of
branches cut from prunings. This reduces moisture loss from their leaves.
Thin out fruit on deciduous trees.
Thin apples, peaches, plums to about
20-30 cm apart.
as to return the stored nutrients to the

soil.
Grassed areas watering

Grassed areas are the biggest user of
water. Consider reducing size of lawns,
substituting with other groundcovers
or converting to a less water-dependent garden bed.
Give lawn areas a good soaking rather than frequent shallow waterings.
During prolonged dry periods it may
be necessary to water every third day
to the equivalent of 15mm of rain.
Use a cup to measure how much water has been applied.
Let fruit trees go dry after harvest and

water only if the leaves wilt. Well-established and mulched plants should
be able to withstand this regime. Let
roses develop hips by not deadheading flowers.
Grassed areas mowing
Avoid excessive use of nitrogenrich fertilisers as this stimulates leaf

growth and increases water demand.
Mow less often. Where possible, use

a hand-pushed mower a great incentive to reduce lawn areas!
Pruning
Set mower blades higher. Aim to cut

only the top one-third of the grass.
Mowing too low weakens the grass,
increases susceptibility to weeds and
pest damage, and increases evaporation from the soil.
Minimise pruning by not forcing

plants with lush lengthy growth that
becomes wayward. This soft growth
is more prone to drying out in hot
winds and, if not hardened by the
end of the growing season, can be
damaged in the colder months.
Pruning may be necessary for shaping, crown lifting or the removal of
dead or diseased limbs on trees. For a
useful guide, see Australian Standard
AS 4373 Pruning of Amenity Trees.
Recycle any disease-free prunings
back into the landscape as mulch so
61
For summer, dormant turf species,

restrict foot traffic whilst the turf is
dormant.
Use a mulching mower to recut the

grass finely, self-mulch the lawn and
return soil nutrients. Mow when the
grass is dry to allow clippings to filter down to the soil for self mulching
without clumping.
Avoid fertiliser application as this
stimulates leaf growth, increasing
moisture loss and nutrient enriched
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
run-off. It also requires more frequent
mowing.
Grassed areas maintenance

Aeration helps water penetrate to the
root zone. This can be done by inserting the prongs of a garden fork to a
depth of at least 10cm in a regular
pattern over the surface of the lawn,
or use a motorised roller with spikes.
De-thatch the lawn. Lawns that grow
by creeping stems sometimes form
a thick layer of stems and leaves under the green parts, called thatch.
Remove this layer using a special
mower (available for hire) to improve
water penetration. This is best done
between spring and early summer or
in autumn.
4 Landscaping
able as either floating or fixed covers
that satisfy budget, use and safety
needs.
Gutters
Prune back overhanging branches
and remove leaf and other debris
from roofs and gutters to reduce possible contamination of water collection tanks and systems.
Vehicle washing
Other issues
Washing cars or boats on lawns prevents water and detergent from entering the stormwater drainage system.
Lawns and garden beds have a limited
ability to absorb nutrients contained
in detergents. Wash the car in a different location each time. If the lawn
deteriorates or becomes water-logged,
your vehicle may be compacting the
soil or the nutrient levels may be too
high. Aerate the soil and rest it by taking the car to a commercial car wash
for a few months. Select a car wash
that recycles water and detergent.
Swimming pools
Regular maintenance
Swimming pools loose an enormous

quantity of water through evaporation. In a shaded wind-protected setting evaporative loss may be about
15mm per week over the surface. For
a 60 m2 pool this is about 3700 litres
per month! The same sized pool in a
hot, sunny, windy site looses about
four times that amount. A pool cover
can cut potential losses by more than
90%, and reduce the need for chemical additions and pump and filter use.
Pool covers are commercially avail-
Sweep paths and driveways rather

than using a hose. Maintain and repair leaking taps, hoses and other fittings of watering systems.
Organic fertilisers, such as fishmeal,

seaweed extracts and pelletised poultry manure help stimulate microbial
activity that removes thatch naturally.
Useful websites
Environment Australia (2001).
Your Home: Technical Manual and
Consumer Guide:
.
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome.
Friends of the Earth (Sydney): www.
homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd/
62
SustainableConsumption/garden/
gardenhome.
Australian web site dedicated
to promoting better water
conservation: .
www.savewater.com.au.
Environment Australia (2001).
Your Home: Technical Manual and
Consumer Guide:.
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome.
Friends of the Earth (Sydney): .
www.homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd
/SustainableConsumption/garden/
gardenhome.
Australian web site dedicated
to promoting better water
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
4 Landscaping
conservation: .
www.savewater.com.au.
Nottle, T. (1996). Gardens of the Sun.

Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst NSW.
practices in Australia. Reed Books,

Chatswood NSW.
References
Patrick, J. (1994). Beautiful Gardens

With Less Water. Lothian Publications,
Port Melbourne, Vic.
Archer, J., Le Hunt, R., & Hodges, J.,

(1993). The Water Efficient Garden:
a practical and innovative guide,
from planning through to established
gardens. Random House, Milsons
Point NSW.
Clarke, R. (1996). Purchasing
Landscape Trees: a guide to assessing tree quality. Natspec Guide No.2,
Construction Information Systems,
Milsons Point NSW.
Engineering
Procedures
for
Stormwater Management in Southern
Hobart.
Environment Protection Authority
and Department of Land & Water
Conservation
(2001a).
Model
Landscape Development Control Plan.
(Draft, unpublished).
Environment Protection Authority
and Department of Land & Water
Conservation
(2001b).
Model
Environmental Management Plan
for Landscaping Works. (Draft,
unpublished).
Handrek, K. (2001). Gardening Downunder: A guide to healthier soils and
plants. CSIRO Landlinks Press,
Collingwood Vic.
Romanski, Nick, (1998). Planting wetlands and dams a practical guide to

wetland design, construction and propagation UNSW Press, Sydney.
Standards
Australia.
Australian
Standard AS 4419 Soils For Landscaping
and Garden Use. Standards Australia,
Homebush, NSW.
Standards
Australia.
Australian
Standard AS 4454 Composts, Soil
Conditioners and Mulches. Standards
Australia, Homebush, NSW.
Standards
Australia.
Australian
Standard AS 4373 Pruning of
Amenity Trees. Standards Australia,
Homebush, NSW.
Taylor, J, (1993). The Dry Garden:
Gardening with Drought-tolerant
Plants. Lothian Publications, Port
Melbourne Vic.
Thompson, Paul (1991). Water in your
garden constructing ponds, waterfalls
and fountains. Lothian Publications,
Port Melbourne, Vic.
Van Dok,W. (2000). The Water Efficient
Garden: water efficient gardenscapes.
Glen Waverley, Vic. [Includes detailed
information on greywater
irrigation].
Walsh, K, (1995). Water-Saving
Gardening: waterwise plants and
63

However, you are welcome to reproduce material contained in this publication for noncommercial use without formal permission
or charge, provided that you give acknowledgment to the document and the Hobart
City Council as author and publisher.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
5 Drainage design
This Water Sensitive Practice Note gives a general introduction to drainage design and the
benefits of using alternative approaches.
64
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Introduction
Stormwater management is a fundamental consideration in the planning
and design of urban development.
Unfortunately, it is often treated as a
subsidiary issue that is not addressed
until the final stages of the planning
and design process. By considering
stormwater management at the initial
design phase it is possible to ensure
viable stormwater management solutions that are compatible with other
design objectives for the site.
Site analysis
The best way to take a whole site approach is to prepare a Site Analysis.
For details, see Appendix A Site
Planning to the Development Type
Guidelines.
Issues particularly relevant to drainage design are described below.
The sites topography will have a significant impact on the layout design.
This is because stormwater drainage
systems almost always rely on gravity.
The layout of the development must
be configured so as to allow excess
stormwater to be gravity-drained to a
drainage system.
Topography will also affect runoff
onto the site from surrounding properties. Existing overland flow paths
should be identified and retained.
Where modifications to these are unavoidable, they should be designed so
as to maintain existing hydrological
conditions.
5 Drainage design
Drainage easements, natural watercourses and flood prone land should
also be identified and considered
in the design process. It needs to be
borne in mind that drainage easements containing underground
pipes can operate as overland flow
paths during intense rainfall events.
Buildings must be kept clear of drainage easements to ensure public safety
and to allow maintenance access.
Consideration also needs to be given to local soil conditions. Relevant
factors include absorption capacity,
erosion potential, soil salinity and
the possibility of soil contamination
from past activities.
Adjoining properties
One of the basic principles of stormwater management is to avoid adverse
stormwater impacts on other properties. Careful consideration must be
given to controlling surface runoff
and subsoil drainage to adjoining
properties.
The redirection and concentration of
stormwater flows onto neighbouring
properties may constitute a nuisance
at common law, giving affected owners a legal right of redress.
Public safety
Stormwater runoff from rare and intense storm events can pose serious
risks to life and property. It is essential that the design of overland flow
paths, on-site detention storages and
65
other stormwater management measures meet relevant safety criteria. for

pedestrians, vehicles and property
damage.
Buildings and accessways should be
located clear of overland flow paths,
or designed to be compatible with the
potential flood environment. Fencing
and landscaping should be designed
so as to minimise the potential for
overland flow paths to be obstructed
during rare and intense storm events.
Relevant design criteria can be obtained from your local council.
Floor levels and freeboard

Floor levels of habitable buildings
must be designed so as to be above
the expected water levels for overland flow paths, detention storages
and flood prone land. Allowance also
needs to be made for freeboard. This
is an additional vertical separation
between the expected water level and
the floor level, the value of which varies according to local conditions and
the particular type of flood risk. Floor
level and freeboard requirements can
be obtained from your local council.
Conventional practices
Conventional drainage practices
generally involve rapid discharge of
stormwater from the site to a public
drainage system. These practices are
described in detail in numerous publications (see references).
The main objective is to collect and
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
5 Drainage design
by overland flow. The public drainage system usually
consists of a system of gutters, streets, pipes, culverts
and channels owned and
operated by the local council or other authority.
Slope
Roof runoff
directed
to street
via small
diameter
pipes
Where the site slopes towards the street, roof runoff and overland flow are
Surface runoff directed
drained directly to the
to street
street drainage system (see
Footpath
Figure 1). Where the site
slopes away from the street,
Kerb and gutter
these are connected to the
Fig 1: Conventional drainage to street
street drainage system or
a
receiving
waterway via a drainage
convey stormwater to the street drainage system with a minimum of nui- easement at the rear of the property
sance, danger or damage. Roof runoff (see Figure 2). The drainage easement
is discharged via small diameter pipes generally incorporates a drainage
(usually 100mm diameter), and sur- pipe, and may also include a table
face stormwater is usually conveyed drain on the ground surface for the
collection of overland flow.
Drainage easement .
No surface
runoff to
adjoining
properties
and overland flow path
Roof runoff
directed
directed to
drainage
easment via
small diameter
pipes
Problems with
conventional
practice
Surface runoff to .
drainage easement
Downpipe
No surface
runoff to
adjoining
properties
Slope
Footpath
Fig 2: Conventional drainage to
rear of property
The majority of stormwater

runoff in urban area is from
impervious surfaces such
as roofs, paved areas and
roads. Except in the case of
major storms, little or no
runoff occurs from pervious surfaces such as lawns,
gardens and landscaped areas. Urbanisation dramati-
Kerb and guttering
66
cally increases the area of impervious surfaces. This in turn results in

increased peak discharges and greater
volumes of runoff per storm.
The direct discharge of roofwater and
overland flow to the street drainage
system under conventional drainage
practices causes rapid and concentrated discharges of stormwater. This
contributes to increased flooding,
erosion and sedimentation, and
reduced stormwater quality. These
problems can be reduced by measures that delay stormwater discharges
and that reduce the total volume of
stormwater discharged.
What is the alternative?

Alternative stormwater management
measures, when used in conjunction
with conventional practices, have
many cost, aesthetic and environmental benefits. For example, roof
runoff can be managed using rainwater tanks and filtration/infiltration
trenches. Paved areas can be minimised or replaced with porous paving. A variety of landscape measures
and practices can also be applied.
These measures reduce the volume
of stormwater runoff and the rate at
which it is discharged. Figure 3 shows
how these measures can be combined
on a typical residential lot. For further details on how to implement
these measures, see the other Practice
Notes in this series.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
5 Drainage design
References
Vegetable garden
Tank
Argue, J.R. (1986). Storm Drainage

Design in Small Urban Catchments:
a Handbook for Australian Practice.
(Special Report No. 34), Australian
Road Research Board.
Lawn area .
kept to a minimum
Roof water
House
Car
parking
space
Carleton, M.G. & Ing (1992).

