This thesis investigates the implementation of new urban water management and planningapproaches in Denmark, with a specific focus on integrating solutions for extreme rainfallevents and enhancing livability. The study explores the Principles of Water Wise Cities as aframework for incorporating these aspects through Water Sensitive Urban Designs (WSUD).The aim is to provide a clearer understanding of the implementation of Water Wise Cities andthe role of livability in the context of urban water. In order to investigate the aim, the research employs a document analysis of two planningdocuments for Marienlyst, an urban development project in Aarhus Municipality, Denmark.The findings highlight the prevalence of Water Wise Cities through WSUD in Danish urbanwater management. However, the analysis of Marienlyst reveals fragmented integration ofWSUD solutions, lacking the multifunctionality observed in other examples, calling for aholistic and systematic approach to planning that better integrates urban water managementsolutions.  The thesis emphasizes the need to expand the understanding of livability beyond recreation inMarienlyst, to encompass broader implications of enhancing livability through water. It arguesfor comprehensive integration of livability in planning processes to foster resilient and inclusiveurban and community development. The limitations of a top-down approach in conceptualizinglivability are underscored, emphasizing the importance of participatory processes thatincorporate local knowledge. The thesis also addresses the vague nature of the livabilityconcept, advocating for critical engagement and robust integration into planning processes tocreate sustainable and equitable urban environments. In conclusion, this thesis highlights the necessity of a holistic and participatory approach inurban water management, integrating innovative solutions for extreme rainfall events andenhancing livability. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge on urban watermanagement and underscore the ongoing importance of research and development for thecreation of resilient and livable cities. / Denna avhandling undersöker implementeringen av nya metoder för hantering och planeringav vatten i urbana områden i Danmark, med särskilt fokus på att integrera lösningar för extremaregnfall och skapa en bättre förståelse för konceptet ”liveability”. Studien utforskar principernaför Water Wise Cities som en ram för att inkorporera dessa aspekter genom Water SensetiveUrban Design (WSUD). Syftet är att ge en tydligare förståelse för implementeringen av WaterWise Cities och undersöka vilken roll ”liveability” erhåller inom dansk samhällsplanering. För att undersöka syftet använder forskningen en dokumentanalys av två planeringsdokumentför Marienlyst, ett stadsutvecklingsprojekt i Aarhus kommun, Danmark. Resultaten belyserförekomsten av Water Wise Cities genom diverse förslag som främjar implementeringen avWSUD i Marienlyst. Men analysen av Marienlyst avslöjar en fragmenterad integration avWSUD-lösningar som saknar den multifunktionalitet som observeras i andra exempel, vilketkräver ett holistiskt och systematiskt tillvägagångssätt för planering som bättre integrerarlösningar för stadsförvaltning av vatten. Avhandlingen betonar behovet av att utvidga förståelsen för liveability bortom rekreation iMarienlyst, för att omfatta bredare implikationer av att förbättra boendemiljön genom vatten.Den argumenterar för en omfattande integration av boendemiljön i planeringsprocesser för attfrämja en hållbar och inklusiv samhällsutveckling. Vidare problematiseras även debegränsningarna som tydliggörs med ett toppstyrt tillvägagångssätt vid främjandet avliveability konceptet, där större fokus på medborgardialog som inkorporerar lokal befolkningoch dess kunskap i processen rekommenderas. Avhandlingen problematiserar även den vagadefinitionen av liveability som begrepp och förespråkar därmed ett behov för ett kritisktperspektiv på hur vi tolkar begreppet i planeringsprocesser för att möjliggöra rättvisare urbanamiljöer. Slutligen belyser denna avhandling nödvändigheten av ett holistiskt och deltagandetillvägagångssätt inom hanteringen av vatten, genom att integrera innovativa lösningar förextrema regnfall och förbättra boendemiljön. Resultaten bidrar till den befintliga kunskapen omhanteringen av vatten och understryker den pågående betydelsen av forskning och utvecklingför skapandet av trivsamma och hållbara städer.

Pervious pavements in car parks and driveways reduce peak discharge and the volume of runoff flowing in to urban drains and improve the water quality by trapping the sediments in the infiltrated water. This reduces the risk of pollutants such as suspended solids and particle bound chemicals such as phosphorous, nitrogen, heavy metals and oils and hydrocarbons entering receiving waters. The key objectives of the study are to establish relationships between rainfall and pervious pavement runoff and quantify improvements to infiltrated stormwater quality through the pervious pavement. The field experimental results were used to calibrate the PCSWMMPP model and to develop water flow and quality improvement transfer functions of the MUSIC model for concrete block and turf cell pavements. The research reported herein has demonstrated that pervious pavements can be introduced as a sustainable stormwater management initiative and as a key Water Sensitive Urban Design feature to deliver numerous benefits to the environment. The outcomes from the study will be useful in designing environmentally friendly car parks, pedestrian paths, light traffic drive ways, sporting grounds and public areas in the future. Land developers and local government authorities will be major beneficiaries of the study which has increased the understanding of the use of pervious pavements and explored a number of issues that previously inhibited the wider use of pervious pavements in practice.

