Modeling the Performance of Advanced Stormwater Management Options and the use of Decision Analysis in Selecting the most Appropriate Set of Controls

A wide range of controls have been used to reduce stormwater pollutant and flow discharges, including, for example, development practices (reducing the amount of pavement and roof areas; directing runoff from these areas to pervious areas instead of directly connecting them to the drainage system); public works practices (street and catchbasin cleaning; the use of grass swales instead of concrete curbs and gutters); sedimentation controls (source area hydrodynamic separators; outfall wet detention ponds); filtration and infiltration practices (bioretention parking lot islands; rain gardens; percolation ponds; media filters); runoff rate and energy controls (runoff volume controls; dry detention facilities); water reuse (rain barrels and cisterns to capture site runoff for irrigation or other non-potable uses); etc. Obviously, there are many controls that can be used to minimize stormwater problems for both new development and when retrofitting controls in existing areas. A comprehensive stormwater quality model should be capable of predicting the benefits of an integrated system of these controls under a variety of conditions and desired benefit options.