Stormflow reduction using site infiltration-detention, Proc. International
Symposium on Urban Stormwater
Management, Sydney, The Institution
of Engineers, Australia.
Retention trench
Carriageway
Argue, J.R. (2002). On-site Retention of

Stormwater: Introduction and Design
Procedures. Urban Water Resources
Centre, University of South Australia,
Adelaide.
Street drainage system
Fig 3: Example of an alternative drainage strategy
Useful websites

Engineering
Procedures
for
Hobart.
Institution of Engineers Australia
(1987). Australian Rainfall and
Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation.
2 Volumes. IEA, Canberra.
www.wsud.org.
www.dbce.csiro.au/urbanwater.
www.catchment.crc.org.au.
www.eng.newcastle.edu.au/.
~cegak/Coombes

publisher.
67
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
6 Wastewater reuse
On-site waste treatment options include septic

tanks, aerated wastewater treatment systems and
composting toilets
This Water Sensitive Practice Note gives a general introduction to the options available for on-site
waste water treatment and re-use
68
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Introduction
The majority of water used for indoor
domestic purposes is discharged after
use as wastewater. Wastewater can
be collected by a reticulated sewage system and treated at a conventional wastewater treatment plant.
Alternatively, it can be collected,
treated and re-used on-site, thereby
promoting more efficient water use.
This has many significant economic
and environmental benefits for the
community. However, on-site reuse
of domestic wastewater is subject to
various restrictions due to concerns
about effluent quality, maintenance
and health issues.
Types of wastewater
There are two main types of domestic wastewater:
Blackwater wastewater from
the toilet
Greywater all othwaste.

er
domestic
water, including wastewater from
bathrooms, kitchens and laundries.
A typical household discharges approximately 35 litres of blackwater,

and 105 litres of greywater, per person per day. The potential for on-site
treatment and reuse will depend on
its quality. Greywater contributes
about 65% of the volume of domestic
wastewater, 70% of the phosphorus,
and 63% of the BOD (biological oxygen demand), whilst blackwater contributes about 35% of the volume of
6 Wastewater reuse
wastewater, 61% of suspended solids,
82% of nitrogen and 37% of BOD.
The potential presence of pathogens
in greywater is substantially lower
than in blackwater. However, several
authors have shown that greywater
may contain pathogens. Thus, both
greywater and blackwater require adequate treatment before onsite reuse.
On-site treatment and reuse options
include septic tanks, aerated systems,
and greywater reuse systems. These
options are mainly applicable to rural
and rural-residential locations.
Common Techniques
Effluent
discharge
Wastewater
from house
Inspection
port
Slotted
pipe
pended solids, 50% of BOD, and reduce the concentration of biological

contaminants. Final treatment occurs
via an absorption trench. The effluent then percolates to the soil where
it is subject to further contaminant
removal processes by soil organisms
before reaching surface or ground
waters.
Guidance for the design of septic
tanks and the disposal of effluent
from on-site wastewater treatment
systems is provided in Australian
Standards AS1546 and AS1547 respectively. Installation of a septic
tank requires approval from the local council. Ongoing operation
also requires council approval
and regular inspection.
About 40% of septic systems

have been found to be not opSeptic .
Detention
erating correctly, thereby conzone
tank
Absorbtion trench
filled with gravel
tributing nutrients to waterSludge zone
ways and causing significant
Fig 1: Septic tank and absorbtion trench
water management problems.
Septic tanks
Common reasons for failure of septic
Septic tanks are widely used through- tank and absorption trench systems
out Australia in areas without re- are:
Scum zone
ticulated sewerage. About 12% of all

households nationally rely on septic
tanks. The conventional system involves the underground installation
of a concrete tank and an absorption
trench (see Figure 1).
Wastewater is partially treated in the
septic tank by anaerobic processes.
These remove about 30% of phosphorus, 20% of nitrogen, 60% of sus-
69
The volume of wastewater discharged to the septic tank is greater

than its design volume.
Failure to periodically remove
sludge from the septic tank.
Insufficient area of absorption
trench to accept effluent from the
septic tank.
Inappropriate soil type for absorption of effluent.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
6 Wastewater reuse
Aerated systems
Provided that the required management and maintenance regimes are

adhered to, including periodic sludge
removal, the effluent should be clear
and odourless, and meet health
guidelines. Effluent quality should be
better than 30 mg/l suspended solids
concentration, 20 mg/l BOD5, 0.5 mg/
l free residual chlorine and 10 organisms per 100 ml for faecal coliforms.
It can then be disposed of by surface
or underground irrigation. A
minimum irrigation area of
200 m2 is usually required.
There are a number of different aerated wastewater treatment systems

available for on site management and
reuse of wastewater. These systems
rely on mechanical devices to mix,
aerate and pump the effluent, subjecting it to accelerated aerobic and
anaerobic decomposition using one
or two tanks (see Figure 2).
Effluent
discharge
Wastewater .
from house
Settling and
chlorination
chamber
Outlet
Aeration
chamber
Septic tank
(see Fig 1)
Air
Sludge
Pump
Sludge return
Fig 2: Aerated wastewater reuse system
Shower, bath
and basin
Storage tank
and greywater
treatment
Laundry
Toilet
Underground
drip irrigation
Reticulated.
sewage
system
Overflow to
sewage system
Fig 3: Primary greywater resuse system
Shower, bath
Laundry
and basin
Toilet
Storage tank
and greywater
treatment
Sprinkler
Pump
Underground
drip irrigation
Reticulated.
sewage system
Overflow to
sewage system
Fig 4: Secondary greywater reuse system
Greywater reuse
systems
There are two main types of
greywater reuse systems: primary and secondary systems.
In a primary system, greywater is collected and distributed
by gravity or a pump for underground lawn and garden
watering (see Figure 3).
Careful selection of detergents
and washing products is required to minimise possible
harmful impacts on plants or
soil due to accumulation of
salts, nutrients and trace metals. A guide to suitable detergents is provided by Mobbs
(1998). As untreated greywater
may contain harmful bacteria,
it should not be applied directly to vegetables.
Secondary systems incorporate a storage tank for greywa-
70
ter treatment. This supplies greywater

for toilet flushing and garden irrigation via a pump (see Figure 4). The
system can also supply underground
drip irrigation of garden areas.
Useful contacts
CSIRO Urban Water Program:.
www.dbce.csiro.au/urbanwater.
Michael Mobbs:.
www.sustainablehouse.com.au.
BDP Environment Design Guide:
The Royal Australian Institute .
of Architects.
References
Engineering
Procedures
for
Hobart.
Geary, P.M. (1994). Soil survey and
the design of wastewater disposal
systems, Australian Journal of Soil and
Water Conservation 7(4), 16-23.
Geary P.M. (1998). Domestic wastewater: treatment and reuse, in
Environment Design Guide. Royal
Australian Institute of Architects.
McQuire, Stuart (1995). Not Just
Down the Drain: a guide to re-using
and treating your household water.
Friends of the Earth, Collingwood
Vic.
Mobbs M., (1998). Sustainable House.
Choice Books, Sydney. National
Health and Medical Research
Council (1996). Australian Drinking
Water Guidelines. Commonwealth of
Australia. Sydney.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Palmer, N., Lightbody, P., Fallowfield,
H., & Harvey B. (2001). Australias Most
Successful Alternative to Sewerage:
South Australias Septic Tank Effluent
Disposal Schemes. Local Government
of South Australia.
Standards Australia (1994). AS1547:
Disposal Systems for Effluent from
Domestic
Premises,
Standards
Australia, Homebush, NSW.
6 Wastewater reuse
publisher.
Standards Australia (1998). AS/NZS

1546: On-site Domestic Wastewater
Treatment Units. Standards Australia,
Homebush, NSW.
71
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Bioretention basin .
[source: Melbourne Water]
This Water Sensitive

Practice Note provides
guidance on rain gardens
and bioretention systems.
1.1 Introduction
A bioretention system is a filtration device used to filter stormwater through
vegetation and a filter media prior to
disposal or collection for reuse. A rain
garden is a bioretention system, usually designed as a landscape feature.
Water enters a bioretention system as
piped inflow, direct overland flow or
is conveyed by another WSUD feature
such as a vegetated swale. Water then
passes through the filter/planting soil
profile and is collected underneath
using perforated pipes, see Figure 1.
Bioretention systems as WSUD features have many advantages such as
adaptability for aesthetic appeal as
well as excellent pollutant removal
mechanisms.
Bioretention systems may also be
designed as bioretention swales so
that they incorporate a stormwater
conveyance function at the surface.
during storms.
figure 1 cross section of a bio-reterntion system
1.2 Treatment processes

Water passing through a bioretention system is cleaned in a number of
ways. Firstly, water running into the
system is screened as it flows through
the surface vegetation. Some detention is also provided in systems designed to allow water to pool at the
surface, this allows coarse sediments
to fall out of suspension. Water then
infiltrates through the soil medium
and is screened of finer suspended
solids. Microbial action also aids pollutant removal around the root zone
of the vegetation.
Bioretention systems have been
found to effectively remove nutrients,
sediment and heavy metals from
stormwater.
1.3 Site considerations

Bioretention systems are extremely
versatile in their design and configuration allowing them to be adapted so
that they may be used under almost
72
any site conditions. The following

points provide some advice on site
constraints/characteristics and relevant design adjustments.
Steep slopes Bioretention systems can be built on steep slopes.
Individual cells may be terraced on
very steep slopes, systems can be lined
to prevent exfiltration (water infiltrating to the soil profile below the perforated collection pipe) if throughflow
is a problem.
Problematic soils Bioretention systems require a filter/planting media
with a moderately high hydraulic
conductivity (approximately 36180mm/hr), usually a sandy loam. If
local soils are inappropriate, external
soils should be imported to either replace or blend with the local soil.
Size constraints One of the great
advantages of bioretention systems is
the adaptability of design. A bioretention system can be built in any size
or shape, allowing them to often be
built in otherwise unused spaces. The
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes

References
Engineering Procedures for Storm
water Management in Southern
Hobart.
Bioretention swale .
[source: Melbourne Water]
primary variable in designing a bioretention system is the total surface

area required. This surface area can
be any shape or form, however where
inflows to a system are delivered to a
single point, care must be taken to
avoid scour or damage to vegetation
caused by high velocity flow.
Vegetation requirements Whilst native vegetation is preferable in bioretention systems (and there are many
suitable species endemic to Hobart)
exotic species may be used to fit with
existing landscaping.
Melbourne Water, Water Sensitive

Urban Design Engineering Proce
dures: Stormwater. Draft. Report ,
prepared by Ecological Engineering,
WBM and Parsons Brinkerhoff,
Melbourne, June, 2004
publisher.
73
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Buffer strip
Vegetated swale
porated into a treatment train including bioretention, e.g. where swales

meet overflow points or entrances
to the sub-surface drainage network,
bioretention swale cells can be used
(see Figure 2).
1.2 Treatment processes

Figure 1. Grass buffer and vegetated swale
This Water Sensitive Practice

Note explains how vegetated
swales and buffers contribute
to water sensitive urban
design.
1.1 Introduction
Vegetated swales and buffers perform
both a stormwater treatment and
stormwater conveyance function. A
vegetated buffer is a swathe of level
vegetated ground surface over which
sheet flows of stormwater are directed. Sheet flow is achieved through
the use of a level spreader at the top
of the slope. A swale is a vegetated
trapezoidal channel used to convey
stormwater. Swales can be used in
Vegetated .
swale
combination with conventional piped

drainage systems or can replace them
altogether.
Both systems treat stormwater via
filtration through the vegetation.
Additional pollutant removal is
achieved through stormwater infiltration to groundwater and vegetative
uptake.
Buffers and swales are often used in
conjunction (see Figure 1) so that
the buffer strips level spreader collects overland flow and distributes
the flow evenly over the buffer, which
provides some pre-treatment for the
water prior to entering the swale for
conveyance downstream.
Both swales and buffers provide water

quality treatment through physical
filtration of water through the vegetation with some additional pollutant
take-up provided by the vegetation. It
is important that vegetation height is
greater than flow depth at the treatable flow rate to achieve effective
filtration through the vegetation. To
maintain effective treatment performance, vegetation must be well-maintained for pollutant take-up and to
ensure that bare patches do not create
preferential flow paths and associated
erosion.
1.3 Site Considerations

Site gradients Vegetated swales are
usually only suitable for slopes of 14% as steep slopes often lead to high
Buffers and swales can also be incorBioretention

swale
Overflow .
point
Underdrain
Connection .
to piped
network
Figure 2. Swale and vegetated swale system
Grass swale in Lynbrook Estate,

Melbourne. Curb funnels direct
road runoff into the swale system.
74
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
velocity flows that may scour the channel and damage vegetation. Swales
less than 1% commonly have problems with water pooling and becoming stagnant. However, there is some
adaptability in design characteristics
to overcome such issues. Swales constructed on slopes of approximately
3% or higher can be designed with
periodic check dams along the length
of the swale. Check dams are simply
small barriers constructed across the
channel that cause water to back up
slightly before overtopping and continuing down the swale. They have
the benefit of reducing flow velocity,
redistributing flow evenly across the
bed of the channel and providing a
small detention area behind the dam
which may allow coarse sediments
to fall from suspension. Ponding and
stagnant water problems in swales on
flat land may be overcome by the use
of collector under-drains that allow
water to infiltrate through the swale
bed and be carried away to a drainage
network by perforated pipes.
Driveway crossings Where swales
are constructed as an urban drainage system, there is often the need for
driveway crossings between the street
and a property. There are two main
ways of providing crossings, culverts
and at-grade crossings. Culverts prevent vehicular movements across the
swale surface. This avoids compaction
of the vegetation but causes a concen-

tration of flow and increased velocity
creating a risk of channel bed scour at
the outlet. At-grade crossings reduce
construction costs, however will only
be effective in very wide swales (batter grades of approximately 1:6) so
that standard vehicles may traverse
them. They also require some form of
management to prevent tyre ruts establishing, for example grass paver or
permeable pavers along tyre paths. In
both cases, driveway crossings make
ideal locations for check dams if they
are required.
Traffic control All swale systems require some management technique to
prevent vehicular access to the swale.
It is crucial that this be considered
in the design phase of the project.
Traffic movements across a swale
will damage vegetation and cause
soil compaction, which will also inhibit revegetation and create erosion
points. Similarly, the motorist can
also see swales as convenient places
to park, which should be avoided
at all costs for the reasons discussed
above. Traffic can be kept from swales
through the use of bollards, fences or
strategic plantings. It is also important to implement traffic control during construction and establishment
by either establishing the permanent
control methods initially or by temporary fencing.
75
References
Engineering
Procedures
for
Hobart.
publisher.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes 9 Water efficient home (fittings and appliences)

1.1 Introduction
Household fittings and appliances
are an important aspect of the WSUD
development. Water efficiency, maximising beneficial use of the drinking
water resource, is a core component
of integrated water cycle management and WSUD.
the faucet whilst maintaining water

pressure. Tap aerators should be installed on all sink faucets, kitchen,
bathroom and laundry.
1.2.2 Efficient toilets
This represents significant additional

savings when considered over the toilets usage for a year.
As can be seen in figure 3, when viewed
at an annual time scale, most houses
or buildings will save an enormous
volume of water each year by installing an efficient dual flush toilet.
The water industry, in recent years,

has produced a rapidly evolving
range of products and services designed to reduce water consumption.
For this reason, the range of products
and services in this section is not
exhaustive.
Within the commercial/industrial

sector, consideration should also be
given when toilet fixtures. The use
of waterless urinals or water efficient
urinals with motion sensors should
be considered. Any fixture installed
should be Watermark approved.
There are many, often cheap, ways to

improve water efficiency at the single
allotment scale, e.g.:
tap aerators
efficient toilets
water efficient shower roses
well-maintained fixtures .
(i.e. NO DRIPS)
volumes do vary significantly. Some

older dual flush toilets have a fullflush volume of about 9L while some
newer models have reduced the fullflush volume to as low as 4.5L.
Figure 2. Dual flush toilet [source: Caroma]
Whilst dual flush toilets are mandatory for all new installations, flush
washing machines
NB: waterless urinals and UP

GRADES from single to dual flush
toilets currently attract rates-rebates
within Hobart City.
Toilet water consumption
dishwashers.
140000
1.2 Appliances
and fixtures
12L single flush

9L/4L dual flush
4.5L3L dual flush
120000
100000
1.2.1 Tap aerators

Tap aerators are simple to install and
cost very little (generally under $5).
They reduce the flow of water through
80000
60000
40000
20000
housing
insert
rubber washer
Figure 1. Components of a tap aerator .

