Stormwater System Examples
Stormwater comes from rain, melted snow, and melted ice. It also comes in the form of water from garden hoses or car washes. This water runs off from roofs or across parking lots or driveways. It is not treated the way wastewater is, so municipalities must develop stormwater systems to contain or redistribute it.
Federal environmental regulations require that communities take action to prevent stormwater from contaminating soil, plants, and streams or other bodies of water. This is where a stormwater system comes in. It is a system that will either hold or contain the runoff or it will hold and contain it for redistribution into the soil.
Stormwater can cause contamination because it does not go through a treatment process. It can become contaminated as it moves over the ground where it picks up bacteria, motor oil, dirt, leaves, garbage and pet waste. Overflowing stormwater can also cause flooding and property damage. Regulations set by the federal government include handling this water with the help of a stormwater system.
The Clean Water Act has some say in how stormwater is managed by municipalities. Any property development must be done by creating a stormwater containment or retention system to keep runoff from flooding it. Engineers of any development must also work to find a method or keeping the runoff from becoming contaminated. This is done by implementing a system that catches and holds the water as it runs off.
There are a variety of methods that can be used to contain stormwater runoff. They include detention reservoirs, holding tanks, manholes, cisterns and underground retention systems.
Detention Reservoirs
These are basins created to collect and hold stormwater. They are also referred to as dams. Ponds and wetlands are another form of detention which receive this temporarily stored water.
These can be vaults, tanks, cisterns, and other containers made of concrete or other materials. They are accessed by and allow runoff through manholes. They are available in different shapes and sizes.
Underground Retention Systems
These are chambers that capture, filter and hold stormwater until can be infiltrated into the soil. These differ from detntion systems. They reintroduce water into the soil for reuse for nurturing plants. Detention systems only hold the water. Underground detention systems may be made of concrete or recycled plastic or fiberglass. They have liners and filters to infiltrate the water back into the soil.
You can choose the right system for your project with the help of a stormwater chamber engineer. They will help you develop a system that works right for the land space available above ground. If that space is limited, an underground system is more helpful. Systems are available with all kinds of management features including bio-retention and pre-treatment solutions.
Work with a team of engineers in your area who are licensed, experienced professionals. These experts know the unique stormwater challenges that are present in your municipality. They can help you develop a system that will meet even the strictest project requirements.