Floodable Park Project Incorporating Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Torrevieja (Alicante)
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
BAckground
In November 2017, the Stormwater Master Plan for the Municipality of Torrevieja (Alicante) was prepared by Aguas del Arco Mediterráneo S.A. (AGAMED). Within this Master Plan, a series of drainage catchments were defined. The Plan establishes a stormwater action programme aimed at addressing the problems experienced in the city as a result of torrential rainfall events within the municipal area of Torrevieja.
The proposed works develop one of the actions included in the Stormwater Master Plan of the Municipality of Torrevieja, pursuing the following objectives:
• Adaptation of hydraulic infrastructure to the existing vegetation and expansion of the city’s green heritage
• Mitigation of the impact of extreme weather events in one of the city’s sensitive areas through the retention and controlled attenuation of stormwater runoff
• Improvement of water resource management
• Promotion of sustainable development and biodiversity
• Implementation of innovative solutions based on natural processes
• Creation of new resilient urban spaces that also serve as climate shelters
• Promotion of public use of urban spaces
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Given the size of the plot, the existing utilities and its location, the proposed actions are as follows:
- Construction of a stormwater retention and attenuation area to control the discharge of runoff flows into the network and limit the contribution of solids, thereby mitigating the effects of extreme weather events in sensitive areas of the city.
- Provision of areas within the plot incorporating different innovative solutions which, in a complementary manner, improve runoff management by replicating natural processes, using permeable pavements and rain gardens as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).
- Development of a sports area integrated into the floodable park, promoting public use of the urban space.
- Creation of green areas throughout the plot to serve as a climate shelter and provide resilience against the effects of climate change.
- Protection and maintenance of the existing utilities located within the plot to ensure their proper operation.