[source: Sydney Water]
0
1
Figure 3. Comparative annual water consumption from toilets with varying flush volumes
76
>iiiL>ì}

1.2.3 Water efficient
shower roses
Easily installed, a water efficient
shower rose will again save a large
volume of water when considered
over a year.
Many people, after trying the first
generation of water efficient showerhead, are reluctant to install water
efficient showers due to the myth that
you just cant get a good shower.
However, the technology has improved greatly and more recent water efficient shower roses can provide
both good pressure and spread.
1.2.4 Well-maintained
fixtures (i.e. no drips)
The first step to achieving maximum
water efficiency is to keep a wellmaintained plumbing system in all
buildings. A dripping tap can waste
20,000L each year.
Other leaks that often go unnoticed
are toilet cistern leaks. A toilet can run
constantly from the cistern into the
pan without being audible or visually
noticeable. The best way to check if
a toilet cistern is leaking is to put a
few drops of food colouring into the
cistern and watch to see if coloured
water runs into the pan when the toilet has not been flushed.
1.2.5 Washing machines

In recent years, there has been increasing focus on the development of
appliances for water efficiency. Most
front-loading washers now use far
less than older machines and toploaders (although there are a number
of efficient top-loading machines
available).
In purchasing a washing machine,
a consumer should watch out for
the water efficiency labelling of
the appliance (see information and
education).
1.1.6 Dishwashers.
Water consumption in dishwashers
varies greatly. There are many water
efficient models available, however,
these units are often only efficient
when run on a specific cycle. It is
important to read manufacturers instructions carefully to ascertain how
an appliance may be operated in the
most efficient manner.
Figure 4. A-ratings for water efficiency (1A=moderate

> 5A=excellent) [source: WSAA]
Commonwealth legislation has recently been enacted to enforce a new

Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme
(WELS). Labelling under this scheme
is compulsory and applies to showerheads, washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, taps, flow regulators and
urinals. The new scheme is based,
visually, on the existing successful
energy efficiency labelling standards,
see below:
In purchasing a dishwasher, a consumer should watch out for the water

efficiency labelling of the appliance
(see information and education).
1.2 Information
and education
There is a growing body of information for consumers detailing how
the greatest savings can be made.
The Water Services Association
of Australia (WSAA) has operated the successful voluntary Water
Conservation Rating and Labelling
Scheme. The inadequacy with this
scheme is that it is a purely voluntary
scheme and, therefore, only efficient
products tend to register.
77
Figure 5. Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) label

[source: Department of Environment and Heritage]
The labelling schemes detailed signify a new level of accountability for

manufacturers to ensure products
are not designed to waste the water
resource. The schemes also provide
>iiiL>ì}

valuable information to consumers

who may wish to assess environmental and economic implications on
purchases they make.

publisher.
This practice note has only included

internal means of reducing water consumption. Great savings may also be
made outside and should be considered alongside any internal practices
to achieve a water sensitive development (see Practice Note 4, Landscape
practices).
References
Engineering
Procedures
for
Hobart.
78
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
10 Stormwater ponds
and provide water quality treatment,
primarily through the incorporation
of extended detention. These ponds
are normally dry between storm
events.
Stormwater dam in Brighton, Tasmania

(Source: Y. Barry, Derwent Estuary Program)
Water sensitive development involves design phase it is possible to ensure
simple design and management prac- viable stormwater management solutices that take advantage of natural tions that are compatible with other
site features and minimise impacts design objectives for the site.
on the water cycle. It is part of the Stormwater management ponds can
contemporary trend towards more be used for water quantity and qualsustainable solutions that protect ity control. They have been, and are
the environment.
expected to remain, important comThis Water Sensitive Practice Note
gives a general introduction to stormwater pond design, construction and
maintenance and the benefits of using stormwater ponds.
Introduction
Stormwater management is a fundamental consideration in the planning
and design of urban development.
Unfortunately, it is often treated as a
subsidiary issue that is not addressed
until the final stages of the planning
and design process. By considering
stormwater management at the initial
ponents in the stormwater effort to

minimise adverse impacts associated
with urban land use. This practice
note reviews ponds that are either
normally dry or normally wet. Both
forms of pond can and may possibly
have an extended detention component to them.
Common Techniques
There are two types of pond; defined
as:
Dry ponds: A permanent pond that
temporarily stores stormwater runoff
to control the peak rate of discharges
79
Wet ponds: A permanent pond that

has a standing pool of water. These
ponds can, through their normal storage of water, or in conjunction with
extended detention, provide water
quality treatment. They can, also in
conjunction with extended detention,
provide protection of downstream
channels from frequent storms.
Stormwater ponds are used for three
primary purposes:
Reducing downstream .
flood potential.
Providing water quality.
treatment.
Minimising, to the extent.
possible, downstream .
channel erosion.
It may not be necessary in every situation to address all three purposes,
but there will be sites where all three
functions can be included in the
design.
Water quantity/quality performance
Ponds detain runoff, typically from
a rain event, and then discharge it,
usually at the pre-development peak
discharge rate.
Traditionally ponds, especially dry
ones, have been used primarily for
flood protection. They normally detain runoff and then discharge it at a
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
specified rate, reducing the potential
for downstream flooding by delaying the arrival of runoff from upper
parts of a catchment. More recently,
wet and dry pond designs have been
modified to extend the detention time
of runoff thereby increasing particulate contaminant settling and minimising downstream channel erosion.
Wet ponds are normally designed to
have a permanent pool for storage of
a specified water quality volume. Wet
ponds
also have an outlet design that increases residence time and flow path.
Contaminant removal
mechanism
The primary contaminant removal
mechanism of all pond systems is settling or sedimentation. However, the
effectiveness may vary to some degree
depending on the type of detention
system (dry or wet).
Flood detention ponds have limited
effectiveness at providing sedimentation as detention times are often minimal, so only the coarser particles can
be removed from the water column.
Extended detention ponds that are
normally dry also rely on sedimentation during short periods of live storage only although they typically hold
flows for longer than flood detention
ponds.
The best approach for particulate removal is the combination of extended
detention in conjunction with a nor-
10 Stormwater ponds
mal wet pool. The pool allows for displacement of water previously stored
and the extended detention allows for
better sedimentation.
Expected performance
Ponds can be effective at reducing
peak discharge rates. Depending on
their design and their location within
a catchment, they may also be effective in reducing downstream channel
erosion, downstream flood levels and
flooding.
Effectiveness at contaminant removal
depends on the type of pond system.
In general, they can be ranked, from
least to most effective, in their ability
to remove stormwater contaminants:
dry detention, extended dry detention, and then wet detention.
Unlike dry detention ponds, wet
ponds provide mechanisms that promote the removal of dissolved stormwater contaminants, and not just particulates. Table 1 illustrates expected
contaminant reduction.
Constraints on the
use of ponds
Dry ponds:
Need fairly porous soils or subsurface drainage to assure that the bottom stays dry between storms.
Not suitable in areas with high
water tables or shallow depth to
bedrock.
Not suitable on fill sites or steep
slopes
unless
geotechnically
checked.
May not be suitable if receiving
water is temperature sensitive as
detention ponds do not detain water long enough to reduce temperatures from impervious surfaces.
Wet ponds:
Not suitable on fill sites or near
steep slopes unless geotechnically
checked.
May need supplemental water sup-
Table 1
Contaminant
Dry (flood) Dry (ext. det.) Wet
Total suspended solids
20-60
30-80
50-90
Total phosphorus
10-30
15-40
30-8-
Total nitrogen
10-20
10-40
30-60
COD
20-40
20-50
30-70
Total lead
20-60
20-70
30-90
Total zinc
10-50
10-60
30-90
Total copper
20-40
20-60
20-80
Expected contaminant reduction range of ponds
80
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
ply or liner system to maintain permanent pool if not dug into the
groundwater.
Minimum contributing drainage
area of 2 - 3 hectares is needed to
maintain the permanent pool.
Not feasible in very dense urban
areas or areas with high land costs
due to large surface area needs.
May not be suitable if receiving water is temperature sensitive due to
warming of pond surface area.
Safety issues need to be addressed,
depending on normal pool depth.
Dry flood detention ponds are not
normally recommended for stormwater management systems. They have
ongoing maintenance needs because
standing water in areas where positive drainage is impeded may cause
mosquito problems, and their overall
performance for water quality treatment is less than that provided by wet
ponds. Also, dry ponds tend to have
less aesthetic appeal than wet ponds.
Objectives
Water quantity objectives
Urbanisation has dramatic impacts
on the amount of stormwater runoff
that is generated from a catchment.
Various Australian and overseas studies indicate that peak rates of discharge were increased from seventy to
ninety percent from pre-development
to post-development and the total
10 Stormwater ponds
annual volume of runoff increased
approximately 300 percent. Ponds,
when properly sized, can be a primary quantity control practice.
Criteria for water quantity control depends on the receiving environment.
If the receiving environment is a piped
stormwater reticulation system with
adequate capacity for the increased
runoff or tidal (either estuarine or
marine), then water quantity control is not an issue and a number of
practices can be used to achieve water
quality goals. If the receiving environment is a stream, then control of peak
rates of runoff may be a requirement,
and ponds become a primary option
for controlling discharge rates.
Where there are downstream flooding issues, peak discharges for the
post-development 100 year 1%
Annual Recurrence Interval (ARI)
flood may need to be managed to ensure that downstream flood levels are
not increased.
Depending on the catchment, the
number of tributaries and the location of the project in a catchment,
timing of flow, discharges may be
an issue. If so, a catchment wide
study may be necessary to ensure
that downstream flood risks are not
increased. If there is no catchmentwide study, work done in Australia
and overseas has indicated that limiting the peak discharge of the 100 year
flood to not exceed 80% of the pre-development 100 year flood will reduce
81
downstream flood increase concerns.

The 80% peak discharge rate reduces
potential for coincidence of elevated
flow downstream by extended release
of the flows.
Water quality objectives

Water quality objectives aim for 75%
removal of TSS. Ponds are not as appropriate for dissolved contaminants.
They are more appropriate where
sedimentation can achieve stated
goals. Where possible, water quality
ponds need a bypass for larger flows.
Because all flows travel through the
pond, water quality performance
during larger events will be reduced
as first flush contaminants are carried
through it. Ideally, larger flows should
bypass the pond in order to avoid a
drop in water quality performance,
albeit at the expense of its ability to
provide peak flow reduction for larger
storms. In those situations, it may be
best to use a treatment train approach
to stormwater where other practices
provide primary water quality treatment while the pond is primarily used
for water quantity control. Although
often desirable, this treatment train
approach may not always be possible
due to site constraints.
Channel protection objectives
Urban development has the effect of
increasing the frequency and magnitude of floods, particularly during
frequent heavy rain events. As a consequence streams can suffer an increase in erosion, as channels enlarge
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
to cope with the increased water.
The objective of criteria related to
channel protection is to maintain or
improve the in-stream channel stability to protect ecological values of
the stream and reduce sedimentation
downstream.
Pond outlets should be designed to
convey the volume generated by the
initial first flush runoff over the total catchment area, which has been
stored and released over a 24 hour period to minimise potential for stream
channel erosion. This provision is additional to normal stormwater quality
and flow attenuation requirements.
Ponds in series
The use of ponds in series is not generally recommended instead of a single pond with an equivalent surface
area. If the single pond were divided
into two ponds in series then each of
the two ponds would have approximately one half the surface area of the
single one.
Each pond then has half the detention time, so the first pond takes out
the coarser sediment. The flow is
then remixed in the channel between
ponds, and the second pond is too
small to take out the finer fractions.
Therefore ponds in series may be less
efficient than single large ponds of
equivalent volume.
However, sometimes site constraints
make it necessary to use two or more
treatment ponds in series rather than
10 Stormwater ponds
one larger single pond. To offset
the reduction in sediment removal,
where two or more ponds in series
are necessary they should be sized at
1.2 times the volume specified for a
single pond. Where there are no specific site constraints, a single pond is
preferred.
Preferences
Wetlands verses Ponds
Constructed wetlands are preferred to
open water ponds because they provide better filtration of contaminants,
including dissolved ones due to densities of wetland plants, incorporation
of contaminants in soils, adsorption,
plant uptake, and biological microbial decomposition. In addition, wetlands, being shallow water bodies do
not have the safety issues associated
with deeper water ponds.
On-line versus off-line

Off-line placement of ponds is preferred to on-line placement. Off-line
ponds are considered to be those
ponds not physically located in perennial watercourses. They can be
in gullies or upland areas. On-line
ponds are located on streams having perennial flows and their impact
to the stream itself can be significant.
On-line ponds alter geomorphic and
biological character of streams and
these alterations may adversely impact on the streams natural character
and function.
82
However, while off-line ponds are

preferred, it is not a hard and fast
rule. Within metropolitan urban limits, on-line ponds may be the only option to provide downstream benefits
if there is already a high level of development that exists in a catchment.
In those areas, on-line ponds would
have to be considered on a case-bycase basis to determine suitability.
There may be mitigation requirements placed on on-line ponds to
compensate for the loss of stream
habitat when an on-line pond is accepted for a specific location.
Dry ponds versus wet ponds

Dry ponds are not normally recommended. They need more maintenance and have a lower water quality performance than wet ponds. In
terms of preference when ponds are
the selected options, constructed wetlands are a first choice, followed by
wet ponds, and finally dry ponds.
Maintenance responsibility
Maintenance issues will be discussed
below in detail, but the issue of ensuring an entity is responsible for
maintenance must be considered as
an issue to determine whether ponds
are applicable in a given situation.
Ponds are expensive and require routine and non-routine maintenance
to ensure proper long-term performance, or failure of the pond system
can occur. While a swale can fill in
or a sand filter clog, pond failure can
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Practice Notes
10 Stormwater ponds
have significant effects, such as property damage and potential loss of life.
Ponds must, therefore, be regarded
as small dams, and evaluated in the
context of best practice for dam operation. If maintenance responsibility
cannot be defined during the design
phase, ponds should not be selected
for a given site.
increased safety concerns. They must

be designed correctly, built satisfactorily and actively maintained. A failure in any one of these three aspects
of ponds could result in significant
problems. Ponds are a valuable tool
in controlling stormwater runoff, but
care must be taken to ensure their
long-term effectiveness.
Pond safety
Safety features to consider include:
The most important concern of

stormwater management detention
and retention ponds is safety. Failure
to act in some situations may cause
structural failure. Inspections must
be made at least annually to ensure
the safety of a stormwater pond. If
there is any concern that the facility is
unsafe, the pond owner must seek advice from a dam safety expert. Failure
to take action when confronted with
potential problems can increase liability if a failure occurs.
Complete failures of stormwater
management ponds generally do
not occur overnight. They start as
small problems and increase gradually, hence the importance of regular
maintenance.
Ponds are unique among stormwater
practices. If filtration, biofiltration,
or infiltration practices fail or clog,
their reduced performance generally
will not result in downstream safety
concerns. Ponds provide effective
water quality performance, but that
performance is gained at the cost of
Depth
Deeper ponds can be attractive
to children who like open water.
Historically, ponds have been 1 - 3
metres deep, sometimes over anyones
head. Stormwater ponds should not
be deeper than 2 metres, if at all possible. If water quality volume requirements and site limitations limit pond
area, then use a wetland and extended
detention live storage to achieve the
water quality volume.
Benches
A reverse slope bench or slope break
should be provided 300 mm above
the normal standing water pool
(where there is a normal pool) for
safety purposes. All ponds should
also have a shallow bench 300 mm
deep that extends at least three metres from the shoreline, before sloping
down to the pond floor. This shallow
bench will facilitate the growth of
emergent wetland plants and also act
as a safety feature.
In addition to the benches, the steepness of the pond slope down to the
83
invert of the pond should not exceed

