As urban development grows, Melbourne Water is updating its water sensitive urban design (WSUD) resources to help the stormwater industry meet evolving environmental and stormwater management requirements, including the need to reduce runoff volume as well as manage water quality.
Updated WSUD resources for flow reduction
The SoK supports the uptake of innovative stormwater assets that reduce runoff volume – a key component of sustainable stormwater management.
The need for stormwater assets that not only manage water quality but also reduce runoff volume is higher than ever due to urban growth. The updated WSUD resource provides:
- High‑level design, maintenance and implementation advice for 6 asset types that deliver flow reduction benefits.
- Modelling approaches for assessing stormwater quantity.
- Clearer direction on how to model and report flow reductions, improving the quality and effectiveness of asset design.
These updates support more consistent assessment of volumetric performance across both new and existing stormwater assets.
Emerging Assets State of Knowledge (June 2025)
The final version of the Emerging Assets for Stormwater Flow Management – State of Knowledge (SoK) document is now available.
Developed by Melbourne Water, the Emerging Assets SoK supports the uptake of innovative stormwater assets that deliver flow reduction – a key component of sustainable stormwater management.
The document is designed to support developers, stormwater practitioners and councils by:
- Introducing innovative stormwater assets that slow runoff and reduce volume through water harvesting, enhanced evaporation or infiltration.
- Providing a shared understanding of how these assets function and how they should be modelled and assessed.
- Offering guidance for assessing the volumetric performance of both emerging and existing asset types.
This work is an early step in the transition to runoff reduction assets and does not provide detailed design advice. It sits within Melbourne Water’s broader stormwater program, which is designed to support industry in collectively achieving flow‑based stormwater targets. The SoK will be updated as the state of knowledge evolves.
Learn how to apply the Emerging Assets SoK
Want to learn more about the Emerging Assets State of Knowledge (SoK) and how to apply its principles in your projects?
Join our WSUD Assets Design training, where you’ll explore practical design applications for emerging stormwater assets, including permeable pavements, passively irrigated street trees and ephemeral wetlands. These sessions link directly to the modelling and flow‑reduction concepts outlined in the SoK, helping you translate guidance into real‑world designs.
