The Impact of Climate Change on the Functioning of Drainage Systems in Industrial Areas-A Case Study

Stormwater drainage from urbanised areas has gained importance due to progressing land surface sealing and climate change. More frequent extreme rainfall events lead to overloaded drainage systems and flash floods, particularly in industrial zones experiencing rapid development. The study analysed the sewage system operation in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Lower Silesia, Poland to assess the impact of climate-induced rainfall changes. Three rainfall scenarios were used: model rainfall using historic rainfall intensities, model rainfall using actual intensities, and real precipitation recorded in June 2022. Findings indicate that climate change has negatively affected the stormwater drainage system, resulting in increased overloads and flooding. Particularly, the II scenario showed a significant rise in rainwater inflow to retention reservoirs by 53.1% for ZR-1 and 44.5% for ZR-2 (compared to the I scenario). To address these issues, adaptations are needed for increased rainwater flows, including additional retention facilities, blue-green infrastructure, or rainwater harvesting for the SEZ needs.