Stormwater Best Management Practices Video

This informative video presents the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA’s) perspective on stormwater management. Solutions include identifying Best Management Practices (BMPs) combined with using innovating stormwater management. The USEPA presents practical solutions to address this problem on a community-wide level with specific strategies for single properties.

Video – Stormwater Best Management Practices [42:55]
This video presents an overview of stormwater best management practices and innovations at the property, neightborhood, and community scale. Source:USEPA

Stormwater Best Management Practices

Water is essential to all life on Earth and, as a natural resource, is critical to all development. Storm water is a key component of the water cycle, and the proper management and use of this resource can provide homeowners and communities with tremendous benefits. This video takes a look at the best methods to conserve stormwater through implementing best management practices (BMPs). By treating stormwater as a valuable commodity rather than a waste to be disposed of, we can avoid costly construction and management costs as well as developing a valuable resource to be shared and enjoyed by our cities and towns.

Some of the practices identified as BMPs will require an NPDES permit. Regardless, they will help reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on your property. The following are some BMPs for stormwater management.

Dry Detention Basins

The video depicts basins that are designed to confine stormwater for a short period. The basin holds stormwater. It provides an undisturbed pond where the water settles and the particles and pollutants it was carrying settle at the bottom of the basin. The basin has outlets that then slowly release the water into streams or the sewer system after it fills to a certain level. Dry detention basins also have spillways that convey water away from the basin when big or uncontrollable storm events occur. These outlets should be well maintained to eliminate the risk of erosion.

Infiltration trenches

The video also highlights the use of shallow man-made excavations that are filled with rubble or stones to create a temporary subsurface that stores stormwater runoff. These trenches enhance the natural capacity of the ground surface to store and drain water. The infiltration trenches allow water to sip into the soil from the bottom and sides of the trench. Infiltration trenches should be designed to allow water to flow laterally from impermeable surfaces. They may also be designed to receive water from a point source.

Permeable pavement

Permeable pavements are alternative paving surfaces that allow stormwater runoff to flow into an underlying reservoir. These surfaces have voids in the pavement surface that facilitate this flow. The water is then stored temporarily or infiltrated into the surroundings.

By implementing these BMPs and more, we can avoid the harm caused by uncontrolled stormwater in our cities, neighborhoods, and homes.

Stormwater Continuing Education Courses

If Stormwater Best Management Practices are of interest to you, consider our continuing education courses that address this subject directly.

CE-02-305 Stormwater Best Management Practices – 1 PDH
This introductory course provides an overview of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management with a focus on sustainability. Fifteen different devices, ranging from bioretention cells to infiltration trenches to permeable pavement, are presented with design information and optimum project parameters for selecting and specifying each one.

CE-02-305W Live Webinar: Stormwater Best Management Practices – 3 PDH
This Live Webinar course provides an overview of state of the practice best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management with a focus on sustainability. Fifteen different devices, ranging from bioretention cells to infiltration trenches to permeable pavement, are presented with design information and optimum project parameters for selecting and specifying each one.