Selecting SUDS in the Valencia Region of Spain

This paper reports on a study of the implementation of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in two Spanish towns (Xàtiva and Benaguasil) as part of the EU LIFE+ Project AQUAVAL, which has been conceived to introduce examples of sustainable drainage to the Valencia Region of Spain. Six sites in a range of common urban spaces and land uses are selected and appropriate SUDS techniques proposed by means of a decision-support process. This primarily consisted of the systematic application of key selection criteria through matrices and scores, followed by a brief sustainability analysis. Stakeholders’ preferences and opinions as well as educational and social opportunities are highly considered throughout the process. General monitoring requirements and major limitations in using the methodology are outlined, stressing the need for improvement of four main aspects: local data regarding SUDS performance, detail of the sustainability analysis, support through comprehensive modelling tools, and level of stakeholder engagement. The importance of creating showcases for SUDS in Mediterranean Regions, thus adapting key selection criteria as to foster sustainable drainage understanding and expertise is highlighted

A regenerative urban stormwater management methodology. The role of SuDS construction and monitoring in the transition of a Mediterranean city

Tesis por compendio[EN] Under the well-known slogan 'think global, act local', cities in the 21st century face the enor-mous challenge of catalyzing, intensifying and accelerating sustainable urban transformations. Without losing a holistic view, the methodology presented in this thesis places the focus on 're-source management and climate mitigation and adaptation', in particular in urban stormwater management, proposing processes that can bring about the required change, shaped by the place-based approach of the regenerative sustainability paradigm. Building upon literature and practice that supports a flexible approach to stormwater manage-ment in urban environments that mimic natural processes and predevelopment hydrology (Sus-tainable Drainage Systems, SuDS) as one way to, amongst others, help to prevent and adapt to climate change, the thesis highlights the relevance of the connection to the place for adoption of best practices that conduct towards a regenerative system. Hence, it incorporates this con-nection to the place to the SuDS representation, naming it the SuDS 'landed rocket'. The proposed methodology includes a conceptual framework, specific method and tools, that allows for the understanding and the characterization of the current situation of a urban stormwater system in a process that guides future actions to move towards the desired regen-erative urban built environment concept, with a place-based holistic view. This methodology has been applied to Benaguasil, a Mediterranean city, where stormwater management is the local authority's responsibility and has been historically guided by main-stream conventional drainage practices. The thesis shows how, by taking a multi-dimensional and trans-disciplinary approach to solve environmental problems, future actions can be proper-ly addressed. Working with academia has been essential to develop wider evidence base. In this case, a sequence of research projects has advanced the innovative approach to stormwater management in Benaguasil, but it is contended that this methodology could be applied to any urban context. The thesis aims to enhance smart governance by providing information about the successful implementation and monitoring of SuDS showcase sites in Mediterranean Spain. These show-case sites are catalysts in the transition towards regenerative urban built environments in the region. In addition, it provides international examples that add further credence for improved urban ecological infrastructure by demonstrating what success can look like.[ES] Bajo el conocido eslogan 'piensa global, actúa local', las ciudades del siglo XXI se enfrentan al gran reto de catalizar, intensificar y acelerar las transformaciones hacia un urbanismo sostenible. Desde una perspectiva holística, la metodología presentada en esta tesis se centra en 'la gestión de los recursos y la adaptación y mitigación al cambio climático', en particular en la gestión de las escorrentías urbanas, proponiendo los procesos que pueden ayudar al cambio requerido, bajo el enfoque del paradigma de la sostenibilidad regenerativa local. A partir de las referencias bibliográficas y experiencias que avalan a los Sistemas de Drenaje Sostenible (SuDS) como enfoque flexible a la gestión de las escorrentías urbanas, tratando de mimetizar los procesos hidrológicos previos al desarrollo urbano (que entre otros, contribuyen a la prevención