Drake Stormwater Research Group

Dunton Tower overlooking the surrounding Carleton University and Rideau Canal.

The Rideau Canal at Carleton University

Bryn and Tabassum pedaling an orange inflatable canoe through a slightly green retention pond.

Bryn and Tabassum Collecting Water Samples from a Stormwater Retention Pond in Vaughan, ON

Sevda and Juliana using a multimeter to complete measurements on a small solar panel surrounded by a sedum-covered green roof.

Sevda and Juliana Testing Solar Panels on the Green Roof

Jade and George wearing high-visibility vests and hard hats in a flat green field, slated to be the Sponge City Lab site.

Jade and George Discussing Future Plans for the Sponge City Lab Site

Mirza reaching his arm to adjust a sensor on a metal beam on a small red sedum roof.

Mirza Adjusting Sensors on the Green Roof

George, wearing a lab coat, purple gloves, and goggles, fills a volumetric flask with orange liquid, surrounded by water samples.

George Testing Chloride Levels in Rideau Canal Samples

Based at Carleton University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and led by Dr. Jennifer Drake (Tier II Canada Research Chair), the Drake Stormwater Research Group discovers sustainable solutions for stormwater management in Ontario communities. We specialize in emerging stormwater technologies, urban flooding, and urban water quality. Help us work to build the Sponge Cities of the future!

Research Objectives

Mitigate Urban Flooding

A foggy rainy view of the Rideau Canal, Colonel By Drive, and Library Road as viewed from the Carleton University campus.

August 2024's Hurricane Debby hit land in Florida but was felt as far north as Ottawa-Gatineau and Montreal, resulting in significant flooding along the East Coast.

As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, flooding has proven to be one of the greatest threats to urban populations, infrastructure, and economies.

Improve Water Quality

Dozens of mason jars with water samples of different opacities and colors; each one is labelled with a date and other identifying information.

All year round, we collect dozens of water samples from rivers, lakes, retention ponds, and urban stormwater runoff for analysis.

Increased urbanization and industrialization endanger public health and ecosystems by contaminating local water sources. Addressing this will ensure the well-being of communities and the preservation of biodiversity.

Emerging Stormwater Management Technologies

Blue and Green Roofs

A sedum-covered green roof, enclosed by a yellow guardrail and surrounded by the Carleton University campus.

Rooftops can capture rainfall and alleviate flooding. Blue roofs temporarily store rainwater, while green roofs use it to fuel networks of flourishing ecosystems!

Permeable Pavements

A network of permeable grey and black asphalt blocks, comprising a parking lot.

By allowing water to penetrate sidewalks and roads, we can take advantage of the Earth's unrivaled ability to absorb rainwater, converting it to groundwater via infiltration.

Bioretention Systems

A mulchy urban rain garden between the sidewalk and street; it contains tall grasses and purple flowers.

Stormwater from impermeable surfaces can flow to and get filtered by bioretention systems, such as rain gardens. This treats the stormwater in a natural, low-cost way and provides the water required for urban gardens.

Computer Modeling

Jade intently works on a computer with two monitors, the left displaying the current unfinished Sponge City Lab Site and the right displaying a future render.

Using 3D renders of urban settings and historical precipitation data, we can accurately model future rainfall events with the ability to adjust for wind patterns, temperature, and other effects of climate change.

Recent Publications

Small-Size Microplastics in Urban Stormwater Runoff are Efficiently Trapped in a Bioretention Cell, DOI:10.1021/acsestwater.4c00037	May 2024
Biochar and vegetation effects on discharge water quality from organic-substrate green roofs, DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171302	Feb 2024
Biochar Benefits Green Infrastructure: Global Meta-Analysis and Synthesis, DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c04185	Nov 2023
Year-round monitoring of chloride releases from three zero-exfiltration permeable pavements and an asphalt parking lot, DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116903	Feb 2023

Browse all of Prof. Drake's publications at: