Contribution à une meilleure explicitation du vocabulaire dans le domaine des solutions dites « alternatives» de gestion des eaux pluviales urbaines

The way urban stormwater is managed is changing rapidly to meet increasingly numerous and complex challenges: control of water flows and pollutants produced by the city, preservation of resources, better integration into the landscape, consideration of social, economic, climatic, ecological and environmental objectives, etc. In addition, this change is part of broader developments concerning both the city and the management of an aging and expensive to maintain sewerage heritage. To meet these challenges and develop management solutions fitted to these new needs, hydrologists and drainage specialists must work with an increasing number of actors who approach the issue with very different cultures. In this context, terminology becomes very important to be able to exchange and understand each other. However, the vocabulary, like the concepts, are still in the construction phase. The objective of this paper, written by a large panel of specialists in the field, aims to show the great diversity of the vocabulary associated with stormwater management today, and proposes a reading grid to clarify as much as possible the main concepts. The aim is not to fall into the trap of a standardizing words, but to help improve understanding between actors. This paper covers the general concepts that structure thinking and strategy, as well as technical vocabulary and in particular how to distinguish solutions. This document is intended for all the actors of the city on the one hand and of water and the environment management on the other hand. It does not claim to close the debate.