Evaluation of the effects of low-impact development practices under different rainy types: case of Fuxing Island Park, Shanghai, China

The soil permeability and underground water level greatly affect the performance of low-impact development (LID) practices. Shanghai is located in the area of estuary and is characterized by its high groundwater level and low soil infiltration rate. The LID practices in Fuxing Island Park, Shanghai, including a bioretention cell, swales, a permeable pavement, and a combined LID practices were studied in the present paper. The performance of LID practices during the period of eight rainfall events was evaluated in terms of hydrology and water quality. Due to the detention of the LID practices, a significant delay between the peak rainfall and the peak surface runoff was observed. On-site tests show it is suitable for the applicability of LID in a rainy city with low soil infiltration rate and high groundwater level. Moreover, the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) was also used to compare the hydrologic effects before and after these four LID practices application in the park. Results indicated the LID practices could effectively reduce the runoff volume and the peak flow in the park. Furthermore, the runoff water quality evaluation showed the pollutants were effectively removed by these four LID practices due to both runoff treatment and flow volume reduction. The bioretention system proved to be effective as a result of its larger facility area while the swales had the obvious reduction volume both per facility area and per catchment area.