The provision of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is an essential ingredient of cities. However, questions are being raised about the type and form of urban infrastructure, for economic and environmental reasons. Traditionally these techologies have offered linear solutions, drawing increasing volumes of water into cities and discharging waste at ever increasing levels, causing escalating stress on the environment. In addition the costs of water infrastructure provision and replacement, both in the developing and developed world, is becoming prohibitive. In response, a new paradigm has been called for and new solutions are emerging that have been labelled as Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). This concept can be considered to consist of both technical and philosophical dimensions, and represents a new form of professional praxis. However, the adoption of these techniques and concepts is constrained by the inertia of the existing urban water systems. It is therefore argued that the introduction of any change must occur across a number of dimensions of the technoeconomic system of the city. These dimensions-artefacts and technical systems (i.e. the technology and knowledge systems), professional praxis and socio-political context (i.e. institutions, culture and politics) and biophysical realities and world views (i.e. the environment and underlying values) - provide a framework for analysis of the change process - both how it is occurring and how it needs to occur. This framework is used to illustrate the link between environment values and the process of technological innovation, and points to the need for the emerging values and innovations to be institutionalised into the professional praxis and socio-political context of society. Specifically, it is argued that a new form of transdisciplinary professional praxis is emerging and needs to be cultivated. A broad review of the literature, an evaluation of selected emerging technologies and three case studies are used to illustrate and argue this position. These examples show the potential economic, social and environmental benefits of IUWM and provide some insight into the potential which this approach has to influence the form and structure of the city and at the same time highlighting the institutional arrangements required to manage urban water systems.

“Global floods and extreme rainfall events have surged by more than 50% in the past decade and recent studies show that they are occurring four times higher than in 1980” (Neslen, 2018). At the same time, the urban population is rising. Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and it is estimated to increase to 70% by 2050 (United Nations, 2018). This expansion of urbanized areas is correlated with the increase of impermeable surfaces that, in case of extreme weather events, are not able to drain the water efficiently. The rainfall-runoff is channelled from roads, parking lots, buildings, and other impervious surfaces to storm drains and sewers that cannot handle the volume. The high ratio of impermeable surfaces and the increased extreme rainfall events cause severe environmental, social, economical problems in urban areas. Merely technical and engineering solutions are no sufficient, therefore a new approach that can maintain and adapt the natural water cycle inside the urban areas is needed. Ecosystem services and resilience thinking have become key principles in adaptation strategies at different levels, from international policies (e.g. Sustainable Development Goals) to local actions (e.g. Copenhagen adaptation plan 2015) and design (e.g. climate resilient San Kjeld in Copenhagen). In this scenario, the design approach of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) aims to promote resilience at the local level by managing stormwater, encouraging the defence of the aesthetic value of green and blue areas. WSUD is a multidisciplinary approach that involves water management, urban planning, architecture, and landscape design. The main idea of WSUD is that sustainable stormwater systems should be beautiful, meaningful, and educational (Echols, 2007). This master thesis explores the concept of Water Sensitive Urban Design and its application in the cities of Copenhagen, Malmö and Rotterdam. The case study of PHVision in Heidelberg, Germany, is analysed from the concept of WSUD. Design improvements are suggested stemming from the analysed European examples and the theoretical background.

Swedish municipalities increasingly prioritize blue-green infrastructure in response to the changing climate and precipitation. This study focuses on Norrköping, Huddinge, Nyköping, and Kalmar and how urban planning develops strategies for implementing blue-green infrastructure. Through document content analysis, the municipalities recognize the importance of blue-green infrastructure for stormwater management. However, challenges with implementation remain. Clashes with higher legal and economic interests impede progress. There are issues with responsibility allocation and operation. Most of the challenges can be ascribed to the absence of a comprehensive framework for sustainable stormwater management. Each municipality has developed unique practices to handle this, which have emerged through the interviews. The strategies break down to collaborative models involving multiple stakeholders. These findings advocate for a holistic approach suggest potential for a unified framework, and a path forward in sustainable urban planning.

The overarching goal of this research is to establish a successful forum for a transition from the existing paradigm of managing wastewater infrastructure to a more sustainable paradigm that achieves a more efficient utilisation of wastewater assets. A transitioning approach to support a more efficient utilisation of surface water and wastewater assets and infrastructure is proposed and developed. The determined transitioning approach possesses key stages namely developing the arena, developing the agenda, case study, and monitoring. The case study stage investigates a drainage utility identifying their improvement drivers, the removal of surface water through detailed drainage modelling and the financial examination of the costs incurred under the various scenarios conducted. Understanding the implications of removing/attenuating surface water from the network is improved through obtaining data by detailed drainage modelling. Infoworks software is used to investigate and assess the current and future operational scenarios of a wastewater system operating over one calendar year. Modelling scenarios were conducted removing surface water from selected areas focusing on the volumes requiring pumping and durations of pumping station(s) operation prior to treatment during storm conditions. The financial implication of removing surface water in combined sewer systems is examined in three main components. Firstly the costs of electricity incurred at the single sewage pumping station (SPS) investigated during the various scenarios modelled require to be addressed. Secondly the costs to retrofit sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) solutions needs to be identified. Thirdly the implications of removing surface water for the drainage utility at the national level and the potential saving for householder’s committing to a surface water disconnection rebate scheme. When addressed at the macro level i.e., with over 2,100 pumping stations, some operating in sequence and contained within one drainage utility annually treating 315,360 megalitres the significance of the same multiple quantifiable and intangible benefits becomes amplified. The research aims, objectives and findings are presented to the identified and convened stakeholders. The transitioning approach developed encourages positive discourse between stakeholders. The level of success of the transitioning approach determined is then tested using a quantitative methodology through the completion of questionnaires. From the questionnaires completed the respondents unanimously agreed that surface water flows should be removed as well as reduced from the combined sewer system. The respondents agreed that the removal of surface water from a typical combined sewer system is justified by applying a transitioning approach focusing on the energy consumption required to pump increased volumes during storm events. This response is significant based upon the economic evidence and is contrary to the respondents previous position that finance was their most influencing factor. When provided with other potentially available benefits the respondents were even more supportive of the justification to remove surface water from the combined sewer system. The combined findings of the work presented in this thesis provide further justification that the transitioning approach applied to the removal of surface water from a typical combined sewer system, as determined in this research has been successful.