This thesis explored the potential of four Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) ponds,
and four non-SUDS pond, to deliver key Ecosystem benefits, and services. Sustainable
Urban Drainage Systems are designed to improve water quality, and provide amenity,
biodiversity, and flood alleviation benefits. Ecosystem Services (ES) refer to the end
user benefits associated with an ecosystem, and which are of direct use for humans.
Within the context of this study, the key Ecosystem Service (ES) is water quality
regulation which was considered using the proxies of macroinvertebrates and diatoms.
An additional Ecosystem Service is wild species diversity which involved monitoring
and evaluating flowering plants in relation to pollination.
The project had four main research questions (RQ), and each was supported by its own
research methodology. First the effectiveness of water quality regulation in SUDS and
non-SUDS ponds using Average Score per Taxon was monitored (RQ1); secondly,
nutrient removal services was observed between pond inlets and outlets, and potential
indicators for reference, disturbed, and toxicity (RQ 2) for the ES of water quality
regulation. RQ3 considered the potential for ponds to support flowering plants suitable
for pollinators for the ES of wild species diversity. RQ4 focussed on the public
perception survey, and willingness to pay for the multiple benefits of ponds and
evaluated these in relation to the Whole Life Cost of the pond.
RQ1 revealed that median values were higher for SUDS ponds than non SUDS ponds
but not of statistical significance (p>0.05). For RQ2, median diatom counts were not
statistically significant between SUDS and non SUDS ponds (p>0.05). There was a
statistical difference between median observations for plants suitable for insect
pollinators (p0.05). RQ4 revealed that habitat
provision benefits outweighed costs for SUDS and non SUDS ponds in relation to
Whole Life Cost analysis.
The proposed framework, resulting from this research, may be used to inform local
decision making and policy for SUDS design. This research aids the understanding of
valuing ponds in relation to ecosystem benefits and services. It also highlights the
significance of incorporating disadvantages into economic assessment; particularly
where direct comparisons are made between ponds
