Green infrastructure systems are increasingly used to mitigate the impacts of climate change in urban environments, including flooding, drought, heat stress, and declining water quality. These systems are typically designed to provide water quantity benefits via enhanced infiltration or groundwater recharge, and water quality benefits via pollutants removal through filter media or their degradation by soil microorganisms and plants. Conventional green infrastructures, however, are not designed to operate or provide stable performance under climatic conditions that deviate significantly from historical averages. Despite the growing frequency and severity of climate extremes associated with global warming, green infrastructure designs are seldom adapted to account for these changing conditions. Both drought and intense precipitation events challenge the ability of urban water systems to effectively store, treat, and reuse water to meet present and future demands. With innovative design and strategic implementation, however, green infrastructure can provide resilient local water supplies while also supporting long-term water storage needs, including reservoirs for wildfire response. This presentation examines the use of engineered amendments, including biochar and lightweight aggregates, to improve the resilience and performance of green infrastructure systems. These materials can enhance infiltration during high-intensity rainfall while simultaneously increasing plant-available water during drought conditions. In addition, the proposed designs improve the removal of emerging contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS, alongside legacy pollutants including metals and excess nutrients. Thus, green infrastructure design manuals must be updated to incorporate climate resilience and ensure reliable performance under future climate conditions.
Dr. Sanjay Mohanty is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research broadly examines how weather and climate extremes, such as wildfires, drought, and flooding, affect the transport of emerging pollutants, including PFAS and microplastics, in the environment. His research team utilizes these concepts to develop climate-resilient green infrastructures to increase water availability and protect human health.
