The construction of buildings and paved surfaces changes the natural water balance.Precipitation generates surface runoff and storm water instead of infiltrating into the soil.Storm water has come to be considered as a major source of pollution in lakes and streams inthe vicinity of urban areas. Reduction of pollutants in storm water is a key action in order toprotect sensitive recipients and maintain high water quality. Storm water is traditionallytransported by storm Sewers to the nearest recipient. In recent years the approach to stormwater management has changed; storm water should primarily be disposed of on site, throughlocal disposal of storm water, LOD. LOD is created by a combination of the function ofseveral smaller local facilities and the general Sewer system.

To the Sewer systems households, industries and other activities are connected. The wastewater is collected at treatment plants where a nutritious sludge is produced. The sludge does not only contain nutrients, but also hazardous substances originating from different activities in society. To reduce the flow of hazardous substances to treatment plants and to create a sustainable recycling of plant nutrients the Swedish Water & Wastewater Association has developed the certificate system REVAQ. This certificate requires a good quality of the sludge but also that the treatment plants maps the origin of the unwanted substances.

Krav om förbättrad spillvattenrening och städer som förgrenar sig över större områden är några av anledningarna till att dagens avloppsledningsnät får allt längre ledningssträckor. Att med gravitationens hjälp föra avloppsvatten framåt kräver ett kontinuerligt fall som vid långa avstånd kan innebära mycket schaktning, den ekonomiskt mest belastande delen vid nyinstallation av avloppsledningsnät. Ett fördelaktigt alternativ kan vara trycksatt avloppssystem, som sedan 70-talet har kompletterat de traditionella självfallssystem i kuperade och bergiga områden. På senare tid har trycksatt avloppsystem fått större användningsområde utanför sina etablerade bruksområden med anledning av skärpta krav på rening och kostnadseffektivitet. Självfallssystem är dock det mest använda avloppssystemet i urbana områden.

Stormwater in urban areas has been treated as a problem for a long time. The large proportion of impermeable surfaces inhibits the water from infiltrating in the ground to the same extent that it does in nature. This causes intensive surface flow during rain, which in turn causes inconveniences such as decreased accessability, floods and increased risk of desease spreading. Drainage through pipes is the traditional and usually functional metod for storm water disposal. That is as long as water flows are moderate. But precipitation varies naturally in amount and intensity and additional impermeable surfaces make some pipes insufficient for heavy or lasting precipitation.