y adaptación frente al cambio climático de las ciudades), la tesis subraya la relevancia de la conexión con el lugar para la selección de las mejores soluciones que lo conduzcan hacia un sistema regenerativo. Así, se incorpora esta conexión con el lugar a la representación de los SuDS, dándole el nombre de 'SuDS landed rocket'. La metodología propuesta incluye un marco conceptual, un método y herramientas específicas que permiten el entendimiento y caracterización de la situación actual de un sistema de drenaje urbano en un proceso que guíe acciones futuras para progresar hacia el concepto del medioambiente urbano regenerativo deseado, con una perspectiva holística local. La metodología se ha aplicado en Benaguasil, una ciudad mediterránea, donde la gestión del agua de lluvia es responsabilidad local y que ha estado influenciada históricamente por prácticas convencionales de drenaje. La tesis muestra cómo adoptando un enfoque multidimensional y multidisciplinar para resolver problemas medioambientales, las acciones futuras se pueden plantear correctamente. El trabajo con las instituciones académicas se ha demostrado esencial para desarrollar evidencias de base más amplias. En este caso, una serie de proyectos de investigación ha permitido el avance de Benaguasil hacia una gestión del agua de lluvia más innovadora. La experiencia demuestra que la metodología podría ser aplicada a cualquier otro contexto urbano. La tesis pretende mejorar la gobernanza inteligente proveyendo información respecto de la implementación y monitorización exitosas de SuDS en experiencias piloto en la España mediterránea. Estas demostraciones son catalizadoras de la transición hacia un medio ambiente urbano regenerativo en la región. Además, presenta ejemplos que se añaden al catálogo internacional de experiencias, mostrando el camino del éxito hacia un entorno urbano más saludable y habitable.[CA] Sota el conegut lema 'pensa global, actua local', les ciutats del segle XXI s'enfronten al gran repte de catalitzar, intensificar i accelerar les transformacions cap a un urbanisme sostenible. Des d'una perspectiva holística, la metodologia presentada en esta tesis es centra en 'la gestió dels recursos i la adaptació i mitigació al canvi climàtic', en particular en la gestió de les escorrenties urbanes, proposant processos que poden ajudar al canvi requés, des d'una òptica del paradigma de la sostenibilitat regenerativa local. A partir de les referències bibliogràfiques i experiències que avalen els Sistemes de Drenatge Sostenible (SuDS) com una aproximació flexible a la gestió de les escorrenties urbanes, tractant de mimetitzar els processos hidrològics previs al desenvolupament urbà (que entre altres, contribueixen a la prevenció i adaptació al canvi climàtic de les ciutats), la tesis subratlla la rellevància de la connexió al lloc per a la selecció de les millors solucions que el puguen conduir cap a un sistema regeneratiu. D'esta manera, s'incorpora esta connexió al lloc en la representació dels SuDS, donant-li el nom de 'SuDS landed rocket'. La metodologia proposta inclou un marc conceptual, un mètode i unes eines especifiques que permeten l'enteniment i caracterització de la situació actual d'un sistema de drenatge urbà en un procés que guie accions futures per a progressar cap al concepte de medi ambient urbà regeneratiu desitjat, amb una perspectiva holística local. La metodologia s'ha aplicat a Benaguasil, una ciutat mediterrània, on la gestió de l'aigua de pluja és responsabilitat local, i que ha estat influenciada històricament per pràctiques convencionals de drenatge. La tesis mostra com adoptant un punt de mira multidimensional i multidisciplinari per a resoldre problemes medi ambientals, les accions futures es poden plantejar correctament. El treball amb les institucions acadèmiques s'ha demostrat essencial per a crear evidències de base més amples. En este cas, una sèrie de projectes europeus d'investigació ha permès l'avanç de Benaguasil cap a una gestió de l'aigua de pluja més innovadora. L'experiència demostra que la metodologia podria ser aplicada a qualsevol altre context urbà. La tesis pretén millorar la governança intel¿ligent aportant informació respecte de la implementació i monitorització exitoses de SuDS en experiències pilot en la Espanya mediterrània. Estes demostracions son catalitzadores de la transició cap a un medi ambient urbà regeneratiu en la regió. A més a més, presenta exemples que s'afegeixen al catàleg internacional d'experiències, mostrant el camí del èxit cap a un entorn urbà més saludable i habitable.Perales Momparler, CS. (2015). A regenerative urban stormwater management methodology. The role of SuDS construction and monitoring in the transition of a Mediterranean city [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/59063TESISCompendi

