Jan Jeppesen from ALECTIA has on August 20, 2010 defended his PhD thesis with the title "Quantitative hydrological effects of urbanization and stormwater infiltration in Copenhagen, Denmark". The study was carried out at the Department of Earth Science, University of Aarhus.

The project included the development of a model capable of simulating the urban hydrological system and the consequences of using Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to manage stormwater runoff by local treatment, infiltration, evapotranspiration, delaying, and reuse. The use of SUDS is predicted to be an advantageous solution compared to sewers, which can flow over and cause floods in major rain events - a problem that will worsen with future climate changes.

The assessment of the applicability of SUDS in a specific urban district requires knowledge of the given and future hydrologic conditions. For instance, knowledge is required about the response of the groundwater levels caused by infiltration of stormwater runoff.

The PhD project is a part of the research project 2BG - Black, Blue & Green - Integrated infrastructure planning as key to sustainable urban water systems (www.2bg.dk). The 2BG project explores the possibility for a paradigm shift within urban water systems, a shift that focuses on the use of SUDS as a substitute for sewer-based stormwater discharge. 2BG involves professionals and PhD students within architecture, planning, sewage and runoff systems, water supply, economy, and urban hydrology.