4 horizontal to 1 vertical. Steeper
slopes will make it very difficult for
someone who is in the pond to get
out of it.
The reverse slope above the waterline
has at least three functions. It:
1. Reduces erosion by rilling that
normally would be expected on
longer slopes.
2. Intercept particulates traveling
down the slope and conveys them
to the pond inflow.
3. Provides an additional safety
feature to reduce the potential
for children running or riding
uncontrolled down the slope and
falling into the pond.
Fences
For safety reasons fencing of ponds
will generally be required. The use
of natural features such as reverse
benching, dense bank planting, and
wetlands buffers (which consists of
a dense stand of vegetation) can provide a similar level of protection.
Aesthetics
Aesthetics must be considered as an
essential pond design component.
Ponds can be a site amenity if properly designed and landscaped, or can
be a scar on the landscape. The developer and designer should consider
the pond as if they themselves were
to be living in the development. Small
items can have a big influence on the
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Practice Notes
livability of a given area to residents
and the best time to consider the issue is during the design phase.
Pond and site design

Pond shape
The design of pond shape should
consider engineering constraints, design parameters to achieve treatment,
and the existing topography. For a
given catchment the design parameters include water volume, surface
area, depth, water flow velocity and
detention period. In addition, it is recommended that the length to width
ratio be 3 horizontal to 1 vertical or
greater to facilitate sedimentation.
These parameters should be considered in light of the existing topography. Generally, a pond will look more
natural and aesthetically pleasing if it
is fitted into existing contours.
Pond contours
Pond contour profiles are critical to
the design of a pond. They determine
available storage, the range of plants
that can be grown and the movement
of water through the pond. The safety
features of shallow slopes and reverse
slopes will help provide areas suitable
for a variety of plants.
Edge form
Edge form influences the appearance
of a pond, increases the range of plant
and wildlife habitats and has implications for pond maintenance. Edges
can include sloping margins where
10 Stormwater ponds
water level fluctuations cause greater
areas of wet soils. Generally, sloping
margins require a more sophisticated management approach to ensure
growth of plants. Areas of gradually
varied wetness should be identified
and specific planting strategies
should be developed for these areas.
Such gradually sloping areas can appear a more natural part of the landscape than steep banks, and they provide opportunities for a greater range
of plants and habitat.
Islands
Islands, properly located, can be used
to manipulate flow characteristics, to
increase the distance that water travels and to help segregate first flush inflow from later flows within a rainfall
event. They also increase the extent
of planted margin and can provide
a wildlife habitat that offers some
protection from domestic animals or
people, as well as offering additional
aesthetic appeal.
Landscaping
Design of a stormwater pond system should ensure that the pond fits
in with the surrounding landscape.
General landscape design principles
will apply. The area should develop
a strong and definite theme or character. This might be generated from
particular trees, or views from the site,
topographical features, or the cultural
character of the surrounding neighbourhood. The landscape design for
84
the area will provide a setting for the

pond so that the pond will appear
a natural component of the overall
setting.
Maintenance Issues
Maintenance falls into a number of
different categories:
Aesthetic maintenance
Aesthetic maintenance primarily enhances the visual appearance and
appeal of a stormwater pond. An attractive stormwater pond will more
easily become an integral part of a
community. Aesthetic maintenance is
obviously more important for those
ponds that are very visible. The following activities can be included in
an aesthetic maintenance program:
Graffiti removal: The timely removal of graffiti will improve the
appearance of a stormwater pond.
Timely removal will also tend to
discourage further graffiti or other
acts of vandalism.
Grass trimming: Trimming of
grass around fences, outlet structures, hiker/biker paths, and structures will provide a more attractive
appearance to the general public.
As much as possible, the design of
stormwater ponds should incorporate natural landscaping elements
which require less cutting and/or
trimming. However, there often are
areas where mowing will be necessary to maintain attractiveness.
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Practice Notes
Control of weeds: In situations
where vegetation has been established, undesirable plants can be
expected. These undesirable plants
can adversely impact the aesthetics
of a stormwater pond and send the
wrong signals to the public about
weed control. This can also apply to wet detention littoral zones,
which may be invaded by undesirable aquatic plant species. These
undesirable plants can be removed
through mechanical or chemical
means. If chemicals are used, the
chemical should be used as directed and according to any Council requirements and left over chemicals
disposed of properly.
Miscellaneous details: Careful and
frequent attention to performing
maintenance tasks such as painting,
tree pruning, leaf collection, debris
removal, and grass cutting (where
intended) will allow a stormwater management pond to maintain
an attractive appearance and help
maintain its functional integrity.
Functional maintenance
Functional maintenance is necessary
to keep a stormwater management
system operational at all times. It has
two components preventive and
corrective maintenance.
Preventive maintenance: Is done on a
regular basis. Tasks include upkeep
of any moving parts, such as outlet drain valves or hinges for grates
10 Stormwater ponds
or maintenance of locks. It can also
include maintenance of vegetative
cover to prevent erosion. Examples
of preventive maintenance include:
Grass mowing: Actual mowing requirements at a pond should be
tailored to the specific site conditions and grass type.
Grass maintenance: Grass areas require limited periodic fertilising and soil conditioning in
order to maintain healthy growth.
Provisions may have to be made to
re-seed and re-establish grass cover in areas damaged by sediment
accumulation, stormwater flow or
other causes.
Vegetative cover: Trees, shrubs, and
other landscaping ground cover
may require periodic maintenance,
including fertilising, pruning, and
weed pest control.
Trash and debris: A regularly
scheduled program of debris and
trash removal will reduce the potential for outlet structures, trash
racks, and other pond components
from becoming clogged and inoperable during storm events. In addition, removal of trash and debris
will prevent possible damage to
vegetated areas and eliminate potential mosquito breeding habitats.
Disposal of debris and trash must
comply with all local and regional
control programmes. Only suitable
disposal and recycling sites should
be used.
85
Sediment removal and disposal:

Accumulated sediments should be
removed before they threaten the
operation or storage volume of a
stormwater management pond.
Disposal of sediments also must
comply with local and regional requirements especially if they are
contaminated. Only suitable disposal areas should be used.
Mechanical components: Valves,
sluice gates, pumps, fence gates,
locks and access hatches should
remain functional at all times.
Regularly scheduled maintenance
should be performed in accordance
with the manufacturers recommendations. All mechanical components should be operated during
each maintenance inspection to assure continued performance.
Elimination of mosquito breeding
habitats: The most effective mosquito control programme is one
which eliminates potential breeding habitats, or, in the case of open
water ponds, ensures that optimal
conditions are maintained for the
survival of mosquito control organisms. Any stagnant pool of water
can become a mosquito breeding
area within a matter of days.
Ponded water in open cans, tyres,
and areas of sediment accumulations or ground settlement can become mosquito breeding areas.
Pond maintenance programme: .
A maintenance programme for
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Practice Notes
monitoring the overall performance of the stormwater management pond should be established.
Wet detention ponds are especially complex environments. They require a healthy aquatic ecosystem
to provide maximum benefits and
to minimise maintenance. It is important to remember that potentially large problems can be avoided if
preventive maintenance is done in a
timely fashion.
Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance is required
on an emergency or non-routine basis
to correct problems and to restore the
intended operation and safe function
of the pond. Corrective maintenance
is done on an as required, not on a
scheduled basis. Failure to promptly
address a corrective maintenance
problem may jeopardise the performance and integrity of the pond.
It may also present a potential safety
problem to those living by or below
it. Corrective maintenance activities
include:
Removal of debris and sediment:
Sediment, debris, and trash which
threaten the ability of the pond to
store or convey water should be removed immediately and properly
disposed of in order to restore proper pond function. A blocked inlet or
outlet means that stormwater will
travel in an area that was not normally designed as a flow path. In
10 Stormwater ponds
the case of an inlet, the stormwater could travel over a kerb onto a
grassed area and scour it. If the outlet is blocked, water will back up in
the pond and may travel through
the emergency spillway. These areas
are not designed for frequent flow
and may become eroded. If sediments are clogging a pond component, the lack of an available
disposal site should not delay removal of the sediments. Temporary
arrangements should be made for
handling the sediments until a
more permanent arrangement is
made.
seepage around the outside of the

barrel. This can also cause movement of embankment soils, which
can weaken the embankment.
Repairs need to be made promptly. Other temporary activities may
be needed, such as drawing down
the water level in the pond in order to relieve pressure on a dam
or embankment or facilitate repairs. Crack repair in a concrete
structure may necessitate draining
the pond and cleaning before repair. If the pond is to be dewatered,
pumps may be necessary if there is
no drain valve.
Structural repairs: Repairs to

any structural component of the
pond should be made promptly.
Equipment, materials, and personnel must be readily available to perform repairs on short notice. The
immediate nature of the repairs depends on the type of damage and
its effects on the safety and operation of the pond. Where structural
damage has occurred, the design
and conduct of repairs should
be undertaken only by qualified
personnel.
Elimination of mosquito breeding areas: If neglected, a stormwater pond can become a mosquito
breeding area, especially where normally dry ponds do not completely
drain and dry out. Corrective action may be needed if a mosquito
problem exists and the stormwater pond is the source of the problem. If mosquito control in a pond
becomes necessary, the preventive
maintenance programme for mosquitoes should be re-evaluated, and
more emphasis placed on control
of mosquito breeding habitats.
Dam, embankment and slope repairs: Damage to dams, embankments, and slopes must be repaired
quickly. Typical problems include
settlement, scouring, cracking,
sloughing, seepage and rilling. A
common concern in embankments
with outflow pipes through them is
86
Erosion repair: Vegetative cover is

necessary to prevent soil loss, maintain the structural integrity of the
pond and maintain its contaminant
removal benefits. Where a reseeding program has been ineffective,
or where other factors have creat-
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
ed erosive conditions (such as pedestrian traffic, concentrated flow
or the like), corrective steps should
be taken to prevent further loss of
soil and any subsequent danger
to the performance of the pond.
Corrective action can include erosion control blankets, riprap, sodding or reduced flow through the
area.
Fence repair: Fences can be damaged by any number of factors,
including vandalism and storms.
Timely repair will maintain the security of the site.
Elimination of trees or woody
vegetation: Woody vegetation can
present problems for dams or embankments. The root system of
woody vegetation can undermine
dam or embankment strength. If
the vegetation dies and the root
system decomposes, voids can be
created in the dam or embankment which weaken the structure.
Preventive maintenance can avoid
this problem. However, when preventive maintenance programmes
are deficient, steps must be taken to
eliminate the problem. Vegetation,
including root systems, must be
removed from dams or embankments and the excavated materials
replaced with proper material at
a specified compaction (normally 95% of the soils maximum
density).
10 Stormwater ponds
General facility maintenance: In
addition to the above elements of
corrective maintenance, general
corrective maintenance should address the overall pond and its associated components. If algal growth
becomes a problem for ponds, steps
must be taken to re-establish its
original performance. Stormwater
ponds can be very complex systems. They will work only as long as
each individual element functions
correctly. If one pond component
is undergoing corrective maintenance, other components should
be inspected at the same time to see
if they also need maintenance. This
may yield cost savings if equipment
is already on site.
Other maintenance
activities
Maintenance activities for dry and
wet ponds have many similarities,
but there also are some differences
in the types of maintenance that
are needed. Dry detention systems
have more lawn areas, that must be
mowed at least once per year to prevent the growth of woody vegetation
on the embankment. Monthly or
more frequent mowing is necessary if
good turf grass cover is expected or
desired.
Dry detention ponds frequently have
pilot or low flow channels to convey
smaller flows. Concrete pilot channels may become undermined, and
87
stone ones may become choked with