Enhancing local action planning through quantitative flood risk analysis: a case study in Spain

[EN] This article presents a method to incorporate and promote quantitative risk analysis to support local action planning against flooding. The proposed approach aims to provide a framework for local flood risk analysis, combining hazard mapping with vulnerability data to quantify risk in terms of expected annual affected population, potential injuries, number of fatalities, and economic damages. Flood risk is estimated combining GIS data of loads, system response, and consequences and using event tree modelling for risk calculation. The study area is the city of Oliva, located on the eastern coast of Spain. Results from risk modelling have been used to inform local action planning and to assess the benefits of structural and non-structural risk reduction measures. Results show the potential impact on risk reduction of flood defences and improved warning communication schemes through local action planning: societal flood risk (in terms of annual expected affected population) would be reduced up to 51% by combining both structural and nonstructural measures. In addition, the effect of seasonal population variability is analysed (annual expected affected population ranges from 82 to 107 %, compared with the current situation, depending on occupancy rates in hotels and campsites). Results highlight the need for robust and standardized methods for urban flood risk analysis replicability at regional and national scale.This research was conducted within the framework of the INICIA project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BIA2013-48157-C2-1-R). The article processing charges for this open-access publication will be covered by the INICIA project. We would like to thank the city of Oliva for their willingness to share data, knowledge, and experience with the authors and for initiating this risk-informed journey.Castillo-Rodríguez, J.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Perales Momparler, S.; Porta-Sancho, J. (2016). Enhancing local action planning through quantitative flood risk analysis: a case study in Spain. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 16(7):1699-1718. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-1699-2016S16991718167Barredo, J. I.: Normalised flood losses in Europe: 1970–2006, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 9, 97–104, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-9-97-2009, 2009.Castillo-Rodriguez, J. T., Escuder-Bueno, I., Altarejos-García, L., and Serrano-Lombillo, A.: The value of integrating information from multiple hazards for flood risk analysis and management, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. 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Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems in Spain: A Diagnosis

ABSTRACT: Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) were almost unknown in Spain two decades ago; today, urban drainage in the country is transitioning towards a more sustainable and regenerative management in a global context where green policies are gaining prominence. This research establishes a diagnosis of SUDS in Spain and examines the extent to which the country is moving towards the new paradigm in three dimensions: (a) the governance and social perception of the community, (b) the regulative background, and (c) the implementation and the technical performance of SUDS. The diagnosis identifies barriers that hinder the change. Then, we define the challenges that Spain has to face to overcome obstacles that delay the transition. Barriers to the governance sphere are related to the lack of involvement, knowledge, and organisational responsibilities. Within the regulative framework, the absence of national standards hinders the general implementation at the national scale, although few regional and local authorities are taking steps in the right direction with their own regulations. From the technical perspective, SUDS performance within the Spanish context was determined, although some shortcomings are still to be investigated. Despite the slowdown caused by the hard recession periods and the more recent political instability, SUDS implementation in Spain is today a fact, and the country is close to reaching the stabilisation stage.This research is developed within the framework of the Spanish Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017–2020, project HOFIDRAIN (Holistic characterization of filtering sections for smart and sustainable management of urban drainage systems at city scale) through the sub-projects ENGODRAIN (grant number RTI2018-094217-B-C31), MELODRAIN (grant number RTI2018-094217-B-C32) and POREDRAIN (grant number RTI2018-094217-B-C33) funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The APC was funded by the ENGODRAIN (RTI2018-094217-BC31) project

Design of water reuse storage facilities in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems from a volumetric water balance perspective

[EN] This paper presents a methodology for designing water reuse storage facilities as part of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in urban catchments. The method analyzes the whole water balance of the catchment. The contributions to the balance are irrigation and precipitation; the outlets are evapotranspiration, seepage and discharge to the conventional sewage system. The internal system variations are the volume of water to be locally reutilized and the soil water content variation. A cost function that includes the costs of irrigation, discharge to the conventional sewer system and reuse of water locally is proposed to estimate the optimum volume of water to be reused. This approach for SUDS design goes beyond traditional events-based perspectives oriented to damage prevention. This method conceives stormwater as a resource and seeks its optimal use through the design of SUDS. Several types of urban catchments were studied, and the results show that the proposed methodology can be applied either for simulating SUDS behavior in urban catchments or for estimating the optimum volume of water to be locally reused. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This research was partially developed within the LIFE CERSUDS project and was financed by the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 of the European Union for the Environment and Climate Action [LIFE15 CCA/ES/000091].Zubelzu, S.; Rodríguez Sinobas, L.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Castillo-Rodríguez, J.; Perales Momparler, S. (2019). Design of water reuse storage facilities in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems from a volumetric water balance perspective. The Science of The Total Environment. 663:133-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.342S13314366

