Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

What is Water Sensitive Urban Design?

The Victorian Planning Provisions (VPP) requires new public use, commercial, industrial, and residential multi-dwelling sub-divisions and developments to meet Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) criteria before they can apply for a Town Planning Permit. These assessments are usually required as part of a the broader ESD assessment.

WSUD encompasses criteria to manage and minimise the harm of stormwater (that often contains pollutants and chemical after falling on roads and roofs) to the natural waterways – such as rivers and creeks – and also utilise it as a resource.

WSUD’s stormwater management objectives include to:

  • Minimise damage to properties and inconvenience to the public;
  • Ensure streets operate safely and adequately during major storm events;
  • Minimise rises in water levels and protect receiving waters from degradation by stormwater;
  • Encourage the retention and re-use of stormwater; and
  • Contribute to cooling, local habitat improvements and provision of attractive and
    enjoyable spaces.

Why is WSUD important for your building or development?

Urban developments impact the natural water cycle by creating impermeable surfaces that don’t allow for rainwater to naturally soak and absorb into the environment. This means rainwater ends up in stormwater systems with pollutants that harm our creeks, rivers and oceans.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) decreases these environmental, social and economic impacts, and creates greener urban areas. It also benefits owners by reducing water bills.

Benefits of Water Sensitive Urban Design include:

  • Minimising impact on receiving waters
  • Reducing drinking water use
  • Recharging local groundwater through the infiltration of stormwater
  • Creating greener urban environments, and
  • Passive cooling through increased vegetation cover.

WSUD Principles

Meeting (the above mentioned) Victorian Planning Provisions requirements can be done via adopting Water Sensitive Urban Design principles that copies as best as possible the way nature recycles rain and stormwaters.

WSUD considers not only a site, but the surrounding streets and the area as a whole. The design principles include.

Rainwater tanks
A more highly adopted WSUD these days with the understanding of needing to lessen our demands on our natural water resources, and capturing and utilising stormwater where we can. Tank water can be used for toilets, gardens, washing machines and more.

Sediment basins
Sediment basins are open water ponds that help reduce the amount of sediment and litter entering the natural water systems. Sediment basins capture and slow down stormwater, giving sediment and pollutants time to fall to the bottom of the basin before entering rivers, creeks and other systems.

Raingardens
Also known as bioretention systems, raingardens are designed to filter and drain excess stormwater. These garden beds use plants, soil and microbes to naturally treat the stormwater from your roof and downpipes, and pathways.

Constructed wetlands
Similar to the principle sediment basins, man-made wetlands help the natural water systems of the area by filtering and removing pollutants from stormwater. Constructed wetlands incorporate ponds with dense, shallow plants.

Swales
Another design principle to capture and filtrates stormwater before it enters creeks, rivers and oceans. Swales are channels lined with dense plants and grasses.

How Floyd Energy ® conducts WSUD Assessments

When a WSUD is requested or required, we work with you, your designer/architect, and other consultants to work out the best way to meet Council requirements.

The STORM assessment tool or Calculator is used to achieve best practice water quality objectives.

Once the WSUD assessment has been completed, we issue a report stating how your development complies with the planning policy for Stormwater quality improvement. This report should be submitted as part of the Development Application.

What is Water Sensitive Urban Design?

The Victorian Planning Provisions (VPP) requires new public use, commercial, industrial, and residential multi-dwelling sub-divisions and developments to meet Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) criteria before they can apply for a Town Planning Permit. These assessments are usually required as part of a the broader ESD assessment.

WSUD encompasses criteria to manage and minimise the harm of stormwater (that often contains pollutants and chemical after falling on roads and roofs) to the natural waterways – such as rivers and creeks – and also utilise it as a resource.

WSUD’s stormwater management objectives include to:

  • Minimise damage to properties and inconvenience to the public;
  • Ensure streets operate safely and adequately during major storm events;
  • Minimise rises in water levels and protect receiving waters from degradation by stormwater;
  • Encourage the retention and re-use of stormwater; and
  • Contribute to cooling, local habitat improvements and provision of attractive and
    enjoyable spaces.

Why is WSUD important for your building or development?

Urban developments impact the natural water cycle by creating impermeable surfaces that don’t allow for rainwater to naturally soak and absorb into the environment. This means rainwater ends up in stormwater systems with pollutants that harm our creeks, rivers and oceans.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) decreases these environmental, social and economic impacts, and creates greener urban areas. It also benefits owners by reducing water bills.

Benefits of Water Sensitive Urban Design include:

  • Minimising impact on receiving waters
  • Reducing drinking water use
  • Recharging local groundwater through the infiltration of stormwater
  • Creating greener urban environments, and
  • Passive cooling through increased vegetation cover.

WSUD Principles

Meeting (the above mentioned) Victorian Planning Provisions requirements can be done via adopting Water Sensitive Urban Design principles that copies as best as possible the way nature recycles rain and stormwaters.

WSUD considers not only a site, but the surrounding streets and the area as a whole. The design principles include.

Rainwater tanks
A more highly adopted WSUD these days with the understanding of needing to lessen our demands on our natural water resources, and capturing and utilising stormwater where we can. Tank water can be used for toilets, gardens, washing machines and more.

Sediment basins
Sediment basins are open water ponds that help reduce the amount of sediment and litter entering the natural water systems. Sediment basins capture and slow down stormwater, giving sediment and pollutants time to fall to the bottom of the basin before entering rivers, creeks and other systems.

Raingardens
Also known as bioretention systems, raingardens are designed to filter and drain excess stormwater. These garden beds use plants, soil and microbes to naturally treat the stormwater from your roof and downpipes, and pathways.

Constructed wetlands
Similar to the principle sediment basins, man-made wetlands help the natural water systems of the area by filtering and removing pollutants from stormwater. Constructed wetlands incorporate ponds with dense, shallow plants.

Swales
Another design principle to capture and filtrates stormwater before it enters creeks, rivers and oceans. Swales are channels lined with dense plants and grasses.

How Floyd Energy ® conducts WSUD Assessments

When a WSUD is requested or required, we work with you, your designer/architect, and other consultants to work out the best way to meet Council requirements.

The STORM assessment tool or Calculator is used to achieve best practice water quality objectives.

Once the WSUD assessment has been completed, we issue a report stating how your development complies with the planning policy for Stormwater quality improvement. This report should be submitted as part of the Development Application.

Floyd Energy® will ensure a quality WSUD Assessment

With energy rating experience since 2001 and a mission to adhere to best practice principles, we will ensure
your project meets permit requirements and helps protect our natural water systems.

Head to our Energy Report Request page and fill in your details for a free quote. We require your building plans to provide an accurate quote for work.

Free Quote

Contact Floyd Energy® who’s been conducting energy ratings since 2001 and works closely with Government for expert advice.

Contact Us

Contact us to discuss your WSUD Assessment requirements.

Contact Us

Head to our Energy Report Request page and submit your details.

Free Quote

Read our Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) page for more information

Floyd Energy® will ensure a quality WSUD Assessment

With energy rating experience since 2001 and a mission to adhere to best practice principles, we will ensure your project meets permit requirements and helps protect our natural water systems.

Contact us to discuss your WSUD Assessment requirements.

Contact Us

Head to our Energy Report Request page and submit your details.

Free Quote
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