A Model for the Assessment of the Water
Footprint of Gardens that Include
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
(SUDS)
Mª Desirée Alba-Rodríguez, Rocío Ruíz-Pérez, M. Dolores Gómez-López,
and Madelyn Marrero
Abstract The limitations presented by traditional urban water cycle systems, which
are linearly designed systems, highlight the need to develop new technologies in a
new circular strategic approach. In order to quantify the improvements, new methodologies are needed that integrate indicators that assess direct and indirect water
consumption, as well as the origin of the water consumed and the incorporation of
grey and rainwater. The methodology proposed provides quantitative data in terms
of water to calculate the payback period of the new circular systems, comparing the
conventional ones with new installations of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
(SUDS), which are proposed as alternatives to optimize the urban metabolism by
improving the water infiltration. The water footprint indicator (WF) is adapted to the
construction sector, it allows to quantify the direct and indirect consumption. The first
approximation is made to evaluate the impact of the urban water cycle systems. To
this end, three possible scenarios are modelled, one of which is a conventional system
and another two with SUDS, but different gardens, one of them with autochthonous
vegetation and the second one with ornamental vegetation, with greater water requirements. Through this quantification, the amortization period is analyzed in terms of
water, considering; the reduction of direct water consumption achieved with the
SUDS as compared to the conventional systems; and the consumption of indirect
water embedded in the materials necessary for the execution of the systems. The
SUDS implementation works require approximately twice as much indirect water as
conventional systems, due to the necessary improvements in the terrain for the proper
functioning of these eco-efficient systems. This study, together with the technical and
economic evaluation, allows us to analyze the viability of the SUDS and contribute
with quantitative data in the decision-making phase for the future incorporation of
M. D. Alba-Rodríguez (B) · R. Ruíz-Pérez · M. Marrero
Higher Technical School of Building Engineering, Architectural Construction Department2,
University of Seville, Andalusia, Spain
e-mail: malba2@us.es
M. D. Gómez-López
Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Agroforestry Engineering Area, Soil and
Water Management, Use and Recovery Group, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Region of
Murcia, Spain
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer
Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), Water Footprint, Environmental Footprints and Eco-design
of Products and Processes, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4377-1_3
61
Footprint of Gardens that Include
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
(SUDS)
Mª Desirée Alba-Rodríguez, Rocío Ruíz-Pérez, M. Dolores Gómez-López,
and Madelyn Marrero
Abstract The limitations presented by traditional urban water cycle systems, which
are linearly designed systems, highlight the need to develop new technologies in a
new circular strategic approach. In order to quantify the improvements, new methodologies are needed that integrate indicators that assess direct and indirect water
consumption, as well as the origin of the water consumed and the incorporation of
grey and rainwater. The methodology proposed provides quantitative data in terms
of water to calculate the payback period of the new circular systems, comparing the
conventional ones with new installations of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
(SUDS), which are proposed as alternatives to optimize the urban metabolism by
improving the water infiltration. The water footprint indicator (WF) is adapted to the
construction sector, it allows to quantify the direct and indirect consumption. The first
approximation is made to evaluate the impact of the urban water cycle systems. To
this end, three possible scenarios are modelled, one of which is a conventional system
and another two with SUDS, but different gardens, one of them with autochthonous
vegetation and the second one with ornamental vegetation, with greater water requirements. Through this quantification, the amortization period is analyzed in terms of
water, considering; the reduction of direct water consumption achieved with the
SUDS as compared to the conventional systems; and the consumption of indirect
water embedded in the materials necessary for the execution of the systems. The
SUDS implementation works require approximately twice as much indirect water as
conventional systems, due to the necessary improvements in the terrain for the proper
functioning of these eco-efficient systems. This study, together with the technical and
economic evaluation, allows us to analyze the viability of the SUDS and contribute
with quantitative data in the decision-making phase for the future incorporation of
M. D. Alba-Rodríguez (B) · R. Ruíz-Pérez · M. Marrero
Higher Technical School of Building Engineering, Architectural Construction Department2,
University of Seville, Andalusia, Spain
e-mail: malba2@us.es
M. D. Gómez-López
Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Agroforestry Engineering Area, Soil and
Water Management, Use and Recovery Group, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Region of
Murcia, Spain
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer
Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), Water Footprint, Environmental Footprints and Eco-design
of Products and Processes, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4377-1_3
61