URBAnWat3r addresses the ecological risks of stormwater to aquatic biodiversity in urbanized systems, integrating three lines
of evidence (triad approach). The overarching aim is to relate stormwater runoff to the health of receiving aquatic ecosystems in
three pilot (sub)urban areas, and from there engage citizens and institutional stakeholders to discuss stormwater management
practices. The proposed research plan addresses an overlooked issue in urban planning, which typically view natural or managed
watersheds in urbanized landscapes as drainage systems for rainfall. Consequently, urban streams and rivers serve as collectors
of stormwater, which flows over the urban landscape during rainfall events, picking up soil particles, litter, and various
contaminants such as traffic and other waste products. This mixture is then released into receiving water bodies through
terrestrial runoffs and outfalls with minimal or no treatment. Some studies, primarily conducted in the US, have already
demonstrated the detrimental pollution effects of urban runoffs. In Europe, there has been limited focus on micropollutants in
stormwater, with existing studies primarily relying on a single line of evidence (pollutant profiles). Project URBAnWat3r serves as
a crucial initiative aiming to adopt a comprehensive triad approach, transcending mere correlative evidence and seeking to
elucidate cause-and-effect relationships.
The specific goals of project URBAnWat3r are:
(i) to define standard operating procedures for sample collection of stormwater and receiving waterbodies, for analysis of target
micropollutants and the rationale behind their selection, as well as for bioassay protocols, inspired in good practices that warrant
comparable procedures across the pilot areas and deliver reproducible methodologies;
(ii) to determine the prevalence of a relevant subset of target micropollutants in urban and suburban stormwater runoffs and
receiving waterbodies (analytical line of evidence);
(iii)to assess the ecological status and ecosystem health of receiving waterbodies by analysing the structural and functional
composition of macroinvertebrate communities and organic matter decomposition downstream of stormwater outlets
(ecological line of evidence);
(iv)to evaluate noxious effects of urban and suburban stormwater and receiving waters using a battery of ecotoxicological
bioassays, incorporating species from key trophic levels and ecologically-relevant responses (ecotoxicological line of evidence);
(v) to engage local communities and stakeholders - individually and collectively - in a discussion about the need for improved
stormwater management in (sub)urban landscapes, through various dissemination and citizen science activities;
(vi)to integrate the data of the 3 lines of evidence in the 3 pilot areas using a weight-of-evidence approach, considering their
regional and temporal contexts, identifying sensitive metrics/indicators and susceptible areas (locally).
These ambitious objectives integrate scientific inquiry with stakeholder involvement to foster participatory and crossdisciplinary approaches in promoting more sustainable cities. The project's advancements will support citizen awareness, drive
much-needed public debate, and provide crucial scientific and societal insights for improving stormwater management in
urbanized landscapes. |