URBAN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
FloodWorks, Lismore Northern NSW, recognises stormwater as a term used to describe water flowing over ground surfaces and in natural streams and drains as a direct result of rainfall over a catchment.
Stormwater consists of rainfall runoff and any material, soluble or insoluble, that gets swept up in its flow.
The objectives of urban stormwater management is to minimise any potential impacts on waterway health, to minimise stormwater flooding and to provide an alternate water source (i.e. i.e. stormwater harvesting).
When conventional urban development occurs, most of the soil and vegetation is replaced with impervious surfaces such as roads, carparks, houses and other buildings.
Increased imperviousness results in less rainfall infiltration into the soil and ultimately provides less water to replenish the local groundwater aquifers. It also increases the volume and speed of stormwater runoff produced by rainfall.
Councils require as a minimum that all stormwater be controlled, that peak stormwater stormwater flows be controlled to predevelopment levels, and that water quality is maintained through good design.
Here at FloodWorks we specialise in large traditional stormwater network mapping, assessment and design. This may be as small as a single catchment, right up to entire towns.
Where possible we like to integrate naturalised elements into the management of stormwater, such as open grassed swales, naturalised open channels, and open grassed multi functional detention basins (i.e. sports field/detention basin).
FloodWorks primary application of urban stormwater management include:
- Stormwater master planning
- Major/Minor or dual-drainage systems
- Watershed management master plans
- Contaminant & sediment loading and transport
- Pollutant removal
- 1D/2D urban flooding
- Detention pond optimisation
- Interconnected pond routing
- Stormwater system design
- WSUD and BMP analysis