On this page:

What is Water Sensitive Urban Design?

Urban landscapes are largely covered by hard surfaces, such as roads and footpaths, that are impervious to water. This means that rainfall and surface runoff (from hoses, sprinklers, etc) has less opportunity to infiltrate soils, like what would occur in a natural environment.

Stormwater is the excess runoff in these urban landscapes, which is drained directly from hard surfaces into our waterways. It often carries untreated urban pollutants, such as oil, fertilisers and litter.

All of this, together with the timing and volume of stormwater runoff, can create harmful conditions for our aquatic environments.

Spotting the benefits

The challenge lies in how urban communities can benefit from this. Urban residents have a suggested daily water use target of 150 litres. They are further encouraged to use water wisely through state-wide permanent water saving rules. We can all play our role too, by remembering water is a precious and limited resource.

We can protect our waterways, improve water security and manage flood risk by reducing the amount of excess stormwater runoff. This integrated approach to urban planning that manages the quantity and quality of water within urban environments is known as water sensitive urban design (WSUD). It is a component of Integrated Water Management.

Capturing stormwater runoff improves our water security by utilising sustainable sources of water where high quality water is not required. For example, stormwater can be captured and used for watering sports fields, parkland and public gardens.

The use of stormwater to maintain plant-life in cities can also improve liveability. This is because greenery assists in urban cooling and reduces the ‘heat island’ effect.

Urban greenery also encourages biodiversity by attracting birds, insects and reptiles.

WSUD covers a range of features that can facilitate the harvesting and use of stormwater. It involves designing urban landscapes in such a way that allows stormwater to be naturally filtered by vegetation, gravel or sand, and possibly reused.

Some strategies that improve a city’s climate resistance include:

  • raingardens
  • rooftop gardens or green roofs
  • swales and infiltration trenches
  • raised boardwalks
  • porous pathways
  • rainwater tanks.

Case study

Fishermans Bend is developing into Australia’s largest water sensitive city. It uses these urban design strategies to reduce stormwater pollution and boost the urban ecology. This video explains how.

Watch the video

Fishermans Bend Water Sensitive City Strategy Animation (6 min 2 sec)

Meet the expert

Todd Berry of the Department of Transport and Planning discusses Water Sensitive Urban Design, his role on the Fishermans Bend Task Force, and how returning to studies led to a career working in water and sustainability.

Source: DEECA

Photo essay

Further resources

Below you can find a variety of resources to further research and understand Water Sensitive Urban Design.

Development Victoria – the building blocks from of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD).

Fishermans Bend Water Sensitive City Strategy – more about this exciting project.

How to build a rain garden – Melbourne Water offer tips for people who want their own raingarden.

Integrated Water Management – working together to create better outcomes for communities.

Introduction to WSUD – Melbourne Water cover planning, design, function and more.

Reimagining Your Creek Program – community and the environment coming together.

Stormwater management for urban development – working towards greener environments, healthier waterways and water security.

Urban Design Guidelines for Victoria – dig deeper into what goes into WSUD.

Using WSUD for large and small projects – how Melbourne Water and Knox City Council are working together.

A water sensitive city – how the City of Port Phillip is changing how it works with water.

WSUD in Frankston – WSUD is everywhere including on the Mornington Peninsula.

Wetlands and Water Sensitive Urban Design – Development Victoria take you through creating urban wetlands with stormwater.

Rain Garden Man Animation – City of Greater Dandenong has developed a short animated video about rain gardens.

Green Our Rooftop Project – watch as City of Melbourne transform 1 Treasury Place into a green rooftop.

Green Your Laneway Project Tour – see how City of Melbourne are greening the city.

Stormwater harvesting in Alexandra and Queen Victoria Gardens – City of Melbourne explain the underground systems in their parks and gardens.

Stormwater harvesting at Birrarung Marr – City of Melbourne explain how they collect stormwater at Birrarung Marr near Federation Square.

Alma Park Stormwater Harvesting System – Watch as an underground system is built by City of Port Phillip in St Kilda.

Page last updated: 16/09/25