PREFACE
Water is not only an indispensable resource for sustaining life, but also a strategic environmental asset whose significance has become increasingly pronounced in the face of rapid urbanization, climate change, and growing anthropogenic pressures. In contemporary cities, the expansion of impervious surfaces has profoundly altered natural hydrological processes, intensifying stormwater runoff, increasing flood risks, and contributing to the degradation of water quality. At the same time, the increasing frequency and intensity of short-duration, high-magnitude rainfall events—largely associated with climate variability and climate change—have exposed the limitations of conventional drainage systems and underscored the urgent need for more resilient, integrated, and sustainable approaches to urban water management.
This book offers a timely and valuable contribution to the field by addressing urban stormwater management and rainwater harvesting not only from an engineering perspective, but also through the broader lenses of environmental sustainability, ecosystem-sensitive planning, and climate adaptation. The chapters presented in this volume provide a comprehensive examination of key issues such as the hydrological transformation of urban catchments, pollutant transport mechanisms in surface runoff, the first flush phenomenon, the environmental pressures exerted on receiving water bodies, and the role of sustainable urban drainage systems in mitigating these impacts. In addition, the book highlights the importance of rainwater harvesting as an alternative water resource and explores its applicability in large-scale structures, while also emphasizing its environmental and economic benefits through practical and analytical perspectives.
One of the major strengths of this volume lies in its interdisciplinary character. The issues surrounding urban runoff and stormwater quality are not confined to a single discipline; rather, they require the combined expertise of environmental engineering, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, landscape architecture, public policy, and sustainability studies. In this regard, the book successfully bridges theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering insights that are equally relevant to researchers, graduate students, practitioners, municipal authorities, and policy makers.
In today’s urban context, stormwater should no longer be regarded merely as a drainage problem to be conveyed away as quickly as possible. Instead, it must be understood as a resource to be managed, retained, treated, and reused within a circular and sustainable framework. This shift in perspective is essential for reducing pollutant loads, protecting receiving environments, improving water efficiency, and enhancing the resilience of cities against the increasing uncertainties of climate change.
It is my sincere belief that this book will serve as a significant academic reference and a practical guide for those engaged in the design, planning, and implementation of sustainable water management strategies. By encouraging readers to reconsider the role of stormwater in the urban environment, this work contributes meaningfully to the advancement of sustainable urban infrastructure and environmentally responsible water governance.
I would like to congratulate the author(s)/editor(s) for their valuable efforts in preparing this important volume, and I sincerely hope that it will prove beneficial to scholars, students, professionals, and decision-makers alike.
Editor: Prof Dr Raul DSG CAMPILHO
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