Craig, L, 2011 –– The Viability of Biofiltration Stormwater Management Systems in Informal Settlements in South Africa
Biofiltration stormwater systems are not a new concept internationally in the engineering and landscape architectural fields. The system relies on the system services of wetlands for the detention and purifying of water. Installed systems have proved to manage stormwater efficiently and improved the water quality of river systems in the urban setting (Brown & Clarke, 2007).
Despite the success of biofiltration systems they have not been adopted widely, and most government departments are wary of converting from traditional stormwater infrastructure for a range of different reasons.
Site visits were conducted to Orient Hills, an informal settlement in the North West, and interviews and a focus group conducted with residents of the settlement. Interviews were also conducted with members of the local municipality.
About Liezl Craig
Liezl is a landscape architect and currently works for a landscape architecture company. This particular background ignited her interest in the possible benefits of the creation of natural systems in informal settlements. Liezl's study focuses on the viability of using biofiltration stormwater systems in tackling some of the prevailing problems in informal settlements.