Decision Support Tool for energy-efficient, sustainable and integrated urban stormwater management

[EN] The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) to manage urban runoff and contribute to environmental and landscape improvement is now widely known, but its application is still limited in many regions, like in Mediterranean countries. In addition, there is a lack of Decision Support Tools that consider all their benefits in the decision making process in a clear and integrated holistic way. In this paper, the (ESTORMED)-S-2 Decision Support Tool is presented. This tool analyses the impact of stormwater management in the urban environment and introduces energetic and environmental criteria in the decision making process. Therefore, it aims to fill in the existing "gap" between SuDS manuals and guidelines and regional and local decision makers, since it quantifies SuDS benefits and includes them in the comparison of different stormwater scenarios. Finally, the results of applying this tool to compare drainage infrastructures in a real urban development are described. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The E2STORMED project (Reference: 1C-MED12-14), within which the Decision Support Tool described in this paper has been developed, was funded by the MED Programme of the European Union. Authors would also like to express their gratitude to the E2STORMED project partners for their assistance and collaboration in this work.Morales Torres, A.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Perales Momparler, S. (2016). Decision Support Tool for energy-efficient, sustainable and integrated urban stormwater management. Environmental Modelling & Software. 84:518-528. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.07.019S5185288

Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution

[EN] Stormwater management in cities has traditionally been based on centralized systems, evacuating runoff as quickly as possible through drainage networks that collect and convey the runoff to the final point of treatment or the receiving water body. In recent years, a different approach focused on the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) represents a paradigm shift, promoting a decentralized management as close to the runoff source as possible. Among these techniques, permeable pavements represent an effective solution for reducing runoff and providing pollutant treatment. This contribution describes the results obtained from an innovative ceramic permeable pavement developed as part of the LIFE CERSUDS project in the city of Benicassim (Spain). This pavement, composed by modules built from ceramic tiles in stock, allows water infiltration, runoff treatment and water reuse as part of a SUDS built in 2018 and monitored from September 2018 to September 2019. The purpose of the research was to demonstrate the hydraulic performance of the proposed solution through monitoring of runoff quantity and quality variables. Monitoring data analysis have shown positive results, reducing peak runoff rates and the volume of water which is conducted downstream. From the hydrological point of view, the system capacity shown a 100% runoff management for events up to 15-25 mm of precipitation. This is a very significant threshold since these values represent, respectively, the 81% and 91% percentiles for the study area. System performance was confirmed in terms of runoff management and water infiltration. This demonstration case study represents a reference example of urban retrofitting actions which integrate social, economic and environmental aspects.This research was developed within the LIFE CERSUDS project and was financed by the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 of the European Union for the Environment and Climate Action [Reference LIFE15 CCA/ES/000091] with the collaboration of the Generalitat Valenciana through IVACE.Castillo-Rodríguez, JT.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Martín Monerris, M.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Perales-Momparler, S.; Mira-Peidro, J. (2021). Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution. Water Resources Management. 35(4):1251-1271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02778-7S1251127135

SuDS efficiency during the start-up period under Mediterranean climatic conditions

