DRAINAGE OF PARKS AND URBAN AREAS

The subject of drainage plays a crucial role in the design of outdoor areas, parking lots, parks, streets or inner cities. Rain Water Management plays a key role in protecting the environment and the groundwater and requires adapted products for all possible applications. MEA offers tailor-made and intelligent solutions to collect, convey, treat and reuse rainwater.

The drainage of parks and urban areas plays a crucial role in creating sustainable, resilient environments, particularly in the context of sponge cities. Sponge cities aim to absorb, store, and reuse rainwater effectively, reducing the impact of heavy rainfall, mitigating floods, and promoting water reuse. Efficient drainage systems must handle large sealed surfaces while ensuring compliance with urban planning regulations, environmental standards, and sustainability goals.

Drainage Requirements for Parks and City Areas

Parks and urban spaces often combine a mix of sealed surfaces (such as plazas, roads, and pathways) with green spaces, creating a challenge for water management. In densely populated areas, it’s essential to manage stormwater efficiently to prevent flooding, reduce runoff into public drainage systems, and promote natural infiltration.

Regulations and Standards

1. Local Urban Planning and Environmental Regulations
   • Cities and municipalities typically have stormwater management requirements, including controlling runoff and mitigating the urban heat island effect. These regulations often encourage the use of permeable surfaces and green infrastructure, such as rain gardens or bioswales, to manage water naturally.
   • Building codes also specify the maximum allowable runoff and set standards for drainage systems to reduce water flow into public sewers and minimize the risk of urban flooding.
2. EN 1433 Standard (Europe)
   • EN 1433 applies to linear drainage systems in public spaces, including parks and city areas. It specifies the load classes and performance standards for drainage channels, ensuring they can handle pedestrian traffic, light vehicles, and larger loads in city streets or plazas.
3. Sponge City Guidelines
   • Sponge city principles promote the use of permeable surfaces, green infrastructure, and efficient drainage systems to absorb and reuse stormwater. These guidelines aim to reduce urban runoff, promote groundwater recharge, and integrate water management into the city’s ecosystem.
4. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
   • SuDS or similar systems are increasingly being adopted worldwide to manage rainwater sustainably in urban areas. These systems encourage the capture, infiltration, and slow release of water, reducing pressure on traditional drainage systems and enhancing water quality.

Best Practices for Draining Large Sealed Surfaces in Urban Areas

1. Permeable Surfaces and Infiltration
   • Combining permeable surfaces with drainage systems helps manage water runoff in parks and city areas. Where sealed surfaces are necessary (like plazas or roads), linear drainage systems are essential to collect and channel rainwater efficiently.
2. Green Infrastructure Integration
   • Using features like rain gardens, green roofs, and bioswales alongside drainage systems creates a balance between natural water absorption and engineered drainage. This approach promotes sponge city principles by enhancing infiltration and reducing runoff.
3. Efficient Water Conveyance and Storage
   • In areas where large sealed surfaces (like plazas or streets) dominate, efficient linear drainage systems are required to quickly evacuate water and prevent pooling. Storage systems can be integrated to collect excess water for reuse or slow release into natural watercourses.

MEA Drainage Solutions for Parks and City Areas

MEA offers a range of drainage solutions that integrate well with sponge city principles, helping cities manage stormwater efficiently while promoting sustainability and resilience in urban environments.

1. MEARIN PLUS
   • MEARIN PLUS channels, made from durable and lightweight SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), offer an efficient solution for parks and pedestrian zones where both aesthetics and functionality are important. These channels are resistant to corrosion and chemical exposure, making them suitable for areas exposed to runoff with potential contaminants. Their modular design allows them to be easily integrated into urban landscapes, ensuring that water is collected and channeled away from sealed surfaces effectively.
2. MEARIN EXPERT
   • MEARIN EXPERT is particularly well-suited for areas that require robust drainage with higher hydraulic capacities, such as larger city plazas, roadways, or busy pedestrian zones. Its high resistance to chemicals and oils makes it a great choice for areas exposed to vehicular traffic. This channel can also handle heavier loads, ensuring durability and performance in urban settings where vehicles may pass over drainage channels.
3. MEADRAIN S
   • The MEADRAIN S system is ideal for public spaces like city streets and urban parks that require a drainage system capable of handling moderate to heavy loads while offering high water conveyance efficiency. The robust construction ensures longevity, and the system’s ability to handle larger volumes of water makes it suitable for stormwater management in sponge city designs.
4. MEADRAIN DM CITY
   • MEADRAIN DM CITY channels are specifically designed for urban environments with high water flow and load-bearing demands, such as city streets or areas near public transportation hubs. These channels help ensure that water is efficiently drained from sealed surfaces, such as roads, pedestrian pathways, and bike lanes, preventing flooding and surface water accumulation during heavy rainfall.
5. MEAKERB
   • The MEAKERB system offers an innovative combination of a kerb and drainage channel, which is ideal for urban areas with limited space. By integrating drainage directly into the kerb, MEAKERB provides a space-saving solution for city streets, plazas, and areas with high pedestrian traffic. The system can efficiently drain water from road surfaces while enhancing the aesthetics of urban streetscapes.
6. MEASTORM
   • MEASTORM is designed to handle large volumes of stormwater, making it an excellent solution for parks, city squares, and larger urban areas where heavy rainfall can overwhelm traditional drainage systems. It can be integrated into urban green spaces, allowing for effective water management while supporting the sponge city principle of water absorption and storage for future use.

Efficiency, Reliability, and Sustainability of MEA Drainage Solutions

• Drainage Efficiency: MEA drainage systems such as MEARIN PLUS, MEARIN EXPERT, MEADRAIN S, and MEADRAIN DM CITY provide high hydraulic performance, ensuring that water is quickly and efficiently removed from sealed surfaces, even during heavy rain events. This prevents pooling and flooding, which is essential in urban environments.
• Reliability: These drainage systems are built to handle different load classes, ensuring durability in both pedestrian zones and areas with vehicle traffic. Their resistance to chemicals and weathering means they perform reliably over time with minimal maintenance requirements.
• Sustainability: MEA’s drainage solutions align with sponge city principles by promoting water reuse and reducing runoff. Systems like MEASTORM and MEAKERB contribute to water management strategies that absorb and filter rainwater, helping to replenish groundwater and reducing the strain on traditional drainage networks.