Life Cycle Assessment of Green Infrastructure Approaches to Urban Runoff Treatment and Volume Reduction

Abstract

Urbanization and increasing impervious surface coverage have intensified stormwater runoff generation, flooding risks, and nonpoint source pollution in metropolitan environments, creating significant challenges for sustainable urban water management. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of green infrastructure approaches for urban runoff treatment and volume reduction to evaluate their environmental performance, resource efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The assessment framework examines various green infrastructure systems, including bioretention cells, permeable pavements, green roofs, rain gardens, and vegetated swales, across their complete lifecycle stages involving material production, construction, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life management. Key environmental indicators such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation potential, pollutant removal efficiency, land utilization, and ecological impact were analyzed to compare the sustainability performance of different stormwater management strategies. Hydrological and environmental performance evaluations demonstrated that green infrastructure systems significantly reduce runoff volume, improve groundwater recharge, and enhance removal of suspended solids, nutrients, and urban pollutants compared to conventional drainage systems. Comparative lifecycle analysis further revealed that nature-based stormwater management approaches achieve lower environmental burdens and improved resource efficiency through reduced energy demand and enhanced ecosystem services.