Monash University shares recent research into how water sensitive urban design and stormwater tool eWater MUSIC™ models biofiltration systems – which play a key role in reducing peak flows, pollutant loads, and runoff volume.
Bioretention systems play a crucial role in mitigating urbanisation and climate change effects by managing stormwater, according to a research paper from Monash University’s Department of Civil Engineering, which deep dives into the capabilities of our stormwater tool, eWater MUSIC™ and the potential to enhance its climate-resilient modelling in biofiltration systems.
We are always seeking feedback from our extensive user community on ways to improve our water management tools, and we welcome this paper from Monash University, one of 15 universities teaching MUSIC.
The paper evaluates whether the industry-standard eWater MUSIC tool accurately represents climate change impacts on bioretention systems and how it can be improved to be an effective tool for climate resilience stormwater management.
Through a comprehensive review of the literature and technical documentation, the paper identifies gaps in MUSIC’s current modelling approach, and proposes conceptual methods to enhance its ability to account for temperature-dependent processes and seasonal variations.
A leading software tool for stormwater quality modelling, MUSIC is integral to the development approval process. Designed to assess Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures, it simulates treatment options, such as rain gardens, wetlands, and biofiltration systems, effectively reducing pollutants like sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen from urban runoff.
Grounded in decades of Australian research, the tool’s strength lies in its ability to evaluate urbanisation’s impact on stormwater quality and identify the most effective treatment strategies. It helps councils determine the optimal combination of WSUD measures to reduce contaminant loads, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect waterways.
Some of the key findings of this paper found that:
- MUSIC effectively models rainfall-runoff changes when user-provided rainfall/inflow projections are incorporated.
- The study highlights areas for improving MUSIC’s pollutant reduction accuracy in Biofiltration, particularly by accounting for temperature-dependent biogeochemical processes. Potential enhancements could include integrating temperature-sensitive calculations for more precise water quality predictions.
- To enhance MUSIC’s capability, future updates could incorporate seasonal variations in vegetation, temperature-dependent pollutant reduction rates, and improved modelling of prolonged dry conditions
The paper recommends future research should focus on refining MUSIC’s pollutant reduction accuracy by integrating temperature, seasonal dynamics, and system sizing considerations. This would improve MUSIC’s effectiveness as a tool for climate-resilient stormwater management.
We welcome feedback and are continuously finding ways to improve MUSIC. We are listening to our user community and stakeholders on how we can enhance and deliver a product that meets the challenges facing our communities and our customers in water resource management.
eWater Group is committed to meeting our customer needs and continuously enhance eWater MUSIC’s capabilities, ensuring it remains Australia’s leading stormwater quality modelling tool.
The full paper will be released at MODSIM 2025 in Adelaide.
Learn more about eWater MUSIC: https://ewater.org.au/ewater-solutions/tools/music/
Photo Credit: BTM WTB
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