towards effective monitoring of urban stormwater for better design and management

The lack of information due to insufficient data availability and an improper sampling method for stormwater generates constraint and uncertainty in addressing all storm events. In such conditions, it is difficult to assess actual concentrations and mass loads. This results in a backlog in decision-making for sustainable planning, design and policy formulation, e.g. retrofitting alternatives to traditional systems for reducing runoff and pollutants. It is essential to set standardized sampling and analysis procedures in order to achieve reliable and representative data. They need to be optimal and effective due to the costs and difficulties in sampling and analysis. The study reviews the effectiveness of largely best practiced sampling procedures in research papers. Likely site selection approaches, monitoring parameters and sample collection systems are compiled with their effectiveness, affordability and applicability. An optimal stormwater sampling programme is deducted and recommended for Tallinn stormwater catchment area. Moreover, the study provides an opportunity to select the suitable monitoring programme from the effective options such that it can be utilized to obtain coherent stormwater data.