Types of Stormwater Management | Atlas Scientific

Stormwater management controls the amount of stormwater runoff that comes from
impervious surfaces such as streets, driveways, and rooftops in urban areas. In rural
areas, stormwater management is more focused on reducing surface runoff from
farmland, woodlands, and pastures.

Stormwater is water that comes from rain and snowmelt, plus anything that it picks up on the way,
which can include pollutants and debris.

Thus, stormwater management is important to reduce the amount of runoff by slowing the water
flow and allowing it to be absorbed. Stormwater management is also critical in preventing
pollution and supporting good water quality.

What Is Stormwater Management?

The main objective of stormwater management is to maintain healthy waterways to sustain aquatic
life and provide safe water for human uses by reducing the effect of urban development.
Stormwater management also aims to prevent floods and unwanted stream erosion, protect water
quality, and support the natural hydrological cycle.

When stormwater is absorbed in the soil, pollutants can be filtered out and simultaneously
replenishes groundwater aquifers or the water that spills out into surrounding streams and rivers.
However, during heavy rainfall, the stormwater travels into storm sewers and road ditches where
debris, chemicals, bacteria, and other pollutants are present. Stormwater can also cause flooding,
erosion, turbid waters, damage to infrastructure, and sanitary sewer systems to overflow, which
negatively affects the water quality.

But, stormwater design and “green infrastructure” capture and reuse are used to restore water
sources. The main purpose is to remove pollutants and slow down the stormwater.

Advantages To Stormwater Management

Proper drainage systems of stormwater and surface water runoff.

It allows water treatment early on.

Avoids infrastructure damage.

It can be used to recharge groundwater sources and reuse rainfall and surface water for irrigation
or for household uses.

Prevents flooding.

In urban areas, it creates green and recreational areas.

Disadvantages To Stormwater Management

It requires expert planning, application, operation, and maintenance.

Stormwater management usually requires a lot of labor.

Some stormwater management can cause infiltration systems to become clogged from high
sedimentation rates.

Types Of Storage Stormwater Management

Stormwater storage is often used under parking lots, roads, and paved areas within commercial,
industrial and residential areas to collect and reduce the flow of stormwater runoff.

They include:

Detention ponds

Retention ponds

On-site detention

Rainwater harvesting

Green roofs
Constructed wetlands

Detention Ponds

Detention ponds are a type of stormwater basin to settle suspended solids typically found in
stormwater.

During low flow periods they are dry, but during heavy rainfall, they provide temporary storage for
stormwater runoff. The basins allow pollution removal by holding the water long enough to
separate the suspended solids.

Retention Ponds
Retention ponds, also referred to as retention basins, are designed to improve the water quality
from stormwater runoff, but they are also used to prevent flooding.

During dry periods, retention ponds do not dry out like detention ponds, therefore, they
permanently retain water. Water quality is improved by allowing any suspended sediments to
settle, this usually takes between two to four weeks.

On-Site Stormwater Detention

On-site detention collects stormwater or surface water runoff, temporarily stores it, and releases it
slowly to prevent flooding the surrounding area.

This method is mainly used in urban and residential areas, so they can be fitted to existing
infrastructure such as homes and office buildings.

Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a preferred method in urban areas because it conserves potable water and
reduces stormwater runoff, but it is also common in rural areas. The harvested rainwater is used to
irrigate landscapes. The water is then either removed via vegetation or absorbed by the soil.

Rain that falls into the catchment surfaces can be used for irrigation or in toilet systems with
minimal pre-treatment.

Green Roofs

Green roofs or rooftop gardens involve a thin layer of plants that grow on a flat or sloped roof. Not
only do they store rainwater, but green roofs also improve energy efficiency, reduce urban heat,
and they look aesthetically pleasing.
Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands are engineered to manage floods, improve water quality, and restore natural
habitats for birds and other wetland life. They can also be combined with groundwater recharge
systems or soil aquifers.

Types Of Infiltration Stormwater Management

Stormwater infiltration captures and temporarily stores stormwater before it is absorbed into the
underlying soil.

They include:

Infiltration trenches

Grass filter strips

Grassed swales

Pervious pavements

Infiltration basins

Infiltration Trenches
Infiltration trenches are shallow-dug holes filled with crushed stone to create a reservoir system for
stormwater runoff. They can be found next to parking lots or beside streets. The water gradually
reaches the bottom of the trench, being filtered on the way down, and eventually reaching the
water table.

To avoid sediment penetration, the trench walls are lined with geotextile, and to establish bio-
filtration, vegetation is added. While it is a great method for stormwater management, there is
some risk of clogging from water that has a high sedimentation concentration.

Grass Filter Strips

Grass filter strips are a permanent area used to reduce sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and other
contaminants from stormwater runoff entering a water body.

They also improve the water quality by filtering out sediments and pollutants.

Grassed Swales
Grass (or vegetated) swales are open grassed channels to slow down the flow of stormwater runoff,
allowing the soil to partially absorb the water in the process.

Sedimentation is also slowed down in the swales by check dams and vegetation, which also filters
the stormwater runoff, thus improving the water quality by removing contaminants.

Pervious Pavements

A pervious pavement (permeable paving) is a pavement surface that is permeable, with a reservoir
made of stone underneath. Many also plant vegetation under or between the stone paving. The
reservoir temporarily stores stormwater runoff before it is infiltrated into the soil, improving the
water quality.

Infiltration Basins

An infiltration basin or infiltration pond contains highly permeable soil that can temporarily store
stormwater runoff. They do not usually have an outlet to discharge runoff like detention basins,
instead, the water is infiltrated through the soil, and around 80% of suspended solids are
removed.

For the best stormwater quality management, infiltration basins are often coupled with an
extended detention basin.

Stormwater Management Monitoring

Part of stormwater management is monitoring the water quality. Each type of stormwater
monitoring method is required to collect samples from outfalls. The main parameters in
stormwater monitoring include the following:

Dissolved oxygen

Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)

pH

Conductivity

Temperature
These measurements are taken with a probe or sensor from the facility’s outfalls system. Probes
and sensors are easy to use, and they offer highly accurate continuous measurements.

During rainy seasons, most stormwater management facilities continuously measure the above
water parameters, usually followed by testing in a laboratory.

Summing Up Stormwater Management

Stormwater management is necessary for both rural and urban areas to prevent water pollution,
store and reuse rainwater, prevent damage to infrastructure from flooding, conserve aquatic
environments, and protect human health.
If you have any questions regarding stormwater management, or which probe/sensor would best
suit your water quality needs, do not hesitate to contact our world-class team at Atlas Scientific.