vegetation and require chemical treatment to reestablish flow conveyance
ability. Maintenance efforts for pilot channels will be done on an as
needed basis. Careful inspection of
concrete pilot channels is essential, as
their undermining will jeopardise its
structural integrity.
Wet detention ponds, with their normal water pool, are effective at converting inorganic nitrogen to organic
nitrogen. Consequently, this may
create algal problems unless littoral
zones are planted and maintained
with aquatic vegetation.Wet detention
ponds also commonly have forebays
to remove heavier sediments. Forebay
maintenance is therefore an important issue for wet detention ponds,
and must be considered. Frequency
of forebay maintenance depends on
the incoming contaminant load and
the forebay size.
Both dry and wet detention ponds
have the potential for debris clogging of inlet and outlet structures.
Residential communities generate a
surprising amount of debris, while
commercial facilities can expect debris of all sorts. Inspections for debris
should be made on a monthly basis
or after rain events to ensure that all
components of the stormwater ponds
are operating as required.
Coarser sediments can be expected
to be found close to the pond inlet,
with finer sediments expected to be
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
deposited closer to the pond outfall.
The coarser sediments will occupy
a greater volume and maintenance
schedules should include more frequent removal. Forebays can be more
easily and more often cleaned out extending the storage life of the rest of
the pond.
To remove sediment from a wet pond
drain the water down to the lowest
possible level, leaving a small pool
of water to provide habitat if there
is a desirable resident fish population. This avoids disturbing fines and
causing significant turbidity downstream. Sediments removed from
the pond should be placed where
they can dry before final placement.
Sediment control provisions must
be included in maintenance costs,
to prevent downstream increases in
contaminant loadings or to prevent
removed sediment from re-entering
the pond.
Sediment removal from dry detention
ponds is more straightforward. Since
they are normally dry, sediments can
be removed by an appropriate means
and disposed of in one operation.
Experience has shown that it is easier
and more effective to remove sedi-
10 Stormwater ponds
ments when they are dry and cracked,
and thereby more easily separated
from the vegetation. Sediment control
during maintenance is necessary to
prevent rainfall mobilizing stockpiled
materials or eroding exposed soils.
Erosion problems can occur with
either dry or wet detention ponds.
For the most part they start as small
problems which, if uncorrected, can
grow into large problems and possibly threaten the integrity of the detention pond. Inspections to locate
erosion problems should be done at
least annually or after major storms.
Evidence of significant foot or bike
traffic in areas where vegetation has
died indicate potential erosion areas
in the future. These areas should be
protected from traffic or provided
with a more erosive resistant ground
cover.
Periodic maintenance of structural
components must be done to ensure
their continued operation. This includes inspecting any joints for possible leakage or seepage. Areas should
also be checked for corrosion, valves
should be manipulated and lubricated when needed, and all moving
parts inspected for wear and tear.
88
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Practice Notes
References
Watershed Management Institute,
Operation, Maintenance, and
Management of Stormwater
Management Systems, August, 1997.
Seyb, Roger, A Revised Stormwater
Treatment Design Methodology for
the New TP 10, Second South Pacific
Stormwater Conference, Rain .
The Forgotten Resource, .
27-29 June, 2001.
Department of Natural Resources,
Maintenance of Stormwater
Management Structures, .
A Departmental Summary, Sediment
and Stormwater Division, .
Water Resources Administration,
July, 1986.
State of Maryland, The Effects of
Alternative Stormwater Management
Design Policy on Detention Basins,
1982.
Water Resources Administration,
The Effects of Alternative
Stormwater Management Design
Policy on Detention Basins, 1984.
Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd,
Stream Erosion A Hydrological
Basis for Management, prepared
for the Auckland Regional Council,
December 2001.
10 Stormwater ponds
Auckland Regional Council,
Report on Selection of Stormwater
Treatment Volumes for Auckland,
prepared by Beca Carter Hollings
and Ferner Ltd., Environment
and Planning Division, Technical
Publication #4, 5-26 Auckland
Regional Council Technical
Publication # 10 1992.
Auckland Regional Council,
Stormwater Treatment Devices
Design Guideline Manual, Technical
Publication #10, Environment and
Planning Division, October 1992.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Design
of Small Dams, U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1977.
Thompson, Craig S, Tomlinson,
Alaric I, A Guide to Probable
Maximum Precipitation in New
Zealand, NIWA Science and
Technology Series No. 19, NIWA,
Wellington, June 1995.
89

publisher.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
11 Wetland design, construction & maintenance

To compensate for and help offset
the rate of loss of natural wetland
as a result of agriculture and
urban development. (constructed
habitat wetlands).
To improve water quality..
(constructed treatment wetlands).
To provide flood control..
(constructed flood control
wetlands).
Produce food.
(constructed aquaculture
wetlands).
Constructed wetland in Kingston, Tasmania [souce Kingborough Council]

Water sensitive development involves
simple design and management practices that take advantage of natural
site features and minimise impacts
on the water cycle. It is part of the
contemporary trend towards more
sustainable solutions that protect
the environment.
This Water Sensitive Practice Note
gives a general introduction to wetland design, construction and maintenance and the benefits of using
wetlands.
Introduction
Wetlands are complex natural shallow water environments that are
dominated by hydrophytic (water
loving) vegetation. This distinguishes
them from deep water habitats that
are dominated by large areas of open
water. Current scientific knowledge

regarding their functions and values
has developed during just the last 40
years. Until very recently, the filling
and draining of wetlands was accepted practice to improve the land.
We now know that wetlands provide
many important benefits including
the attenuation of flood flows, maintenance of water quality, and provide
habitats which support aquatic life
and wildlife. Around many urban areas, wetlands have been drained for
land development activities.
Constructed wetlands are shallow
vegetated ponds designed to utilise
the benefits of natural wetland functions and processes for various purposes. The four principal purposes
are:
90
Constructed wetlands have become

increasingly popular in recent years
for the second purpose identified
above to treat urban stormwater to
remove contaminants that would be
potentially detrimental to the receiving water ecosystem. Multiple use
constructed wetlands, which combine a number of purposes and benefits, are becoming more common in
urban situations. Multiple purposes
and benefits include:
Flood protection
Flow attenuation
Water quality improvement
Landscape
Recreational amenity
Provision of wildlife habitat.
A major consideration in the use of
constructed wetlands for stormwater
management purposes is to replace,
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Practice Notes
to some degree, the wetlands that

have already been lost. Wetlands are
natures natural kidney system and
the loss of this filtering function of
wetlands can be correlated, at least
in part, with the decline in the quality of our water resources systems.
Protecting existing wetlands, in conjunction with increasing the total
extent of wetlands through wetlands
restoration, creation, or construction
for new developments, forms part of
an effective strategy for downstream
aquatic resource protection.
Discusses the physical, chemical

and biological processes which are
utilised to treat stormwater.
Gives guidelines for construction
and maintenance of constructed
wetland systems.
Common Techniques
Demonstrates the advantages of

constructed wetlands over unvegetated ponds.
A key objective is how to optimise

constructed wetland design for both
treatment and stormwater flow detention by identifying the minimum
dimensions that will achieve the
required treatment performance.
Constructed wetlands are intended
for use close to the source of urban
stormwater, before the stormwater
enters the receiving environment.
Presents design principles and

considerations of constructed
wetlands intended to treat urban
stormwater.
Other features and benefits of constructed wetlands are not included

in the proposed design because their
provision would require additional
This practice note:
Overview of stormwater contaminant removal mechanisms

of constructed wetlands. (adapted from Mitchell 1996).
Contaminant
Removal Processes
Organic material
Biological degredation, sedimentation, microbial update
Organic contaminant
adsorption, volatilisation, photosynthesis, .

and biotic/abiotic (e.g. pesticides) degradation
Suspended solids
sedimentation, filtration
Nitrogen
sedimentation, nitrification/denitrification, microbial uptake, .

plant uptake, volatilisation
Phosphorus
sedimentation, filtration, adsorption, plant and microbial uptake
Pathogens
natural die-off, sedimentation, filtration, predation, .

UV degradation adsorption
Heavy Metals
sedimentation, adsorption, plant uptake
site area. These include provision of

open water, increased habitat diversity and aesthetic amenity features such
as islands and irregular shorelines.
These can be added to the proposed
design as needed or desired, provided
the sizing and hydraulic control and
treatment features of the design are
not compromised.
Table 1 presents an outline of the
chemical, biological and physical
processes which influence treatment
of urban stormwater in constructed
wetlands.
Advantages of
constructed wetlands
over pond systems
The results of both local and overseas
monitoring studies show that constructed wetlands are better than detention ponds for urban stormwater
treatment.
Vegetated wetlands offer better than
unvegetated, deeper treatment ponds,
mainly because of the dense vegetation which:
Reduces the speed of water within
the pond, promoting settlement of
suspended solids.
Reduces wave action which in
unvegetated ponds can inhibit
deposition of solids and cause resuspension of fine solids.
Reduces
mixing.
Above: Table 1
91
wind
induced
water
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Practice Notes
Filters litter, floatables and silt
particles.
Provides surfaces (substrates) for
the growth of a variety of microorganisms which take up soluble
contaminants (including nutrients
and metals) and promote aggregation and settlement of colloidal
particles; resulting in their deposition into the bottom sediment.
Microrganisms are important as
catalysts for most contaminant
transformations in wetlands.
Provides natural organic material
which adsorbs organic and inorganic contaminants and results in
their deposition into the bottom
sediments.
Provides organic matter to bottom sediments and promotes conditions in which nitrification and
denitrification occur, resulting in
removal of nitrogen from the aquatic system. Organic soils maximise
denitrification.
Figure 1
Wetland processes and components
Inflows
Intrasystem cycling
Atmospheric
Translocation
Surface
Subsurface
Nutrients
Outflows
Living
biomass
Atmospheric
Aerobic
Surface
Anaerobic
Subsurface
Peat
Root
zone
Mineralisation
Loss to deep sediments

Takes up nutrients and some contaminants (although a proportion
are later released when the plants
decay).
Increases organic bottom sediments that have a high cation exchange capacity for contaminants
such as metals, phosphorus salts
and organics.
Water quantity
performance
Constructed wetlands can be sized to
control the peak rate of runoff from
heavy rainfall events, and an additional consideration from a downstream erosion control perspective is
provided by dead storage and control
and release of rainfall over a 24 hour
period. This storage capacity reduces
peak flows, velocities, and reduces
the loadings of contaminants which
are delivered to downstream waters
during small runoff events. The attenuated peak flows and velocities
minimise erosional forces within the
stream channel and further protect
and maintain downstream water
quality.
Organic matter accumulates in wetlands primarily through the growth
and decay of vascular plants and algae. Organic soils have a higher porosity and thus a lower density and
higher water holding capacity than
mineral soils. This allows the wetland
soils to store more water than mineral soils. While this function is less
92
effective during high runoff events, it

enables wetlands to noticeably reduce
the volume of water and the loadings
of contaminants discharged during
small runoff events.
Water quality
performance
Natural wetland systems have complex mechanisms, as shown in Figure 1,
for cycling elements and compounds
into different forms and between
the air, water, soil, plant and animal
media. The figure aims not to show
all wetland processes, but to indicate
their complexity. Discussion of wetland water quality processes is further
complicated by the variety of wetland
types and their characteristics.
Stormwater contaminants generally
fall into three categories; sediments,
nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen)
and toxicants (including metals and
organics). The form and fate of a particular contaminant is influenced by
the type of wetland, geographic location, time of year, hydrologic condition and other factors. When it comes
to wetlands and water quality, there
are no simple relationships.
Wetland processes are influenced by:
diurnal changes in water temperature and dissolved oxygen; and,
seasonal changes associated with
changes in daylight hours, water
temperature, growth of wetland
vegetation, microbiological activity
and chemical reactions.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
This means that the treatment efficiency achieved by a particular wetland varies widely for different contaminants. In areas with a marked
seasonal variation in water temperature, treatment efficiency for a particular contaminant may also vary
seasonally.
Wetland maturity also affects treatment efficiency for some contaminants, with new wetland soils sometimes having a higher assimilation
capacity for phosphorus and nitrogen
than older wetland soils.
The accumulation of organic matter from dead plant material also removes contaminants more rapidly.
High density wetland vegetation is
likely to achieve higher treatment efficiency than lower density because the
larger surface contact area supports
more microorganisms, which mediate contaminant removal processes.
Sediments
Although the sedimentation process
is better understood for open water
ponds (the longer that water remains
in a pond system, the greater the degree of sediment retention) constructed wetlands can also be designed to
maximise the detention times.
The sedimentation removal rate in
constructed wetlands is very closely
related to the removal of numerous
other contaminants, especially phosphorus and metals, because they tend
to bind to sediments. Removing sedi-
ments from the water column will

thus tend to remove a number of other contaminants. Approximately 50%
of phosphorus can be expected to be
in particulate form, and should therefore be removed with the sediments.
The removal of soluble contaminants
can also be significant. It depends
on the residence time, which in turn
depends on the total volume of dead
water storage, the inter-event dry period and the design rainfall volume.
The organic soils in constructed wetlands are an important sink for nutrients and other contaminants that
would otherwise enter downstream
waters. Therefore, constructed wetlands designed to keep sediments in
place will provide for long-term storage of contaminants. For example
by minimising disturbance of wetland sediments and dispersing flow
through the wetland rather than by
channelising it.
Nutrients
The design of vegetated wetlands for
reduction of phosphorus in stormwater has received considerable attention on mainland Australia because
many of the receiving waters in those
areas have very long detention times
and are sensitive to nutrient enrichment. The need to reduce dissolved
phosphorus in order to protect the
quality of receiving waters is a critical
parameter for determining wetland
size in southeast Australia.
93
The slow removal rate of dissolved

phosphorus by urban stormwater
wetlands means they need long detention times in order to achieve the
desired outflow quality.
Vegetated wetlands are capable of
achieving significant reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, but
design to achieve desirable discharge
standards requires relatively long detention times. Nutrient reduction will
not generally be a high priority for
vegetated wetlands, but could be required where the receiving waters are
known to be sensitive to high nutrient inputs.
Toxicity and biofilms

Urban stormwater contaminants such
as the metals copper, lead, and zinc
may be present in very high concentrations in fine particulate matter that
is difficult to settle and retain in open
pond treatment systems. It is then
trapped in biofilms in receiving water
habitats where it can be ingested by
grazing organisms. The accumulation
of toxic contaminants such as metals
and persistent toxic organics in sediments in both freshwater and marine
areas is a major concern.
Urban stormwater toxicity is generally associated with the heavy metals
copper, lead, zinc, and hydrocarbons
including petroleum hydrocarbons
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Toxic persistent organic
compounds including pesticides, herbicides and industrial chemicals may
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
also be present in some stormwater.
design and waste characteristics.
Vegetated wetlands are significantly

more effective than ponds in removing soluble contaminants. The reduction of toxic substances should be a
high priority for vegetated wetland
design.
Designs that remove toxic substances

will also achieve good aesthetic outcomes as well as meeting desirable
discharge targets and some reduction
of nutrients and human pathogens. It
is desirable to reduce mass discharges
of metals and persistent organic contaminants into the coastal marine
area where they become concentrated
in sediments.
Biofilm trapping in wetlands and

shallow macrophyte ponds is an effective mechanism for removing fine
particulate matter from storm and
wastewaters. The very large surface
areas of submerged vegetation and
the associated microorganisms provide effective systems for the removal
of fine particulate matter.
It is important to specify the contaminants that an urban stormwater treatment wetland is designed to
treat, as effective treatment of different contaminants can require markedly different detention times within
the treatment wetland.
Suspended solids are at one end of
the treatability spectrum and require
a relatively short detention time to
achieve a high degree of removal, although fine particulate matter, which
makes up a small proportion of suspended solids, is much more difficult
to remove. At the other end of the
spectrum are nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. Given sufficient space
and time, wetlands are capable of removing nutrients to very low levels,
but like any other waste treatment system, their efficiency depends on their
For receiving waters with high contact

recreation values design to remove
pathogens will be desirable, but at
this stage the requirements for effective pathogen removal do not appear
to be well known.
The most common design priority
for vegetated wetlands for the treatment of urban stormwater will be the
removal of:
Sediments,
Toxic substances including hydrocarbons and dissolved metals, and
other toxic substances associated
with fine particulate matter.
Nutrient limitation of stormwater
discharges into freshwater lakes or
coastal water empoundments.
Applicability
Wetlands are most appropriate on
sites that meet or exceed the following criteria:
Catchment area more than approximately 1 hectare.
Soils that are silty through clay.
94
No steep slopes or slope stability

