Structural Stormwater Management Systems

Detention, retention, and infiltration basins are conventional stormwater structures that are employed to control the peak rates and/or the volumes of runoff, and to improve the water quality. Constructed wetlands, bioretention basins, and vegetated swales are also used in stormwater management practices – more for improving water quality than peak flow attenuation. Also employed are sand filters and vegetated buffers, though mostly for improving water quality. This chapter presents simplified design procedures, examples, and case studies for various types of structural stormwater management systems. Also included in this chapter are recommended design criteria for stormwater management systems.