Laserfiche WebLink
<br />ABSTRACT <br /> <br />On-site detention of runoff was investigated as an alternative to other <br />methods of urban storm water runoff management. It was found that this <br />method, which involves collecting excess runoff before it enters the main <br />drainage system, can often be applied as an effective and economical <br />means of reducing peak runoff flow rates to lessen or eliminate problems <br />of flooding, pollution, soil erosion and siltation. The captured runoff <br />sometimes can be used to augment water supplies for potable or <br />non-potable uses, and the detention facilities can be designed to serve <br />multiple.purpose uses, especially recreation. <br />The use of on-site detention facilities has been given emphasis in those <br />urban areas where flooding is a frequent problem. A 1972 survey of <br />selected local jurisdictions in urban areas of the United States and Canada <br />revealed that more than 1,400 facilities were operational in about 100 <br />local jurisdictions reporting applications. Because only about 500 <br />jurisdictions were contacted, the actual number of such facilities in <br />existence is thought to be many times more. Most of the representatives <br />of the 230 public agencies and 40 engineering firms that responded to the <br />survey questionnaire consider on-site detention of runoff in urban areas to <br />be a useful storm water management method that is worthy of study and <br />implementation. <br />Many applications of the method were identified in which substantial <br />cost savings over a conventional urban storm water drainage system had <br />been realized by incorporating on-site detention into the system. The use <br />of on-site detention facilities in managing runoff in urban communities <br />can be expected to increase as the techniques involved become better <br />developed and understood and as the benefits become better documented <br />and publicized. <br /> <br />vii <br />