issues.
No significant space limitations.
Hydrology is the single most important criterion for determining the success of a constructed wetland system.
They should therefore only be used
in areas that have enough inflow from
rain, upstream runoff or groundwater
inflow to ensure the long-term viability of wetland processes.
Constructed wetlands are feasible for
almost any drainage area if the site
soils are impermeable enough to allow for ponding with little exfiltration. Few problems are likely in the
establishment and propogation of
vegetation, even in periodic droughts.
Wetland plants are tolerant of fluctuating water levels and some periodic
fluctuation would enhance biological diversity. Soils analyses should be
done during the site design phase to
ensure that the soils can maintain a
wetland environment. As the wetland
evolves, loss of water should become
negligible as the soils on the floor of
the basin become more organic, reducing the potential for exfiltration.
Special circumstances may indicate
the need to construct an ephemeral
wetland. That should be done using
specific guidelines and using plants
that can adapt to periodic wetting
and drying.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
The design approach

and procedure includes
the following:
1. Calculate water quality volume.
2. Take 15% of the reduced volume
for the sediment forebay.
3. Determine whether the pond
requires peak control and stream
channel extended detention.
4. Based on that decision, size a wet
pond using site topography and
required water quality volumes to
be stored to calculate the surface
area.
5. Using that surface area, define
your wetland boundaries.
6. Set the depths of the permanent
pool.
7. Do calculations for the outlet
structure releases and size the
bvstorage volumes.
8. Define bathymetry of the
wetland.
Plants
Main Wetland Pond
The wetland treatment basin is to be
densely vegetated throughout. The
optimum treatment configuration
is a wetland densely vegetated with
species that provide a high density
of stems in the submerged zone and
thereby maximise the contact between the water and the surfaces on
which microorganisms grow, while
providing uniform flow conditions

with no short circuiting.
For reed beds less than 100m length,
the gradient should be flat. For longer reed beds, the introduction of bed
slope will compensate for the hydraulic gradient, and allow easier draining. Access to the reed bed is required
for planting and maintenance. Access
areas need to be identified on plans.
The main potential drawback to
an overall densely vegetated system
would be the reduction of dissolved
oxygen in the near bottom water and
the surface sediment layer. Marked
stratification of dissolved oxygen concentration occurs in natural vegetated
wetland systems, with high dissolved
oxygen saturation at the surface and
very
low dissolved oxygen saturation near
the sediment. The presence of anaerobic sediment is desirable for denitrification, but careful consideration is
required if densely planted systems
can reduce dissolved oxygen so low
that adverse effects can occur in freshwater receiving systems.
Forebay
Vegetation is not necessary in the
wet forebay provided the forebay is
of good hydraulic design. There are,
however, some benefits.
The use of densely planted robust
vegetation, such as the rushes, in the
forebay pond will increase its sediment removal performance, and also
95
reduce the risk of resuspension of settled sediment during high flow periods, particularly in situations where
an ideal hydraulic design could not
be achieved.
The inlet design would need to ensure that water speeds during design
maximum flow conditions did not
cause erosion.
Dense vegetation in a forebay pond
could be beneficial to human safety,
and could also be considered for aesthetic reasons.
The disadvantage of vegetated forebays would be the additional maintenance requirement with potentially
large volumes of vegetation to be
removed in addition to the accumulated sediment.
Important inspection
aspects related to design
Clay or geotextile liners
The shallowness of wetland stormwater treatment systems means that
even a small alteration in water level
can significantly affect the health of
the aquatic plant community. It is
therefore important to ensure that
water levels remain as consistent as
possible, apart from high rainfall
events. This may necessitate the use
of a clay or geotextile liner to maintain water levels.
Final pre-construction design plans
must show how water levels in the
constructed wetland are to be main-
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
tained; whether by:

Continual stream baseflow,
High ground water levels; or,
In-situ clay soils or installation of a
liner.
The combination of a periodically
high water table in conjunction with
impermeable liners will present a potential problem that must be designed
for, possibly by use of underdrains.
Organic soil conditions
The quickest way of meeting wetland plants and organisms essential
elements for growth and propagation
is to place organic soils on the constructed wetland floor. The final design plans should specify any more
complex provisions for placement of
organic soils.
Organic soils are not a standard requirement, but their inclusion is highly recommended to facilitate plant
growth. Not having organic soils on
the constructed wetland floor results
in slower growth and spread of the
wetland plants and often also leads to
the invasion by nondesirable aquatic
plant pioneer species which can outcompete more desirable plants.
Shallow depth and slight grades
Unlike deeper detention systems,
shallow constructed wetlands need
to have exact grades in the inundated
pool area. Most of their area comprises emergent aquatic plants whose
establishment and propagation typically depend on water depths under
one metre. To have a diverse plant

community, varying depths are
needed since different plants are best
suited for various water depths. The
plans should detail design elevations
throughout the ponded area where
wetland plants will be established.
They should also clearly identify
where each type of plant should go.
Establishment of forebays
Being shallow water systems, constructed wetlands are very susceptible to filling in by sediments generated upstream. All principal inflow
points must be provided with forebays designed to trap the largest volume of suspended solids and provide
a readily accessible location for allow
periodic removal of accumulated
sediments.
Plans should detail the location, size,
and proposed grades of designed forebay areas, along with dedicated access
for maintenance equipment.
Converting sediment
ponds into constructed
wetlands systems
Because they are shallow water systems, the long term performance
of constructed wetlands can be significantly reduced by sedimentation.
The final design plan should indicate
whether the constructed wetland will
be used as a sediment pond during
the construction phase of the project,
and if so, should detail how the sediment pond will be converted into a
constructed wetland.
96
If the constructed wetland was not

previously used for sediment control,
the plans should specify:
Project phasing for overall site construction, with a timetable for construction of the wetland.
How the constructed wetland will
be protected from sediment entry while its catchment area is
unstabilised.
When sediment must be removed
from the forebays or constructed
wetland.
That the wetland will not be planted until site earthworks stabilization is complete.
Reduced need to
provide for saturated
embankment problems
Most constructed wetlands have a
shallow depth of permanent water
against the embankment, although,
some wetland designs specify a deep
water zone adjacent to the embankment. The shallow water reduces
water pressure adjacent to the embankment and reduces the number
of anti-seep collars needed to prevent
piping along the outlet from the principal spillway. At least one anti-seep
collar on the principal spillway is still
required, but stability concerns are
lower than for deeper wet detention
systems.
Reduced safety features

Constructed wetlands present much
less of a safety concern than deeper
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
ponds due to their denser vegetation, more gradual side slopes, and
the shallow water depth. Specific
safety barriers therefore may not be
required. Barrier fences may be required, however.
Establishing and
maintaining plantings
There are three approaches to establishing aquatic plants in constructed
wetlands:
Plantings of aquatic plants which
facilitates rapid plant growth.
Providing proper hydrology and soil
conditions to promote colonisation
of the system by local vegetation.
Installing soil having vegetative
plant roots or rhizomes.
These are not mutually exclusive, and
proper conditions must be provided
to sustain plantings. The design must
detail which approach is used. If wetland plantings are to be used, the plan
should specify:
the plant species.
the number of each species.
where the plants will be located.
if the pond water level will be lowered to facilitate planting.
a timetable for planting to occur.
Access points to maintain reed beds
and other vegetation.
Important inspection aspects related
to construction
If the constructed wetland is to be
used as a sediment control pond
during construction, there are a

number of items which must be
considered:
Outlet structure must be modified
by installation of a temporary dewatering or decant device.
Final grades are not important to
establish at this time.
The minimum volume needed
for sediment control must be provided for construction generated
sediment.
Regular sediment removal is needed
to maintain the wetlands ongoing
ability to remove suspended solids.
When sediment cleanout is required,
the removed materials should be
placed upstream of any sediment
trapping practices to prevent their
movement downstream. An inspection programme will generally determine when sediment cleanout
is needed and the final design plan
should specify where the removed
sediments are to be placed.
The importance of accurate grade
establishment in shallow constructed
wetland ponds cannot be overstated.
During construction, survey stakes
must be placed to accurately establish cuts and fills. The final grades
must be accurate for successful plant
establishment and propagation. Final
grades should be established before
the pond fills. Once the bottom and
side soils have become saturated,
the movement of earth material be-
97
comes much more difficult and the

basin may have to be dewatered
and dried before final grades can be
established.
Site earthworks must be stabilised
before wetland planting if site runoff passes through the wetland pond.
Excess sedimentation can smother the
plants and change wetland elevations
which would alter planting success
and plant composition. Optimally,
the planting should be done several
months after site stabilisation to further reduce sediment entry into the
wetland, if construction scheduling
permits.
Ideal times for successful establishment of plantings are in the spring
when plants are emerging from dormancy and in the late autumn when
plants are just entering dormancy.
Time frames for planting must be established early in construction and be
consistent with consent conditions, if
specified.
Maintenance Issues
Aesthetic and functional
maintenance
Maintenance falls into a number of
different categories, but the two main
areas are:
Aesthetic/nuisance maintenance:
is important primarily for public
acceptance of stormwater facilities, and because it may also reduce
needed functional maintenance
activities
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
Functional maintenance: includes

routine (preventive) and corrective
maintenance and is important for
performance and safety reasons.
These two areas can overlap at times.
They are mutually and equally important. Both forms of maintenance
are needed and both must be combined into an overall stormwater
management system maintenance
program.
Aesthetic maintenance
Aesthetic maintenance primarily enhances the visual appearance and appeal of a wetland. An attractive wetland will more easily become an integral part of a community. Aesthetic
maintenance is obviously more important for those wetlands that are
very visible. The following activities
can be included in an aesthetic maintenance program:
Graffiti removal: The timely removal of graffiti will improve the
appearance of a wetland. Timely
removal will also tend to discourage further graffiti or other acts of
vandalism.
Grass trimming: Trimming of
grass around fences, outlet structures, hiker/biker paths, and structures will provide a more attractive
appearance to the general public.
As much as possible, the design of
wetlands should incorporate natural landscaping elements which
require less cutting and/or trim-
ming. However, there often are areas where mowing will be necessary
to maintain attractiveness.
Control of weeds: In situations
where vegetation has been established, undesirable plants can be
expected. These undesirable plants
can adversely impact the aesthetics
of a wetland and send the wrong
signals to the public about weed
control. This can also apply to wet
detention littoral zones, which may
be invaded by undesirable aquatic
plant species. These undesirable
plants can be removed through
mechanical or chemical means.
If chemicals are used, the chemical should be used as directed and
according to any Council requirements and left over chemicals disposed of properly.
Miscellaneous details: Careful and
frequent attention to performing
maintenance tasks such as painting,
tree pruning, leaf collection, debris
removal, and grass cutting (where
intended) will allow a wetland to
maintain an attractive appearance
and help maintain its functional
integrity.
Functional maintenance
Functional maintenance is necessary
to keep a stormwater management
system operational at all times. It has
two components preventive and
corrective maintenance.
Preventive maintenance: Is done on
a regular basis. Tasks include upkeep
98
of any moving parts, such as outlet

drain valves or hinges for grates or
maintenance of locks. It can also include maintenance of vegetative cover
to prevent erosion. Examples of preventive maintenance include:
Grass mowing: Actual mowing requirements at a pond should be
tailored to the specific site conditions and grass type.
Grass maintenance: Grass areas require limited periodic fertilising and soil conditioning in
order to maintain healthy growth.
Provisions may have to be made to
re-seed and re-establish grass cover in areas damaged by sediment
accumulation, stormwater flow or
other causes.
Vegetative cover: Trees, shrubs, and
other landscaping ground cover
may require periodic maintenance,
including fertilising, pruning, and
weed pest control.
Trash and debris: A regularly
scheduled program of debris and
trash removal will reduce the potential for outlet structures, trash
racks, and other wetland components from becoming clogged and
inoperable during storm events. In
addition, removal of trash and debris will prevent possible damage
to vegetated areas and eliminate potential mosquito breeding habitats.
Disposal of debris and trash must
comply with all local and regional
control programmes. Only suitable
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
disposal and recycling sites should

be used.
Sediment removal and disposal:
Accumulated sediments should be
removed before they threaten the
operation or storage volume of a
stormwater management pond.
Disposal of sediments also must
comply with local and regional requirements especially if they are
contaminated. Only suitable disposal areas should be used.
Mechanical components: Valves,
sluice gates, pumps, fence gates,
locks and access hatches should
remain functional at all times.
Regularly scheduled maintenance
should be performed in accordance
with the manufacturers recommendations. All mechanical components should be operated during
each maintenance inspection to assure continued performance.
habitats: The most effective mosquito control programme is one
which eliminates potential breeding habitats, or, ensures that optimal conditions are maintained
for the survival of mosquito control organisms. Any stagnant pool
of water can become a mosquito
breeding area within a matter of
days. Ponded water in open cans,
tyres, and areas of sediment accumulations or ground settlement
can become mosquito breeding
areas.
Wetland maintenance programme:

