Infill development in Adelaide leads to significant drainage standard reduction.
The Frederick Street catchment in Adelaide has seen significant changes due to infill development since the 1960s. The drainage system designed back then has become less effective as the directly connected impervious area has doubled, leading to a drop in the drainage standard. By using aerial photography and modeling, researchers found that the flow rates for rain events have decreased from a 5-year to close to a 2-year Average Recurrence Interval. Ongoing work is being done to find ways to lessen the impact of development on the catchment.