[EN] This paper presents the performance of a number of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in the city of Xàtiva in the Valencia Region of Spain relatively soon after their construction. The systems studied comprise two roadside swales, one detention basin receiving runoff from one of the swales and one green roof to a school. The SuDS were installed under an EU LIFEþ project intended to demonstrate their practicability, application, and behavior under Mediterranean rainfall conditions. Most of the systems installed were in new developments but the green roof was retrofitted to a school within Xàtiva, which is a dense urban area. Full flow monitoring was undertaken and spot samples were taken to give a preliminary assessment of water quality performance. The early results presented in the paper demonstrate the effectiveness of the systems under typical Mediterranean conditions, which comprise intense rainfall from September to December and little or no precipitation at other times of the year. It is concluded that SuDS can be effectively introduced in the Mediterranean region of Spain.The research described in this paper has been carried out under the Life+ program research project "AQUAVAL Sustainable Urban Water Management Plans, promoting SUDS and considering climate change, in the province of Valencia" (Life08ENV/E/000099), supported by ERDF funding of the European Union.Perales Momparler, S.; Hernández Crespo, C.; Vallés Morán, FJ.; Martín Monerris, M.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Andreu Álvarez, J.; Jefferies, C. (2014). SuDS efficiency during the start-up period under Mediterranean climatic conditions. CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water. 42(2):178-186. doi:10.1002/clen.201300164S178186422Boletin Oficial del Estado 2012Czemiel Berndtsson, J. (2010). Green roof performance towards management of runoff water quantity and quality: A review. Ecological Engineering, 36(4), 351-360. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.12.014Davis, A. P., Stagge, J. H., Jamil, E., & Kim, H. (2012). Hydraulic performance of grass swales for managing highway runoff. Water Research, 46(20), 6775-6786. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.10.017Casal-Campos, A., Jefferies, C., & Perales Momparler, S. (2012). Selecting SUDS in the Valencia Region of Spain. Water Practice and Technology, 7(1). doi:10.2166/wpt.2012.001Gomez-Ullate, E., Castillo-Lopez, E., Castro-Fresno, D., & Bayon, J. R. (2010). Analysis and Contrast of Different Pervious Pavements for Management of Storm-Water in a Parking Area in Northern Spain. Water Resources Management, 25(6), 1525-1535. doi:10.1007/s11269-010-9758-xCastro-Fresno, D., Andrés-Valeri, V., Sañudo-Fontaneda, L., & Rodriguez-Hernandez, J. (2013). Sustainable Drainage Practices in Spain, Specially Focused on Pervious Pavements. Water, 5(1), 67-93. doi:10.3390/w5010067Rowe, D. B. (2011). Green roofs as a means of pollution abatement. Environmental Pollution, 159(8-9), 2100-2110. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.10.029Deletic, A. (2001). Modelling of water and sediment transport over grassed areas. Journal of Hydrology, 248(1-4), 168-182. doi:10.1016/s0022-1694(01)00403-6Stagge, J. H., Davis, A. P., Jamil, E., & Kim, H. (2012). Performance of grass swales for improving water quality from highway runoff. Water Research, 46(20), 6731-6742. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.02.037Kim, L.-H., Zoh, K.-D., Jeong, S., Kayhanian, M., & Stenstrom, M. K. (2006). Estimating Pollutant Mass Accumulation on Highways during Dry Periods. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 132(9), 985-993. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9372(2006)132:9(985)Brodie, I. M., & Dunn, P. K. (2010). Commonality of rainfall variables influencing suspended solids concentrations in storm runoff from three different urban impervious surfaces. Journal of Hydrology, 387(3-4), 202-211. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.04.008Zuo, X., Fu, D., Li, H., & Singh, R. P. (2011). Distribution Characteristics of Pollutants and Their Mutual Influence in Highway Runoff. CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water, 39(10), 956-963. doi:10.1002/clen.201000422Sansalone, J. J., Koran, J. M., Smithson, J. A., & Buchberger, S. G. (1998). Physical Characteristics of Urban Roadway Solids Transported during Rain Events. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 124(5), 427-440. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9372(1998)124:5(427)Sansalone, J. J., & Cristina, C. M. (2004). First Flush Concepts for Suspended and Dissolved Solids in Small Impervious Watersheds. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 130(11), 1301-1314. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9372(2004)130:11(1301)BERNDTSSON, J., EMILSSON, T., & BENGTSSON, L. (2006). The influence of extensive vegetated roofs on runoff water quality. Science of The Total Environment, 355(1-3), 48-63. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.02.035Vijayaraghavan, K., Joshi, U. M., & Balasubramanian, R. (2012). A field study to evaluate runoff quality from green roofs. Water Research, 46(4), 1337-1345. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.12.05