A maintenance programme for
monitoring the overall performance of the wetland should be established. Wet detention ponds are
especially complex environments.
They require a healthy aquatic ecosystem to provide maximum benefits and to minimise maintenance.
It is important to remember that
potentially large problems can be
avoided if preventive maintenance
is done in a timely fashion.
Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance is required
on an emergency or non-routine basis to correct problems and to restore
the intended operation and safe function of the wetland. Corrective maintenance is done on an as required,
not on a scheduled basis. Failure to
promptly address a corrective maintenance problem may jeopardise the
performance and integrity of the wetland. It may also present a potential
safety problem to those living by or
below it. Corrective maintenance activities include:
Removal of debris and sediment:
Sediment, debris, and trash which
threaten the ability of the wetland
to store or convey water should be
removed immediately and properly
disposed of in order to restore proper pond function. A blocked inlet or
outlet means that stormwater will
travel in an area that was not normally designed as a flow path. In
99
the case of an inlet, the stormwater could travel over a kerb onto a
grassed area and scour it. If the outlet is blocked, water will back up in
the wetland and may travel through
the emergency spillway. These areas
are not designed for frequent flow
and may become eroded. If sediments are clogging a wetland component, the lack of an available
disposal site should not delay removal of the sediments. Temporary
arrangements should be made for
handling the sediments until a
more permanent arrangement is
made.
Structural repairs: Repairs to any
structural component of the wetland should be made promptly.
Equipment, materials, and personnel must be readily available
to perform repairs on short notice.
The immediate nature of the repairs depends on the type of damage and its effects on the safety and
operation of the wetland. Where
structural damage has occurred,
the design and conduct of repairs
should be undertaken only by
qualified personnel.
Dam, embankment and slope repairs: Damage to dams, embankments, and slopes must be repaired
quickly. Typical problems include
settlement, scouring, cracking,
sloughing, seepage and rilling. A
common concern in embankments
with outflow pipes through them is
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
seepage around the outside of the

barrel. This can also cause movement of embankment soils, which
can weaken the embankment.
Repairs need to be made promptly. Other temporary activities may
be needed, such as drawing down
the water level in the wetland in order to relieve pressure on a dam or
embankment or facilitate repairs.
Crack repair in a concrete structure may necessitate draining the
wetland and cleaning before repair.
If the wetland is to be dewatered,
pumps may be necessary if there is
no drain valve.
areas: If neglected, a wetland can
become a mosquito breeding area.
Corrective action may be needed if
a mosquito problem exists and the
wetland is the source of the problem. If mosquito control in a pond
becomes necessary, the preventive
maintenance programme for mosquitoes should be re-evaluated, and
more emphasis placed on control
of mosquito breeding habitats.
Erosion repair: Vegetative cover
is necessary to prevent soil loss,
maintain the structural integrity of
the wetland and maintain its contaminant removal benefits. Where
a reseeding program has been ineffective, or where other factors have
created erosive conditions (such as
pedestrian traffic, concentrated flow
or the like), corrective steps should
be taken to prevent further loss of

soil and any subsequent danger
to the performance of the pond.
Corrective action can include erosion control blankets, riprap, sodding or reduced flow through the
area.
Fence repair: Fences can be damaged by any number of factors,
including vandalism and storms.
Timely repair will maintain the security of the site.
dress the overall pond and its associated components. If algal growth
becomes a problem for wetlands,
steps must be taken to re-establish
its original performance. Wetlands
can be very complex systems. They
will work only as long as each individual element functions correctly.
If one wetland component is undergoing corrective maintenance,
other components should be inspected at the same time to see if
they also need maintenance. This
may yield cost savings if equipment
is already on site.
Elimination of trees or woody

vegetation: Woody vegetation can
present problems for dams or embankments. The root system of
woody vegetation can undermine
dam or embankment strength. If
the vegetation dies and the root
system decomposes, voids can be
created in the dam or embankment which weaken the structure.
Preventive maintenance can avoid
this problem. However, when preventive maintenance programmes
are deficient, steps must be taken to
eliminate the problem. Vegetation,
including root systems, must be
removed from dams or embankments and the excavated materials
replaced with proper material at
a specified compaction (normally 95% of the soils maximum
density).
Wetlands, with their normal water

pool, are effective at converting inorganic nitrogen to organic nitrogen.
Consequently, this may create algal
problems unless littoral zones are
planted and maintained with aquatic
vegetation. Wetlands also commonly
have forebays to remove heavier sediments. Forebay maintenance is therefore an important issue for wetlands,
and must be considered. Frequency
of forebay maintenance depends on
the incoming contaminant load and
the forebay size.
General facility maintenance: In

addition to the above elements of
corrective maintenance, general
corrective maintenance should ad-
Both dry and wet detention ponds

have the potential for debris clogging of inlet and outlet structures.
Residential communities generate a
100
Other maintenance activities

Maintenance activities for wetlands
have many similarities, but there also
are some differences in the types of
maintenance that are needed.
>iiiL>ì}
Practice Notes
surprising amount of debris, while

commercial facilities can expect debris of all sorts. Inspections for debris
should be made on a monthly basis
or after rain events to ensure that all
components of the wetlands are operating as required.
Coarser sediments can be expected
to be found close to inlets, with finer
sediments expected to be deposited
closer to the pond outfall. The coarser sediments will occupy a greater
volume and maintenance schedules
should include more frequent removal. Forebays can be more easily and
more often cleaned out extending the
storage life of the rest of the wetland.
into large problems and possibly

threaten the integrity of the detention
pond. Inspections to locate erosion
problems should be done at least annually or after major storms. Evidence
of significant foot or bike traffic in
areas where vegetation has died indicate potential erosion areas in the future. These areas should be protected
from traffic or provided with a more
erosive resistant ground cover.
Periodic maintenance of structural
components must be done to ensure
their continued operation. This includes inspecting any joints for possible leakage or seepage. Areas should
also be checked for corrosion, valves
should be manipulated and lubricated when needed, and all moving
parts inspected for wear and tear.
To remove sediment from a drain the

water down to the lowest possible
level, leaving a small pool of water to
provide habitat if there is a desirable
resident fish population. This avoids
disturbing fines and causing significant turbidity downstream. Sediments
removed from the wetland should be
placed where they can dry before final placement. Sediment control provisions must be included in maintenance costs, to prevent downstream
increases in contaminant loadings or
to prevent removed sediment from reentering the wetland.
Plants may require watering, physical support, mulching, weed removal,

or replanting during the first three
years.
Erosion problems can occur. For the

most part they start as small problems which, if uncorrected, can grow
Nuisance plant species should be removed and desirable species should

be replanted.
Wetlands should be inspected at least

twice per year during the first three
years during both growing and nongrowing seasons to observe plant
species presence, abundance, and
condition, bottom contours, and water depths relative to plans, sediment,
outlet, and buffer conditions.
101
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Practice Notes
References
Larcombe, Michael, Design
for Vegetated Wetlands for the
Treatment of Urban Stormwater
in the Auckland Region, Auckland
Regional Council, May, 2002.
Brown, M; Beharrel, M; and
Bowling, L. 1998. Chemical, biological and physical processes in constructed wetlands. In: Department of
Land and Water Conservation New
South Wales 1998. The Constructed
Wetlands Manual. Vol 1.
Kadlec, R., Knight, R, Treatment
Wetlands, CRC Press, Lewis
Publishers, 1996.
Mitchell, C. 1996. Pollutant removal
mechanisms in artificial wetlands.
Course notes for the IWES 1996
International Winter Environmental
School, Gold Coast, July 1996.
Timperley, M; Golding, L; Webster,
K; 2001. Fine particulate matter
in urban streams: Is it a hazard
to aquatic life? In: Second South
Pacific stormwater conference. Rain
the forgotten resource. Conference
papers. June 2001.
Wiese, R. 1998. Design of urban stormwater wetlands. In:
Department of Land and Water
Conservation New South Wales
1998. The Constructed Wetlands
manual. Vol 2.
Wong, T.H.F., Breen, P.F., Somes,

N.L.G., and Lloyd, S.D., Managing
Urban Stormwater Using
Constructed Wetlands, Cooperative
Research Centre for Catchment
Hydrology, and Department of Civil
Engineering, Monash University,
Cooperative Research Centre for
Freshwater Ecology and Melbourne
Water Corporation, 1998.
Wong, T.H.F., Somes, N.L.G.,
and Evangelisti, M.R., Design of
Constructed Wetlands and Wet
Detention Basins for Stormwater
Quality Management, Interim
Guidelines for South West
Western Australia, Paper for Public
Discussion, Waters and Rivers
Commission, 1996.
Wong, T; Fletcher, T; Duncan, H;
Jenkins, G; 2001, A unified approach
to modeling urban stormwater
treatment. In: Second South Pacific
stormwater conference. Rain the forgotten resource. Conference papers.
June 2001.
Shaver, E., and Maxted, J.,
Construction of Wetlands for
Stormwater Treatment, State of
Delaware, 1993.
102

publisher.
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Practice Notes
Installation of a GPT in Hobart City
1.1 Introduction
Whilst WSUD generally involves
moving away from hard engineering
approaches, there is often a place for
such systems within a WSUD development. Hard engineering, in this
practice note, refers to gross pollutant
traps, sedimentation basins and sand
filters. These systems usually fit into
a WSUD treatment train as pre-treatment devices for other WSUD techniques such as ponds and wetlands.
Many WSUD systems require removal of coarse sediments and gross litter
to ensure effective performance and
operational longevity.
GPTs and sand filters are also commonly utilised in retrofit scenarios
where space and budgetary constraints usually preclude larger

WSUD elements.
1.2 Common techniques

1.2.1 In-line GPTs
There are numerous proprietary inline GPTs on the market. These devices are designed to target gross pollution, coarse sediments and sometimes
free oils. They remove pollutants via
two main processes, filtration and
separation. Filtration units employ a
screen to filter flow through, thereby
removing any material larger than the
screens aperture. Separator units use
hydrodynamic separation, baffles and
gravity to remove pollutants from
flow.
103
Advantages of in-line devices are

the ability to retrofit them to heavily built-up environments and there
small footprint.
In-line GPTs are installed underground within a stretch of stormwater pipe.
Gross Polutant Trap Beach Road

(Source: Hobart City Council)
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Practice Notes
1.2.2 Outlet GPTs
adsorbed to sediment particles.
These devices usually employ a

screen to filter flows of gross pollutants. They are installed on the end of
stormwater pipes where stormwater
is discharged to a receiving waterway. Outlet GPTs usually involve significant head loss through the trap,
however have a strong advantage in
that captured material is stored dry
between rainfall events.
Sedimentation basins can be designed

in various forms, from hard, concrete
structures to landscape features incorporating vegetated surrounds.
Outlet GPT
[Source: Baramy Engineering, 2002]
1.2.3 Stormwater
entry-pity traps
Stormwater entry-pit traps are filtration and storage baskets that are
installed into existing stormwater
entry-pits. As stormwater enters a
drainage entrance, it is first filtered
through a filtration basket that captures all gross pollutants, allowing
the filtered water to carry on to the
stormwater network. They have also
been found to be effective in the removal of coarse sediments These devices have numerous advantages such
as relatively cheap installation costs
and dry pollutant storage.
Stormwater entry-pit trap

installed in Hobart
1.2.4 Media filtration systems

Sand filters and proprietary filter
cartridge devices rely on water percolating through a filter media, such
as sand or pearlite to filter pollutants. They have been found to be
extremely effective in the removal of
coarse and medium sediments from
stormwater, however they are relatively maintenance intensive. They may
be installed at the ground surface or
underground. Because some medium
and fine sediments are trapped by
these filters (proportion governed by
filter media) they are also effective in
trapping a significant proportion of
nutrient, heavy metal and hydrocarbon pollution.
1.2.5 Sedimentation basins

Sedimentation basins are effective
for the removal of coarse to medium
sediments. These systems utilise a
reduction in flow velocity to allow
sediment particles to fall from suspension under the force of gravity.
Sedimentation basins provide some
removal of other pollutants that are
104
Floating litter boom

installed in Hobart
1.2.6 Floating booms

Floating litter booms are installed in
open channels to remove floatable
pollutants. The stormwater treatment
capacity of these devices is limited to
the capture of floating gross pollutants in low to moderate flow. Where
high velocity and volume flows occur, floating booms usually bypass or
reach a design break point, whereby
one arm of the boom detaches and the
captured pollutant load is released.
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Practice Notes
This is a flood protection measure.
Floating booms can incorporate a
capture, storage device (see below
right) to retain a higher volume of
captured material between cleanouts
or to make maintenance easier.
1.2.7 Litter socks

Litter socks are simply nets attached
to stormwater outlets designed to
capture gross pollutants. Some manufacturers also claim sediment trapping performance via secondary filtration, suggesting that accumulated
material in the sock effectively creates
a smaller aperture filter. Litter socks
may have a place within a treatment
train to remove litter prior to stormwater entering a wetland (or, more
appropriately, prior to a sedimentation basin prior to a wetland).

pipes are laid) maintenance and
installation can lead to significant
disruption to traffic
Wet captured material storage
sumps may lead to deoxygenation
of water and remobilisation of
dissolved pollutants to the water
column
Care should be taken to ensure
hydraulic capacity of stormwater
system is not restricted
Small to medium footprint
1.3.1 Outlet GPTs

Limited application as
installation must only be on
stormwater outlet
Must not restrict hydraulic
capacity of outlet
tire catchment
Beneficial dry storage of captured
material
Small catchments only.
Can be targeted to focus on small
hot-spot catchments receiving overland flow only, thereby avoiding a
large volume of clean flow such as
that from roof surfaces.
Easily retrofit-able
1.3.1 Media
filtration systems
High pollutant removal
performance
Generally require pre-treatment
to remove litter and other gross
pollutants
Must be located where access for
maintenance is not restricted
Medium to large footprint
1.3.1 In-line GPTs
May be aesthetically
inappropriate for outlets in
natural waterways
Effective under situations where

above-ground space is limited
and in established, heavily built
environments
Dry storage of captured material

prevents anaerobic conditions
mobilising sediment-bound
pollutants
Minimal head loss means devices

may be installed in almost any
situation
1.3.1 Stormwater
entry-pity traps
Can be expensive to install

models large enough to treat
design flows greater than 3
month ARI storms
Potentially high maintenance costs
When installed beneath roads

(commonly where stormwater
Pollution hot spots may be specifically targeted without treating en-
1.3 Design considerations
Low capital cost

High visibility may have some educational benefit in that people see
the impact of littering
105
Suitable for small to medium

catchments
Maintenance requirements must

be considered in design phase
Effective in sediment removal for
design flows and design target
particle size. These parameters
are widely published
May require pre-treatment to
remove litter etc.
Large footprint
Suitable for most catchment sizes
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Practice Notes

1.1 Maintenance
1.1.1 Media filtration systems
Often unsuitable on steep slopes
1.1.1 In-line GPTs
Filter media requires replacing
May be designed to drain

completely or to maintain a
permanent water body
Require regular maintenance
Failure/blockage of media usually

not apparent in enclosed systems
(if basin sized accordingly)
Can have soft (vegetated) or hard

(concrete/rock) edges
Design should include measures
for dewatering to facilitate
cleaning

Very low capital cost
Maintenance considerations
should be considered during
design (how will it be cleaned?)
Can be viewed as an eyesore in
natural channels
If tied to channel bed, may be a
barrier to fish passage
1.3.1 Litter socks

Half pipe systems preferable
to prevent potential flooding
associated with blocked/full
socks.
Very low capital cost
Aesthetic implications in highvalue recreation or conservation
areas
May suffer back-flushing in tidal
environments
High maintenance heavy lifting
equipment required
May require more frequent

maintenance than storage
volume suggests due to dissolved
pollutant mobilisation in wet
sump system
Often requires expensive plant,
e.g. inductor trucks, crane trucks
Captured load requires
dewatering prior to disposal
added cost
Potential of captured material
to be classed as low level
contaminated waste
Spent filter media may

be contaminated waste implications for disposal

Maintenance may be expensive
Maintenance operations involved
Systems without hard edges or
floors may suffer damage during
maintenance
1.1.1 Outlet GPTs
Regular maintenance required

(sometimes weekly)
High maintenance (dependant on

catchment)
Susceptible to damage during

high flows
Usually requires manual labour

and lifting equipment
Maintenance can be difficult in

waterways
1.1.1 Stormwater
entry-pity traps
Can be prone to vandalism
High maintenance frequency
Full socks may impede hydraulic

capacity of system
Relatively fast and simple

cleaning by hand or inductor
truck
Filter bags may need replacing/
repairing due to damage
Filter bags may need flushing
where oil or fine sediment load is
high
Traffic control required
106
1.1.1 Litter socks
Cleaning requires heavy lifting

(usually crane truck)
Access to site by truck important
Can encourage vermin (feeding
on captured material)
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Practice Notes
1.1 References
Chrispijn, J. & Milne, T. 2005.
Hobart CBD Stormwater
Improvement Program, Paper 1
- Assessing Different Structural
Approaches To Improve Urban
Stormwater Quality. 4th South
Pacific Stormwater Conference,
Auckland, May 2005.

publisher.
Baramy Engineering, 2005.

