Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is water management that seeks to replicate the natural water cycle in urban areas. WSUD can:

• Protect our waterways by capturing, treating and productively using rainwater and stormwater before it enters our rivers.
• Prevent or reduce flooding in targeted locations.
• Reduce run off volume. The high amount of hard surfaces in cities mean that water cannot infiltrate the ground and enters creeks at a high rate causing erosion of creek beds.
• Reduce potable water use. Minimising the use of drinking water for things other than drinking through water efficient fixtures, rainwater tanks and enabling water reuse (rainwater, stormwater and greywater).
• Provide wildlife habitat.
• Create public open space, recreational opportunities and visual amenity that enhance and improve the look and feel of urban areas.

Examples of WSUD include rainwater tanks, porous pavements, raingardens, green roofs, bioretention systems, swales, constructed wetlands and stormwater harvesting systems. Many of these elements can be found across our City.