Why and When You Need to Consider Underground Detention
Stormwater management considerations are an essential part of the site choice and development process – and can affect the long-term worth of a property. In reality, the majority of land development projects above one acre need stormwater management systems, thus it is imperative to be acquainted with the available options and their pros and cons.
Stormwater management is traditionally performed on the surface with a pool that controls the amount of water that can be released typically below or at historic flow rates. One option is to make an underground detention system. It’s more often utilized in developments where land costs, land availability, and parcel limitations do not permit the development of surface stormwater.
It is crucial to consider why and when it is appropriate to install above-ground versus underground systems to maximize the long-standing real estate worth of properties.
Why go underground?
The major reason to go for underground detention is the ROI on the worth of the increased land or edifice capture. There are increased capital expenses initially when contrasted with a surface solution; however, underground detention offers more outdoor storage as well as the opportunity for larger parking lots and increased building sizes. Underground detention is also a good alternative for high-density, urban regions that have limited spaces, oddly shaped parcels, or marketplaces where land costs more.
Benefits of underground stormwater detention
Apart from the land capture expenses, other advantages include insulation from freezing and increased public safety, unlike the cases with ponds and other ground surface stormwater BMPs. Finally, the most obvious advantage of underground stormwater detention solutions is the aesthetic, particularly on dense sites. Usually, surface BMPs are situated in tight regions that do not offer enough relief to make these ground installations appear like a natural, aesthetically good-looking element to the project.
Crucial considerations
Crucial considerations when implementing an underground stormwater detention solution include:
Long-term maintenance – such as accessibility and creating a robust operations plan.
Placement of the underground storage solution – this is particular to the site as well as how it’s interacting with the downstream storm sewer, existing and proposed utilities, drive lanes, landscape areas, and parking.
Alternative water quality treatment requirements – this could be necessary with an underground stormwater detention system to account for water quality elements of the site, usually incorporated in underground structures.
Jurisdictional support – this is exceedingly imperative at the start of a task. Some underground detention system sellers gain from having pre-approved solutions within their respective jurisdictions.
And last but not least, it is vital to work with a veteran land development civil engineering company that knows the jurisdictional allowances along with a good relationship with the installers and suppliers of the real solution that’ll be implemented. The experience element of the company helps precisely define the cost early and impacts the decision of whether to go underground or proceed with the project.
There are different design options to evaluate when buying a stormwater solution, the reason you should evaluate them so as to get one that will achieve your site’s development goals.