Stormwater Treatment Systems
(product catalogue). www.baramy.
com.au (last viewed 06/06/05)
Deeks, B. & Milne, T. 2005.
Southern Tasmania 2005. Derwent
107
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and Practice Notes
Appendix
108
>iiiL>ì}
Appendix A
Site Planning
Water sensitive developments involve simple design and management practices that take natural
site features and minimise impacts on the water cycle. It is part of the contemporary trend towards
more sustainable solutions that protect the environment.
This Appendix explains how to prepare an integrated site plan that responds positively to site
constraints and opportunities.
109
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Before you start

At the earliest stage in deciding where to place buildings, driveways and other structures, always look at
opportunities and constraints of the site and integrate them into a whole site approach.
Consider the existing natural features as a resource to be used to advantage, to be retained where possible and to be
self-sustaining in the long term.
Analyse the Site

The first rule is understand the site!
Collate information on all its natural, constructed and other features. This will help you utilise the sites attributes
to best advantage, deal with existing or potential problems and design in tune with the sites soil, vegetation and
rainfall.
The best way to take a whole site approach is to prepare a Site Analysis. This can be submitted to support a
development application.
A Site Analysis is essential input to:

Managing stormwater during the construction stage, as summarised in a Soil and Water Management Plan.
Optimising ongoing water management for the site, as summarised in a Water Management Statement.
The following information gives a general guide to the wide range of factors that influence the design, layout,
construction and on-going use and maintenance of a development site. Not all these matters may be relevant to each
individual site. Commonly much of the information will ordinarily be part of the design and construct package for
residential development (eg, survey information for heights and tree location, location of underground services).
Preparing a Site Analysis brings the information together earlier in the design process for the greatest benefit.
Consider these factors

Site Analysis should indicate how each of the following constraints and opportunities .
(where applicable) affect the site:
Landform
Topography is critical to the design and layout of buildings, stormwater controls and drainage. Show contours
(1 metre intervals), survey benchmarks, and areas of steep slopes (at or greater than 10 degrees / 18%).
Existing natural features (eg, cliffs, rock outcrops, vegetated areas, potential groundwater recharge areas).
Orientation of the site (eg, northpoint).
Water
Sources of water flowing onto the site and general quality of that water.
Drainage patterns, areas of concentrated run-off, ponding, flood prone land.
Adjoining riparian zone, if within 40 metres of waterway.
Characteristics of the sites downstream catchment .
(eg, bushland creek, sensitive potential groundwater recharge area, constructed stormwater drainage channel).
110
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Soils
Depth of soil / regolith.
Soil pH to indicate affects of soil micro-organisms and nutrient availability for plants.
Soil condition, fertility, whether it has been compacted, cut or filled.
Erosion problems, contamination potential
Plants
Undertake a vegetation survey.
Existing individual trees, stands of trees and shrubs s.
how height, spread, condition and species name .
(common and scientific - if known).
Trees listed as significant in Councils Planning Schemes.
Existing ground levels around the base of trees.
Weed species present and extent of weed infestation.
Plants that grow well on the site, or that are characteristic of the local area.
Any threatened species or ecological communities present on the site or nearby land. Consult Councils GIS.
Trees and vegetation proposed to be removed.
Wildlife
Habitats present on the site or nearby land.
Potential to provide fauna habitat, such as niches in rockeries, ponds for frogs, habitat plants .
(nectar-bearing shrubs for small birds).
Climate
Direction of summer and winter winds.
Windbreaks and their likely permanence.
Frost pockets.
Areas of full or partial shade in summer and winter at 9am, midday and 3pm.
Direction and extremity of bushfire threat.
Views
Good and unsightly views from the site.
Views into the site, privacy and security problems.
Qualities of the site that are important in the view to and from the site (eg, major trees).
111
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Existing Site Features

Location and uses of any existing buildings and structures on the site showing those .
to be removed and retained.
Location and height of walls and fences built to the boundary.
Heavily shaded areas from existing structures, mature trees or dominant landforms.
Archaeological and heritage (Aboriginal and European) sites.
Any easements, rights-of-way and their restrictions.
Services
Location of existing overhead and underground utility services (electricity, gas, telephone, water, sewer .
and stormwater drainage lines, inlets and collection points).
Use of adjacent land

Location and use of adjacent buildings.
Rooftop ridge levels and floor levels of adjacent buildings.
Potential for overlooking into and from window openings in walls adjacent to the development site.
Potential for shading adjacent properties.
The form and character of adjacent and nearby development, including characteristic styles of buildings and
landscaping, and bulk and scale of buildings.
Street frontage features, such as street trees, poles, kerb crossovers, and bus stops.
Potential sources of nuisance, dust and noise, such as main roads.
Planning Controls
Planning objectives, zoning, design criteria, lot size, site coverage, density controls and other provisions .
in State Policies or other State legislation.
Restrictions on development due to hazards (such as flooding, landslip land contamination).
Controls on removing vegetation or trees or on earthworks.
Building setbacks, envelopes, height restrictions, view corridors.
Design rules
There are a number of basic rules to consider when preparing an integrated site plan. The emphasis is on minimising
the impacts of development, managing construction activities and considering the on-going use and dynamics of the
proposed development and the landscape it sits within. Each aspect is interrelated with the others. Adherence to the
following principles will make a considerable contribution to reducing impacts on the natural water cycle:
112
>iiiL>ì}
Appendix A
Site Planning
Minimise disruption to landforms & drainage patterns

By minimising disruption to landforms and drainage patterns, you can avoid related impacts on vegetation, weed
growth and loss of habitat, both on and off the site. Soil surface disturbance creates an immediate potential for:
Loss of topsoil by wind and water erosion.
Sediment to be carried away and deposited downstream.
Changes to nutrient and moisture conditions in deposition zones, which may make existing plants unsuitable.
for the conditions, causing native plants to die or not regenerate and create conditions for weeds to establish .
and dominate.
Long-term effects on the pattern of runoff and infiltration for established areas of vegetation, damp spots, .
creeks and watercourses, thereby causing irreversible changes to natural systems.
Minimise disruption to existing vegetation

Maintaining existing vegetation avoids many soil and weed management problems, .
and helps conserve biodiversity:
Minimise removal of plants and root systems as this makes the site prone to erosion and can alter water table.
levels, causing potential flooding problems or vegetation decline.
Avoid increased light levels on bare soils as this encourages weed growth.
Maintain the areas full ecological spectrum of plants as this helps to conserve habitats for all sizes of fauna,.
including insects, lizards, fogs and insectivorous birds. Their disappearance from gardens and their natural.
ability to help control pests can lead to the reliance on chemical control and detrimental impacts on other.
natural elements such as soil ecology.
Minimise impacts on neighbouring areas

This includes adjoining lots as well as nearby natural areas (eg, bushland areas, waterways, swamps, groundwater
recharge areas, foreshores):
Consider your site as one part of the whole landscape. For instance, planting large trees to provide shade .
in summer may be unpleasant for neighbours by providing unwanted shade in winter.
Avoid impacts on adjoining sensitive environments due to construction works, gradual accumulation .
of sediment or exotic plants that become weeds and displace other plants.

Manage construction works so as to minimise environmental impacts on soil, water, vegetation and air. .
Limit nuisances such as noise and waste. Make detailed plans to:
protect the site and adjoining properties prior to commencement of work. .

This will provide long-term benefits for on-going site use and management.
Prevent sedimentation in waterways and drainage lines, as this can reduce flow capacity, .
increase localised flooding and cause property damage.
113
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Prevent or repair ongoing problems

Some sites are already disturbed or experience problems caused by external activities. These may include soil loss,
sediment deposits, weed invasion, or risk from bushfire, landslip or other hazards. These must be factored into
decisions affecting layout, construction materials and ongoing management:
Carry out measures to reverse existing damage and control / prevent further damage .
(eg, soil conditions or weed invasion).
Choose building materials and planting species to suit conditions (eg, bushfire hazard).
Place pavement areas so as to redirect or reduce impact of large stormwater flows.
Reduce reliance on supplementary garden watering by species selection and placement, grouping species with.
similar water needs, creating and utilising micro-climates to advantage, changing maintenance and watering.
regimes, or other horticultural practices..
For further details, refer Practice Note 6.
Consider siting requirements

Buildings, utilities and stormwater measures have particular siting requirements:
Position and orientate buildings to take best advantage of solar access, views, .
microclimate and natural site features.
Position driveways so as to minimise gradient to reduce the velocity of runoff.
If possible, site water tanks so that water can be fed by gravity.
Filtration / infiltration devices need to observe minimum separations from buildings. .
These vary according to soil conditions.
Place porous paving in locations that will not receive significant amounts of sediment, .
debris or other material likely to hinder performance.
Place landscaped areas in positions that will receive runoff from upstream areas to promote infiltration .
and filtering of runoff.
Special environmental conditions

The following environmental issues require specific site planning and management responses. Council can provide
more detailed guidance on how to address these issues:
Steep slopes
The greater the ground slope, the greater the speed of unimpeded stormwater runoff. Use contour banks, landscape
mounds, grassed swales, or other slope modifications to break the velocity and intensity of stormwater flow.
Soil surface disturbance and loss of topsoil is characterised by slow regeneration and continuing erosion .
on steeper land. Avoid or minimise ground disturbance and regenerate ground cover as quickly as possible (.
eg, reusable organic matting can be used to contain topsoil).
Depending on geological conditions, steep slopes may also be associated with geotechnical instability. .
This may require soil stabilisation measures. Council has guidelines on requirements to investigate for potential .
land instability.
114
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Flooding
Flooding occurs on the floodplains of minor streams and major waterways. Urban drainage systems are also subject
to localised flooding. Council has a policy on how to address flooding issues including, details on siting, floor
heights, flood proofing and protection.
Bushfire threat
Development within or adjacent to unmanaged bushland is at some risk of bushfire attack. Site layout, fuel reduced
managed areas, access and an adequate stored water supply and other techniques can be utilized to minimise
the risk to human life and property. Council has a guidance note on how to prepare effective bushfire mitigation
strategies.
Design for lifestyle

It is also important to create a pleasant living environment for the occupants. Some issues are common to all
residential development irrespective of density. Where possible, consider opportunities for providing:
Outdoor entertainment or barbeque areas.
Utility areas for clothes drying or storing waste, compost and recyclables.
Access paths.
Driveways, visitor vehicle parking and vehicle turning areas.
Car washing facilities to trap nutrients and oil/grease and direct soapy water to lawns or garden areas.
Some issues that should be considered in the site plan and layout are specific to particular lifestyle, .
age and interests groups:
Childrens play areas (require flat grassed areas).
Pets (may require fencing to separate from garden beds).
Disabled access .
(requires low grade and trafficable paths around the site and benched seating to provide respite).
Common design features

Siting structures
Place structures on sites that are already cleared to minimise ground disturbance.
Set structures below the topmost point of a property to reduce the intensity of wind exposure. .
Take advantage of established windbreaks or other natural features to create a pleasant microclimate.
Reduce driveway, paths and other pavement areas to a minimum by re-dimensioning, choosing alternative.
materials or rationalising the layout so that some areas become multi-purpose .
(and more economic to construct).
115
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Appendix A
Site Planning
Minimising cut and fill

Use natural ground levels where possible for siting houses and other structures.
Use house construction techniques to accommodate slope (eg, pole construction, split level or stepped design).
Use pier and beam foundations rather than slab on ground construction to minimise ground .
and tree root disturbance.
Design driveways to contour around slopes. Use grassed swales to direct flow towards vegetated areas .
at regular intervals (every 3 metres) to reduce water volume and to permit smaller depressions .
in the driveway profiles.
Managing stormwater
Slow down flow rates where possible to prevent erosion, promote infiltration and reduce reliance on.
supplementary watering and irrigation.
Use permeable paving, pebble paths, infiltration trenches, swales, terraced garden walls, mulched garden beds,.
or other landscaping elements to slow down and infiltrate runoff .
(where soil conditions are appropriate eg, sandy soils).
Tree loss
Assess the health, vigour and longevity of existing mature trees at the site planning stage. .
Existing trees may not tolerate construction activity in the root zone, resulting in decline in tree health,.
accelerated limb loss, pest and disease attack or complete demise, which can lead to injury .
or property damage.
If removing trees, consider planting replacement trees that are deep rooted species to:
Maintain or lower the water table to mitigate potential for flooding.
Bind the soil and reduce soil erosion.
Decrease run-off velocities.
Filter nutrients and capture sediments.
116

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Prepared by the Hobart City Council

7 Rain gardens and bioretention systems.............72

8 Vegetated swales and buffers............................. 74

9 Water efficient home fittings and appliances..... 76

11 Wetland design, construction & maintenance...90

12 Hard engineering systems............................... 103

How to use this document............................................4

Appendix A Site Planning........................................ 109

Hobart City Council, 2006

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Introduction What is WSUD?

How to use this document

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Single Residential Development

(note, pic above to be replaced)

Practice Note Reference

Practice Note No.1

Practice Note No.2

Practice Note No.3

Practice Note No.4

Practice Note No.5

Practice Note No.6

Rain gardens & Bioretention Systems

Practice Note No.7

Vegetated swales and buffers

Practice Note No.8

Water Efficient Home (Fittings and Appliances)

Practice Note No.9

Example of an overall stormwater strategy for a typical suburban dwelling

Residential Subdivision Development

Residential swale drainage at Lynbrook Estate,

Practice Note Reference

Practice Note No.1

Practice Note No.2

Practice Note No.3

Practice Note No.4

Practice Note No.5

Practice Note No.6

Rain gardens and Bioretention systems

Practice Note No.7

Vegetated swales and buffers

Practice Note No.8

Practice Note No.10

Wetland design, construction and maintenance

Practice Note No.11

Existing vegetation and.

Narrow road reserve reduces

Footpath alignment response to

Examples of a stormwater system for a residential subdivision

Residential Multi-unit Development

Residential unit development

Practice Note Reference

Practice Note No.1

Practice Note No.2

Practice Note No.3

Practice Note No.4

Practice Note No.5

Practice Note No.6

Rain gardens and Bioretention systems

Practice Note No.7

Vegetated swales and buffers

Practice Note No.8