Typically, these systems use gravity to move water across the site. This is done by grading the site so that it slopes toward an inlet, or box. These boxes collect the water, and then it is moved through pipes to an onsite drainage pond. An onsite pond can either be a detention site, or a retention site.
A detention site is designed to temporarily store the water until it can be released into a public waterway. On the other hand, a retention site is designed to hold stormwater permanently. Sometimes it is not possible to accommodate a pond on a property, and in these cases underground detention sites can be used.
Underground detention sites utilize a series of high-density polyethylene chambers to detain the water until it can be released in the public waterway. These systems are designed to slowly release water in the waterway so that the waterway does not become inundated. These systems are ideal in situations where there are space constraints because they can be buried under parking areas.
Stormwater management systems are an essential part of a project, and make our communities and properties more resilient against severe weather events.
