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SUSTAINABLE CITIES: BEST RUNOFF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES FOR THEIR APPLICATION IN BULGARIA

Emil Tsanov, Dobril Valchev, Boyan Borisov, Tanya Igneva

First published: 2025-08-15https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2025/6.1/s26.58View metrics

Abstract

The design of urban drainage systems in the European Union generally follows the requirements of the EN 752 standard. Nevertheless, it uses a classical approach that aims only to convey stormwater runoff away from the settlement boundaries, thus preventing local problems. On the other hand, global tendencies are oriented towards a more sustainable approach for climate-adaptive metropolitan infrastructure. To address problems like urban expansion, expected future heavy rainfall events, sewer overloading, flooding, and overflows from existing combined sewer systems, a number of countries have begun to adopt and incorporate modern runoff management practices into their strategic, legislative, policy and sewer design documents. This includes activities such as rainwater harvesting and reuse, infiltration and retention, which are based on several sewer design parameters that need to be changed conceptually altogether in the standard approach that is currently prevalent in Bulgaria. The paper discusses the shortcomings, and the steps needed to bring the Bulgarian sewerage legislation up to date with the best technologies and practices in terms of climate resilience, environment protection and flood risk management. The examined approaches and their ways of application in the specifics of Bulgaria would help sewerage design engineers and water operators to find the best solutions for reduction of the capital and operational costs, while achieving better functioning and climate-adapted sustainable sewerage systems.

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Publication details

Title
SUSTAINABLE CITIES: BEST RUNOFF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES FOR THEIR APPLICATION IN BULGARIA
Authors
Emil Tsanov, Dobril Valchev, Boyan Borisov, Tanya Igneva
Proceedings
25th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Proceedings SGEM 2025, Nano, Bio, Green, and Space Technologies for a Sustainable Future, Vol25, Issue 6.1
Publisher
STEF92 Technology
Year
2025
Pages
411-418
SWS Citekey
Tsanov202526411418
ISSN
1314-2704; 13142704
ISBN
9786197603873
Language
en
Publication type
Conference Paper
Proceedings contents
Open official contents
Keywords
EN 752rainwater harvestingstormwater runoffrunoff managementsustainable sewerage systems.
References18

  1. EN 752:2017, Drain and sewer systems outside buildings � European Committee for Standardization, 2017.

  2. National Statistical Institute (NSI). Population served by public sewerage systems, Bulgaria, annual data, 2023. Available online: https://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/ files/files/ data/timeseries/Ecology_9.8.xls (accessed June 2025).

  3. Directive (EU) 2024/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on urban wastewater treatment, amending Regulation (EU) 2020/741 and repealing Directive 91/271/EEC. Official Journal of the European Union, L 202, 25 April 2024.

  4. Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), Water Act of the Republic of Bulgaria. Promulgated in State Gazette No. 108 of December 29, 2006; last amended and supplemented in State Gazette No. 102 of December 8, 2023.

  5. MRDPW, Bulgarian Ordinance No. RD-02-20-8 from 17.05.2013 for the Design, Construction and Operation of Sewerage Systems, 2024.

  6. MRDPW, Bulgarian Ordinance No. 4 from 17.06.2005 for Design, Construction and Operation of Building Water and Sewerage Installations, 2005.

  7. Water UK, England, Design and Construction Guidance for foul and surface water sewers offered for adoption under the Code for adoption agreements for water and sewerage companies operating wholly or mainly in England ("the Code"), 2023.

  8. UK Legislation, Flood and Water Management Act, United Kingdom, 2010.

  9. CIRIA. The SuDS Manual (C753). Construction Industry Research and Information Association, London, UK, 2015.

  10. Irish Water, Code of Practice for Wastewater Infrastructure, 2020.

  11. DWA regulations, Worksheet DWA-A 118, Evaluation of the hydraulic performance of drainage systems, 2024.

  12. USA, New York stormwater management design manual, 2022. 13] USA, San Francisco Stormwater Management Requirements and Design Guidelines, 2016.

  13. USA, City of Chicago, Stormwater Management Ordinance Manual, 2024.

  14. Canada, Toronto, Design Criteria for Sewers and Watermains, 2021.

  15. City of Vancouver. Integrated Rainwater Management Plan, 2016.

  16. City of Calgary. Stormwater Management & Design Manual, 2019.

  17. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). National Stormwater BMP Database, Design Guidance for BMPs, 2024.

  18. Washington State Department of Ecology. Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, 2019

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