Stormwater Solutions

Stormwater becomes a problem when there is too much of it for a community to handle or for a site to support. While the volume of stormwater on a site varies depending on the severity of a rain event, changes to a site--vegetation removed, land re-graded, and paved surface installed, for example--significantly affect how water impacts it.

Low-impact development (LID) techniques provide an alternative to "hard engineering" stormwater management solutions. LID collects stormwater close to its source and traps pollutants within the water. It then uses the functions of nature to clean the water--plants and soil absorb and filter pollutants, returning cleaner and cooler water into surface and groundwater sources, and into storm sewers.

Cardno has designed, installed, and maintained LID systems throughout the United States, using many innovative best management practices (BMPs) to achieve a natural stormwater management solution for a site. Click here to check pricing and availability of native plants and seed for stormwater BMPs.

Bioretention Basins

Bioretention basins are landscaped depressions or shallow basins. Stormwater is directed to the basin and then percolates through the system where it is treated by a number of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The slowed, cleaned stormwater is allowed to infiltrate native soils and is then directed through underdrains to a storm sewer or receiving waters.

Bioswales

Bioswales, also called vegetated swales, are stormwater conveyance channels with native vegetation planted along the side slopes and bottom. Bioswales provide a natural alternative to storm sewers, curbs, and gutters, or they can help support an existing system, reducing the stormwater load during storm events.

Permeable Landscapes

Permeable landscape solutions, such as porous pavement materials, allow stormwater to percolate through a place that typically would be an impermeable surface, like a parking lot or driveway.

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are shallow depressions in a landscape planted with native vegetation. They are constructed where a significant amount of stormwater is captured, like a downspout, driveway, or other outlet. Collected stormwater then percolates into the soil.