When we plan our city, it's important to understand how we can reduce waste and protect our environment.
Water-sensitive urban design
Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) thinks about how we can reduce the amount of water runoff in a development. If there is any, we should make sure it causes very little damage. It also thinks about how we use water wisely to improve our urban environment.
The key principles of WSUD are to:
- use different sources of water so we don't need to use as much drinking water. This might include:
- rainwater
- treated wastewater, and
- encouraging water-efficient appliances.
- reduce how much wastewater we create, and make sure it's treated so it can be reused and/or released to receiving waters
- treat urban stormwater so it can be reused and/or released to surface waters, and
- use stormwater in the urban landscape to improve the visual and recreational amenities of developments.
The module referred to in the planning technical specifications gives practical help to deliver WSUD in the ACT. It includes recommendations to plan, design, establish, operate, maintain and decommission WSUD assets. It includes:
- Introduction
- Overview of the WSUD planning, design and delivery process
- Critical steps to WSUD planning
- Critical steps to WSUD design
- WSUD treatment assets construction and establishment
- WSUD treatment asset operation and maintenance
- Handover of WSUD treatment assets to the ACT Government
- Monitoring water quality, and
- Asset renewal and decommissioning
Water-sensitive urban design options for single homes
The Residential Zones Specifications provides guidance on how you could reduce the amount of water you use at home.
The following options meet the specification for single residential buildings:
Option A: Water storage and connections
Block size | Minimum tank size (litres) | Minimum roof area connected to tank | >Tank connected to at least*: |
---|---|---|---|
Compact blocks < 250m2 | Nil | Nil | Nil** |
250 to 500 m² | 2,000 | 50% or 75m² (whichever is the lesser) | Toilet, laundry cold water and external taps attached to the house |
500 to 800 m² | 4,000 | 50% or 100m² (whichever is the lesser) | Toilet, laundry cold water and external taps attached to the house |
> 800 m² | 5,000 | 50% or 125m² (whichever is the lesser) | Toilet, laundry cold water and external taps attached to the house |
*The connection must have a pump that can't be elevated to give adequate pressure.
**At least 3 star WELS rated plumbing fixtures
Option B: Greywater system, treating water to Class A standard
- all bathroom and laundry greywater should be captured, and
- all toilets, laundry cold water and external uses must be connected to greywater.
Option C: Alternative ways to meet the water reduction targets
By using the online assessment tool , a development can reduce how much mains water it uses by 40%, compared to a similar development built in 2003. The development can meet this target without relying on landscaping to reduce consumption.
Design guides under the new planning system
Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design Guide
The Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design Guide [PDF 6.4 MB] looks at how new developments can work in harmony with the natural environment. They will help protect and improve biodiversity and ecological connectivity. This will be done throughout the development’s design.
Housing Design Guide
The Housing Design Guide [PDF 15MB] outlines ways developers can incorporate good design into denser housing developments. This includes elements such as apartment size and layout, ceiling heights, solar access, natural ventilation and private open spaces like balconies.
Urban Design Guide
The Urban Design Guide [PDF 12MB] looks at the ways developers can incorporate good design into public spaces and places. Examples include the outside public areas around the building, improved pedestrian access, and designing for active travel, trees and landscaping and inclusive public spaces.