Comparative Study of Stormwater Management Practices in 11 Climate-Impacted Jurisdictions

As urban development continues to expand and the likelihood of extreme precipitation events rises under climate change, there is an increasing risk of overburdening existing infrastructure. Therefore, considerations need to be made to enhance cities’ stormwater management infrastructure programs, policies, and designs. In this study, we thoroughly analyzed the current practices of 11 global cities, including London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Melbourne, New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Boston, Ottawa, and Toronto, regarding stormwater management and climate change adaptation. We conducted thorough reviews of published documents and held interviews to evaluate their regulatory frameworks, policies, and design guidelines for stormwater management. City of Toronto served as the benchmark for comparison, which allowed us to assess how international approaches align with or diverge from local practices. The overarching strategies adopted by these cities align with enhancing resilience, which to a certain extent addresses issues related to stormwater management. Findings revealed that integrating adaptation and resilience efforts into broader city improvement initiatives is a key aspect of the overall strategy. Solutions for stormwater management can also address multiple problems. The cloudburst management project implemented in Copenhagen and NYC serves as two noteworthy examples of this concept. As climate science and modeling techniques continue to improve, regular reviews of design storm criteria are crucial for building adaptive capacity and long-term resilience in stormwater management. Cities like Philadelphia have exemplified this approach by leveraging comprehensive climate projections to inform planning and design guidance. The selected cities serve as inspiring models for effective stormwater management and present innovative strategies and lessons for regions facing similar climate change challenges.