Stormwater Best Management Practices

Amarpreet Singh Arora

Stormwater BMPs
USEPA: A technique, measure or structural control that is used for a given set of conditions to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in the most cost-effective manner" Two Types  Structural  Nonstructural

Stormwater BMPs
Structural  Engineered to control both the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff Non-structural  Educational  Policy changing  Source-targeting (pollution prevention)

Structural BMPs
Pretreatment: water quality inlets, hooded and deep sump catch basins, sediment traps (forebays), and drainage channels Detention/Retention and Vegetated Treatment: detention basins, wet retention ponds, constructed wetlands, water quality swales Filtration: sand and organic filters Advanced Sedimentation/Separation: hydrodynamic separators, oil and grit chamber Infiltration: infiltration trenches, infiltration basins, dry wells (rooftop infiltration)

Non-Structural BMPs
Pollution prevention/source control Street sweeping Storm water collection system cleaning and maintenance Land use planning Public Education

Stormwater BMPs
Ultimate goal of both BMP types:
  

Control stormwater flow Remove pollutants Manage and reduce pollutant sources

Pollutant Removal Mechanisms

Absorption to soil particles Removes dissolved metals and soluble phosphorus Plant uptake Removes small amounts of nutrients Microbial processes Removes organics and pathogens Exposure to sunlight and dryness Removes pathogens Infiltration of runoff Provides flood control, groundwater recharge, and nutrient removal Sedimentation and filtration Removes total suspended solids, floating debris, trash, soilbound phosphorus, some soil-bound pathogens

Household BMPs
Careless or uninformed household management contributes to NPS pollution problems USEPA Although individual homes might contribute only minor amounts of NPS pollution, the combined effect of an entire neighbourhood can be serious - USEPA

Household BMPs
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Limit impervious surfaces Green Landscaping Water conservation Proper chemical use, storage, and management Proper septic management Stormwater control measures

Backyard Water Conservation

To use less water: Cluster plants together and mulch them with compost to conserve moisture. Avoid planting or transplanting during the summer. Water in the early morning instead of mid-day so that less water evaporates. Water once deeply rather then several times lightly to encourage the development of deep roots. Use timers to avoid over watering.

Impervious Surfaces
Prevent water infiltration Cause pollutants to accumulate Cause runoff to funnel into storm drains at high speeds Paved surfaces transfer heat to runoff (biological and ecological implications)

Green Landscaping
Native plants instead of ornamental gardens and turf grass lawns Increased plant variety Naturally designed landscapes Integrated Pest Management Requires less maintenance and reduces environmental harm

Rain Gardens
Can be placed in strategic areas around the home landscape to capture roof and impervious runoff Native plants that are water and climate tolerate are used Help control stormwater and nonpoint pollution while adding to the aesthetics of the landscape

Rain Gardens (Bioretention Basins)

Bioretention Systems
Stormwater runoff entering the bioretention system is filtered first through the vegetation and then the sand / soil mixture before being conveyed downstream by the underdrain system. They can be installed in lawns, parking lot, unused lot areas, and certain catchments. They are intended to receive and filter storm runoff from both impervious areas and lawns.

NJDEP. 2004. NJ Stormwater BMP Manual.

Dry Well
Structural chamber and/or an excavated pit filled with aggregate. Receives and temporarily stores stormwater runoff from roofs. Discharge of this stored runoff from a dry well occurs through infiltration into the surrounding soils. areas with limited space, built underground

Stormwater Wetlands
Temporarily store runoff in relatively shallow pools that support conditions suitable for the growth of wetland plants. Remove a wide range of stormwater pollutants from land development sites Provide wildlife habitat and aesthetic features.

NJDEP. 2004. NJ Stormwater BMP Manual.

Extended Detention Basins

Detains and attenuates runoff inflows Promotes the settlement of pollutants Address both the stormwater runoff quantity and quality impacts of land development

Infiltration Basin
Constructed within highly permeable soils that provides temporary storage of stormwater runoff. Does not normally have a structural outlet to discharge runoff Used to remove pollutants and to infiltrate stormwater back into the ground

Sand Filters

Vegetative Filters/Swales
Designed to treat sheet flow from adjacent surfaces Function by slowing runoff velocities and allowing sediment and other pollutants to settle and by providing some infiltration into underlying soils There is little resistance to their use as public views them as landscaped amenities and not as stormwater infrastructure

Vegetative Filters

Wet Ponds
Constructed basins that have a permanent pool of water throughout the year Primary removal mechanism is settling as stormwater runoff resides in this pool, but pollutant uptake, particularly of nutrients, also occurs to some degree through biological activity in the pond
NJDEP. 2004. NJ Stormwater BMP Manual.

Wet Ponds

Innovative BMPs - Advanced Sedimentation

Pre-fabricated stormwater treatment structure utilizing settling, filtration, absorptive / adsorptive materials, vortex separation, and/or other appropriate technology to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff Small area Oil and grease control
NJDEP. 2004. NJ Stormwater BMP Manual.

Innovative BMPs Media Filtration

Usually two-chambered including a pretreatment settling basin and a filter bed filled with absorptive filtering media Large particles settle out in first chamber, and then finer particles and other pollutants are removed through the filtering media in the second chamber Austin sand filter, Delaware sand filter, and multichambered treatment train (MCTT)
Stormwater Management Inc, 2002

Structural BMP Treatment Control Selection Matrix

BMP Infiltration Basin Bioretention Basin Dry Wells Constructed wetlands Extended Detention Basin Vegetated filter/Swale Wet ponds Media Filter Sediment H H H H Nutrients H M H M Trash H H H H Metals H H H H Bacteria H H H H Oil and Grease H H H H Organics H H H H

M M M H

L L L L

H L M H

M M L H

M L L M

M M L H

M M L H

H-High removal efficiency M-Medium removal efficiency L-Low removal efficiency

Source: Stormwater standards manual, Jan,2011, San Diego.

Inspection/Maintenance Considerations
Rain gardens and Bio-retention systems require frequent landscaping maintenance Infiltration basins in areas of low permeability can clog within a couple years, and require more frequent inspections and maintenance. In order to maintain the ponds design capacity in case of wet ponds, sediment must be removed occasionally to maintain effective pool volume Wetlands need a continuous base flow to maintain aquatic plants. They can also become a nuisance due to mosquito breeding unless carefully designed and maintained A vegetated buffer should be preserved around the pond to protect the banks from erosion and provide some pollutant removal before runoff enters the pond by overland flow Media filters clog easily when subjected to high sediment loads. Sediment reducing pretreatment practices, such as vegetated buffer strips or vegetated swales, placed upstream of the filter should be maintained properly to reduce sediment loads into filter. Installations should dewater completely (recommended 72 hour or less residence time) to prevent creating mosquito and other vector habitats.