As communities and subdivisions grow, the need for diverting water increases. When water runoff builds up after a storm, city sewers can get overwhelmed. This can lead to the damaging of nearby streams and rivers through erosion.
The solution is to have a basin to collect water. This is where retention and detention ponds come into play!
Wet Retention Ponds
Wet retention ponds are a storm water control structure that provides retention and treatment of contaminated storm water runoff. By capturing and retaining water runoff, wet retention ponds control water quantity and quality. The ponds natural processes then work to remove pollutants.
Water is diverted to a wet retention pond by a network of underground pipes connecting storm drains to the pond. The system allows for large amounts of water to enter the pond, and the outlet lets out small amounts of water as needed to maintain the desired water level.
Wet retention ponds should be surrounded by natural vegetation to improve bank stability and improve aesthetic benefits.
Dry Detention Basins
Dry detention ponds are best used in areas where there is ten or more acres of land. On smaller sites, it is difficult to control water quality and other options may be more appropriate.
Dry detention ponds generally use a very small slope to divert water. The system works by allowing a large collection area, or basin, for the water. The water then slowly drains out through the outlet at the bottom of the structure. Sometimes concrete blocks and other structures act as a deterrent to slow the water flow and collect extra debris.
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