Evaluating the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Low Impact Development Practices: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach for Stormwater Management in Barcelona

This research builds on findings presented at AGU 2024, focusing on “Climate Change Adaptation with Low Impact Development Measures: Assessing the Performance and Cost-Effectiveness of Rainwater Harvesting Systems at Microscale in Barcelona.” It evaluates the effectiveness of Low Impact Development (LID) practices in stormwater management and ecosystem service provision, addressing critical knowledge gaps in life cycle impacts and economic feasibility.

The study aims to: a) compare environmental indicators, b) identify key factors influencing these indicators, c) propose management solutions to reduce environmental impacts using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and d) assess the economic benefits of LID practices in terms of reduced long-term revenue needs for stormwater management and lower operational and maintenance costs for current and future infrastructure.

The LCA method evaluates the ecological impacts of three LID strategies: a) Bio-Retention Cells, b) Rain Gardens, and c) Infiltration Trenches. Assessed impacts include global warming potential, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, smog formation, resource depletion, ecotoxicity, and implications for human health. The analysis employs SimaPro software and the CML-IA baseline 3.01/EU25 model, with Monte Carlo analysis ensuring robust results.

This perspective underscores the need to integrate LID practices into urban planning to mitigate environmental impacts associated with stormwater runoff. By combining a life-cycle perspective with advanced analytical tools, it provides actionable insights for sustainable stormwater management and urban resilience. Preliminary findings suggest significant cost savings (15–80%) compared to conventional stormwater management approaches, primarily due to reduced grading, paving, and landscaping costs.