Building flood-resilient cities by promoting SUDS adoption

Abstract

In light of rapid urbanization and climate change, managing urban flood risk by combining traditional pipe-bound infrastructure with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) has recently gained significant attention. SUDS provide a wide range of social, economic, and environmental advantages; nonetheless, there are perceptions, barriers, and benefits whose understanding is lacking, especially in the context of developing countries. To fill these gaps, a case study was conducted in the city of Bogotá, Colombia's capital city, systematically investigating the visions of four key actors, i.e., the public sector, urban developers, a private non-profit organization, and community members of a flood-prone area. Thematic analysis supported by an inductive–deductive coding approach was employed to analyze data collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. After identifying and categorizing 39 barriers in Bogotá, technical and institutional/organizational barriers such as “operation and maintenance” and “unclear institutional responsibilities” prevailed over financial ones. The assessment of benefits yielded a total of 34 results and demonstrated the wide scope of SUDS strategies, ranging from “use of harvested water in secondary uses” to “promotion of environmental awareness” and “corporate image enhancement.” Furthermore, there are direct relationships between barriers, benefits, and actors, strengthened by particular objectives, motivations, and needs. The findings of this study highlight the significance of interdisciplinary approaches to achieve comprehensive sustainable urban water planning and improved flood risk management. Further work on benefits quantification and participatory spatial-hydraulic modeling could foster SUDS interest, broadening the debate beyond the technical realm.