Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios
Abstract Existing sea-level rise models for coastal cities often neglect precipitation impacts on infrastructure. In tidally influenced areas, high water levels can overwhelm stormwater systems, causing drainage failure, corrosion, and backflow of contaminated water. Waikīkī, Honolulu’s tourism hub,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07332-8 |
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| author | Chloe Obara Charles H. Fletcher Shellie Habel Kristian McDonald Kayla Yamamoto |
| author_facet | Chloe Obara Charles H. Fletcher Shellie Habel Kristian McDonald Kayla Yamamoto |
| author_sort | Chloe Obara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Existing sea-level rise models for coastal cities often neglect precipitation impacts on infrastructure. In tidally influenced areas, high water levels can overwhelm stormwater systems, causing drainage failure, corrosion, and backflow of contaminated water. Waikīkī, Honolulu’s tourism hub, faces increasing flood risks and infrastructure damage due to rising sea levels. Using PCSWMM modeling software, selected for its capacity to represent complex urban drainage systems, this study simulates drainage failure under present and projected sea levels with precipitation. Findings reveal a 5-year precipitation event at present sea level floods more inlets than three feet of sea-level rise, while a 10-year event floods three times more inlets than four feet of sea-level rise. By 2050, a 5-year event could disrupt transportation and contaminate 70% of stormwater inlets in Waikīkī. Accounting for precipitation, 100% of outfalls will fail and 85% of the drainage system will be full by 2040. Results indicate 22–50% more flooded inlets during precipitation events than passive models at present sea level. Salinity and water level data indicate severe corrosion risks, potentially worsening drainage failure. This study highlights the urgent need to integrate precipitation into sea-level rise modeling to strategically mitigate urban flood risks in Waikīkī and other coastal cities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d18d3a4caf547caae16b6b9a0e286c4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d18d3a4caf547caae16b6b9a0e286c42025-08-20T03:45:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-07332-8Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenariosChloe Obara0Charles H. Fletcher1Shellie Habel2Kristian McDonald3Kayla Yamamoto4Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaForerunner Industries, IncDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaAbstract Existing sea-level rise models for coastal cities often neglect precipitation impacts on infrastructure. In tidally influenced areas, high water levels can overwhelm stormwater systems, causing drainage failure, corrosion, and backflow of contaminated water. Waikīkī, Honolulu’s tourism hub, faces increasing flood risks and infrastructure damage due to rising sea levels. Using PCSWMM modeling software, selected for its capacity to represent complex urban drainage systems, this study simulates drainage failure under present and projected sea levels with precipitation. Findings reveal a 5-year precipitation event at present sea level floods more inlets than three feet of sea-level rise, while a 10-year event floods three times more inlets than four feet of sea-level rise. By 2050, a 5-year event could disrupt transportation and contaminate 70% of stormwater inlets in Waikīkī. Accounting for precipitation, 100% of outfalls will fail and 85% of the drainage system will be full by 2040. Results indicate 22–50% more flooded inlets during precipitation events than passive models at present sea level. Salinity and water level data indicate severe corrosion risks, potentially worsening drainage failure. This study highlights the urgent need to integrate precipitation into sea-level rise modeling to strategically mitigate urban flood risks in Waikīkī and other coastal cities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07332-8Sea-level riseCompound floodingDrainage failurePCSWMMCorrosion |
| spellingShingle | Chloe Obara Charles H. Fletcher Shellie Habel Kristian McDonald Kayla Yamamoto Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios Scientific Reports Sea-level rise Compound flooding Drainage failure PCSWMM Corrosion |
| title | Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| title_full | Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| title_fullStr | Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| title_short | Drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea-level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| title_sort | drainage failure and associated urban impacts under combined sea level rise and precipitation scenarios |
| topic | Sea-level rise Compound flooding Drainage failure PCSWMM Corrosion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07332-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chloeobara drainagefailureandassociatedurbanimpactsundercombinedsealevelriseandprecipitationscenarios AT charleshfletcher drainagefailureandassociatedurbanimpactsundercombinedsealevelriseandprecipitationscenarios AT shelliehabel drainagefailureandassociatedurbanimpactsundercombinedsealevelriseandprecipitationscenarios AT kristianmcdonald drainagefailureandassociatedurbanimpactsundercombinedsealevelriseandprecipitationscenarios AT kaylayamamoto drainagefailureandassociatedurbanimpactsundercombinedsealevelriseandprecipitationscenarios |