A regenerative urban stormwater management methodology: the journey of a Mediterranean city

Urban drainage patterns are altered by increasing urbanization and rapid conveyance and discharge of runoff, leading to increased flood risk, diminish of aquifer recharge and degradation of receiving waterways. These effects are expected to escalate with climate change. In response, alternative and more sustainable drainage practices with a holistic approach have been developed, although their wide-scale implementation has been limited largely due to socio-institutional barriers. This paper presents an innovative regenerative urban stormwater methodology for transition management at city level, containing two main enablers to overcome the barriers that drag out progress. First, a structured set of activities, the 'wheel', to guide and document the process, which is steered by a group of regional actors. Then, a visual and effective set of indicators that monitors and assesses the progress achieved and identifies the strategies to move forward. Its successful application to Benaguasil, a Mediterranean city, reveals that by integrating the views and strategies from actors at different but interconnected scales and following a structured but flexible methodology, it is possible to make progress in only few years and have a promising future ahead. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research has been conducted as part of the Life+ program project "AQUAVAL: Sustainable Urban Water Management Plans, promoting SUDS and considering climate change, in the province of Valencia" (Life08ENV/E/000099) and the MED program project "E2STORMED: Improvement of energy efficiency in the water cycle by the use of innovative storm water management in smart Mediterranean cities" (1C-MED12-14), both supported by ERDF funding of the European Union.Perales Monparler, S.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Andreu Álvarez, J.; Escuder Bueno, I. (2015). A regenerative urban stormwater management methodology: the journey of a Mediterranean city. Journal of Cleaner Production. 109:174-189. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.039S17418910

The role of monitoring sustainable drainage systems for promoting transition towards regenerative urban built environments: a case study in the Valencian region, Spain

[EN] Sustainable drainage systems are an alternative and holistic approach to conventional urban stormwater management that use and enhance natural processes to mimic pre-development hydrology, adding a number of well-recognized, although not so often quantified benefits. However, transitions towards regenerative urban built environments that widely incorporate sustainable drainage systems are "per se" innovative journeys that encounter barriers which include the limited evidence on the performance of these systems which, in many countries, are still unknown to professionals and decision makers. A further important barrier is the frequently poor interaction among stakeholders; key items such as sustainable drainage systems provide collective benefits which also demand collective efforts. With the aim of overcoming such innovation-driven barriers, six showcase projects (including rain gardens acting as infiltration basins, swales and a green roof) to demonstrate the feasibility and suitability of sustainable drainage systems were developed and/or retrofitted in two cities of the Valencian region of Spain as a part of an European project, and their performance was monitored for a year. The data acquired, after being fully analyzed and presented to a group of key regional stakeholders, is proving to be a valuable promoter of the desired transition (for instance in influencing the support to SuDS in recent regional legislation). This paper presents detailed data on how these urban ecological drainage infrastructure elements reduce runoff (peak flows and volumes) and improve its quality, contributing to the goal of healthier and livable cities. The data show that the pilots have good hydraulic performance under a typical Mediterranean climate and also provided water quality benefits. Furthermore, it shows how engagement can contribute to smarter governance in the sense of smoothing the difficulties faced by innovation when being presented, understood, and endorsed by professionals and decision-makers in the field of stormwater management. Finally, activities undertaken in the demonstration sites monitored, show how they have been drivers of innovation and transition towards a new stormwater paradigm in Spain, serving as a reference to other urban areas in the Mediterranean. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research has been conducted as part of the Life+ program project "AQUAVAL: Sustainable Urban Water Management Plans, promoting SUDS and considering climate change, in the province of Valencia" (Life08ENV/E/000099) and the MED program project "E2STORMED: Improvement of energy efficiency in the water cycle by the use of innovative stormwater management in smart Mediterranean cities" (1C-MED12-14), both supported by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding of the European Union.Momparler Perales, S.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Hernández Crespo, C.; Vallés-Morán, FJ.; Martín Monerris, M.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Andreu Álvarez, J. (2017). The role of monitoring sustainable drainage systems for promoting transition towards regenerative urban built environments: a case study in the Valencian region, Spain. Journal of Cleaner Production. 163:113-124. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.153S11312416