WHAT IS STORM WATER?

Storm water is any type of precipitation that runs off a surface such as roofs, sidewalks,
parking lots or roads into which it cannot seep. Rain and snow are unavoidable elements of nature; in
some ways, they are good, but they aren't without their downsides. Both create stormwater, which
flows over the ground.

THE PROBLEM WITH STORM WATER

Bacteria, fertilizer, oil, animal waste, and trash are just some pollutants that can
contaminate stormwater. Without proper management, this polluted water can flow into rivers and
streams. Polluted water runoff can cause many serious issues, including:

• Fewer Recreational Uses for Lakes

Polluted water runoff leads to contaminated bodies of water, making them unsafe for many
kinds of activities. Officials may ban activities like swimming, fishing, and even boating due to safety
concerns.

• Harms and Kills Marine and Wildlife

Polluted runoff isn't just dangerous for humans–it is also hazardous for marine and wildlife.
This contamination can kill fish and make other marine animals sick. Contaminated water and marine
life can also make the wildlife sick and potentially lead to more deaths.

It isn't just the pollution that is harmful; excess stormwater in rivers and streams also
increases the chances of flooding. These various factors are what make having the right type of
stormwater drainage system so critical.

• Destruction of Natural Habitats

Water runoff that is full of harmful pollutants can kill plants or make them sick. It can mean
the loss of homes and food sources for many animals.

• Reduction In Quality of Drinking Water

Many places rely on natural bodies of water for at least some of their drinking water
supply. If the natural supply becomes contaminated, it requires more sanitation processes to ensure that
it is safe for consumption. Otherwise, it can lead to serious illness.
WHAT IS A STORM WATER SYSTEM?

Storm water runoff management is an intricate system that many of us take for granted on a
daily basis. It exists throughout our communities to maneuver rainfall and other collected water to
collection basins and away from our residences and often mini Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs)
like the Deep Trekker DTG3 are used to inspect these systems. There are many reasons why this water
must be transported away, the main reason is to avoid flooding.

As you may notice in this diagram, this is a completely natural environment. Regular
surface runoff cannot occur once buildings, roads and other impermeable surfaces are constructed. This
disrupts the water cycle and causes a variety of issues. The solution is to transfer the water in a similar
pattern mechanically. Here is a diagram of a storm water system:

An important note to make from this is that the storm water and sewer lines are separate.
The storm water falls as precipitation, flows over buildings and roads into the manholes where it then
travels through pipe networks to storage basins and into natural or man made ponds or lakes. These
man made lakes should not be mistaken for natural recreation areas; though wildlife may flourish
around an open storm water basin, the water is often contaminated with oil from car drippings,
pesticides from residential lawns and sediments of heavy metals especially around industrial areas. This
water is not treated or used for drinking purposes generally because of these contaminants.

WHY MANAGE STORMWATER?

• Maintain the Hydrologic Cycle

Improperly managed stormwater can reduce moisture replenishment in the soil and
minimize groundwater recharge. Soil moisture is essential for vegetation, while loss of groundwater
recharge can severely reduce stream base flow – water necessary for aquatic life. By managing
stormwater correctly, the hydrologic cycle can be maintained to ensure healthy plant and aquatic life.

• Prevent Flooding

Without adequate stormwater maintenance, the risk of flooding, especially in urban areas,
is greatly increased. As water cannot be absorbed into the concrete that covers large swaths of towns
and cities, the excess water from rain and thunderstorms must be managed to prevent loss of life and
property damage by flooding.

• Prevent Stream Erosion

While erosion is a normal part of stream behaviour, excess stormwater can greatly increase
the amount of erosion as abnormal amounts of water enter streams during storms. This extra water
increases both the volume and rate at which water - and the sediment in the water - is delivered to
streams. This extra water can increase erosion on stream banks and beds, damaging the natural form of
these streams. The degradation of these streams can lead to a massive decline in plant and animal
diversity. Proper stormwater management can effectively mitigate these risks.

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

There are many precautionary measures besides the drainage network to prevent storm
water from mixing with our drinking water resources, especially where our cities and roads are located
directly adjacent to reservoirs. Here are some additional features throughout our cities that you may not
realize are for storm water management:

• Minimizing Directly Connected Impervious Areas

City planners will try to include a grassed area between a road and a water source. Grass
lawns or other permeable, biological surfaces naturally filter some of the contaminants through the soil
before the water finds its way into the aquifer.

• Concrete Grid pavement

Voids in pavement allows the storm water to seep through to permeable materials and then
be filtered naturally.

• Grassed Swales

Shallow, vegetated ditches directly beside roads that reduce the speed and volume of the
runoff. Filtering can occur but the swales must shallow enough that they do not collect water to a point
of being a small basin themselves.

• Buffer Strips

Combinations of trees, shrubs and grasses planted along a stream. These strips should
consistent of three zones: four to five rows of trees, then two rows of shrubs and finally 20 to 24 feet of
wide grass. This reduces the velocity of the runoff and removes a good portion of solids before mixing
with drinking water.

