Evaluation of Urban Development Impacts on Runoff Using SWMM Model (Case Study: Qom Province)

In a natural watershed, most of the surface is impervious and covered with vegetation, so a large amount of precipitation is lost through plant interception, infiltration into soil and evapotranspiration. However, in an urban watershed due to urbanization, impervious surface of the watershed increases, which tends to increase the volume of runoff and peak discharge, the erosion of the bed and the edges in the downward of canals, and decrease in water level as well as degradation of water quality. The purpose of this research is to apply SWMM simulation for estimating runoff and runoff hydrograph and the effects of land cover changes and low impact development tools on hydrologic response of urban watersheds.

In this research, implementation of SWMM model in one of the urban areas of Qom was considered. The study area is 256 hectares in northwestern part of Qom.

In this study, it was concluded that in sub watershed of 2 and 6, the increase of 70% and 40% in impervious surfaces resulted in 30% increase in runoff volume. Also, 10% increase in impervious area of upstream and downstream of watershed tends to 6/51% and 6/87% increase in peak discharge volume, respectively. The use of storage devices has also had a significant impact on reducing urban runoff.

The results of SWMM model in urban runoff estimation indicate that in order to properly manage runoff in arid areas, the status and location effects of land use on urban runoff rate as well as the use of rain storage tools in these areas should be considered.