• Filter Strips

Gently sloping vegetated areas surrounding a surface body of water. These hold the soil in
place and act as a filter before storm water reaches the body of water.
Storm Water Ponds or Wetlands

• Storm Water Ponds or Wetlands

Permanent ponds where solids settle between storms are created to collect the water. Storm
water drainage efforts in surrounding areas are directed to the pond. These ponds often are used as
visual features in communities or parks. The damage to the environment is minimal if managed
properly and if the sediment is removed every seven to ten years.

Why Inspect Stormwater Systems

Like any structural system, the integrity of infrastructure must be monitored and
maintained. Regular inspections to ensure the condition of the pipes, drains, basins and other structures
are imperative for safe storm water management. Issues like leaks, cracks, blocked pipes and sediment
build up are common challenges that should be identified and addressed quickly. Submersible remotely
operated vehicles (ROVs) are an effective, easy and cost-saving option for infrastructure inspection.
STORMWATER SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY WORK

A stormwater system is a tool for managing the runoff from rainfall. Wetlands are
important ecological systems because they provide habitat for unique and important organisms, help
control flooding by slowing down storm surges and absorbing rainwater before it reaches waterbodies.

On the other hand, man-made stormwater systems were designed to mimic natural
processes and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and forms.

1. Stormwater Retention Basin

Retention basins are designed to store runoff for about 72 hours to allow water to seep
through soil into the shallow groundwater aquifer. A basin can be man-made or it can be a natural, flat
depression. Grass stabilizes basin slopes and filters sediments. Retention systems are closed systems,
constructed so that storm water does not reach natural water bodies.

2. Stormwater Swale

Swales are either man-made or natural areas shaped to allow water to be quickly absorbed
into the ground or to allow the water to flow to other waterways. As in a shallow ditch, a swale
promotes water absorption through soils. Swales hold water during and immediately after a storm but
are typically dry at other times. They are open systems and allow water to flow into water bodies.

3. Dry retention system

Dry detentions, also known as detention ponds, temporarily hold storm water and then
release it slowly. A dry retention system holds a certain amount of stormwater and through percolation
(over about 72 hours) dries. This type of system has a “popoff” or overflow that allows water to
overflow or be discharged during a storm event that is bigger than the system was designed to handle.

4. Wet Retention

Wet detention systems (ponds) are the most recognizable stormwater systems. They are
designed to allow material to settle and be absorbed. There is drainage pipe that is in the pond that will
slowly drain water to prevent flooding. A significant concern for this system is clogged drains.
Sediment and debris can get in there pretty easily and can be very destructive making an inspection &
dredging necessary.
Stormwater Drainage Systems

Thankfully, there are a wide variety of ways to deal with stormwater, with some being
more effective than others. In case you’re about to implement a stormwater solution on your property
or you’re looking for a better alternative to what you currently have, here are 5 types of stormwater
drainage systems:

1. Slot Drains

Slot drains are a recent innovation in drainage technology. They utilize long, thin drain
slots that often run the entire length of a room or area. They are great for outdoor areas that don’t
require excessive drainage, however they tend to flood easily when exposed to heavy rainfall.

This issue makes slot drains one of the least effective stormwater drainage systems. Even
with multiple slot drains installed, outdoor areas are very hard to manage with this type of drain,
because water quickly overflows them.

However, they can work effectively in light rainstorms and situations where the rate of
precipitation isn’t very high. They can also be driven and walked on without issue, and are rather easy
to clean when compared to other types of drains.

2. Open Storm Drains

Open storm drains are drains that usually run parallel to a nearby road or parallel to the
edge of a property. They are a great stormwater drainage setup for those who aren’t too incredibly
concerned about looks, and want to collect surface water with ease. Lots and paved areas can be sloped
towards open storm drains. However, they are unsafe and require fencing to keep animals and people
from falling in. They can also smell and may even decrease your property value.

3. Closed Storm Drains

Most of the stormwater management systems you see now are stormwater grates that lead
to a local, underground sewer system. Closed storm drain grates can be found in the low areas of
parking lots, the trenches near sidewalks, and other areas where water intentionally or unintentionally
tends to collect. Though safer and less unsightly than open storm drains, they are difficult to clean and
labor-intensive to install.

4. French Drain

If you want to prevent water from pooling around the foundation of your home or building,
french drains are the way to accomplish it. These types of stormwater drains typically utilize small
grates located near the foundation of a building. The grates funnel the water into long pipes that carry it
away from the edge of the building and into the street, or even into a water retention basin.
 The best part about French drains is that the long pipes they use are almost always covered
up with aesthetically pleasing pebbles or grass. French drains are great for draining water that pools
near the foundation of a building, but are not as effective when it comes to draining surface water over
a broader area.

5. Dams

Dams are another of the various types of storm water drainage system options. Dams are
man-made barriers that can serve a variety of purposes, including controlling and storing stormwater
runoff. Stormwater management facilities may use dams to store excess stormwater runoff in a wet or
dry pond. Dams can vary in size and are found in a variety of places.

Better Stormwater Management

The proper management of stormwater runoff is critical to preventing flooding and the
pollution of other water sources. Choosing the right system for a given area is also critical to ensuring it
is as effective as possible.