Stormwater BMPs for urban use: Stormwater runoff is the water flowing on land from rainfall, snowmelts, as well as flows from storm drains and natural drains serving industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural and recreational lands. The stormwater runoff causes problems like flooding, erosion and water pollution. These negative impacts can be eliminated by adopting the Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are structural, vegetative or managerial practice used to treat the stormwater in order to prevent or to reduce the water pollution. Stormwater runoff from urban areas contains higher concentration of pollutants like metals, nutrients, oxygen demanding wastes and suspended solids. It also contains pathogenic microorganisms, oil, and petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticide and variety of synthetic organics. BMPs can be used for mitigation of urban Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) from urban areas. Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) cannot be traced back to a single site of discharge as the stormwater can be polluted by chemical runoff, subsurface flow, deposition from atmosphere, fugitive discharge from pipelines etc. The benefits of implementation of BMPs are: Flood Control: By implementing the BMPs, the large volume of runoff is detained and then released at a slower rate which thereby reduces or limits the chances of flooding. Improved Water Quality: Stormwater BMPs help to remove the pollutants from water and therefore helps to reduce the soil erosion, lower the contaminant loadings and provides cleaner bottom sediments. Environmental Amenities: Some BMPs techniques helps to create attractive environmental features such as wetland habitat or open water areas which ideal for use by waterfowl, marsh birds and other wildlife. Large wet ponds can also provide scope for recreational activities for e.g., fishing, swimming or skating. Pond BMPs can help to develop recreational sites for walking, bird watching or nature hikes. Both structural and nonstructural BMPs can be effectively used to mitigate the urban NPSP. Some of the structural BMPs for mitigation of urban NPSP are: Structural BMPs system can be implemented by moving earth, planting and construction. Infiltration System: This system can be used by increasing the infiltration of precipitation in the soil and thereby reducing the surface runoff and sediment transport. Infiltration basins capture stormwater and store it until some, or all, of the stormwater filters into the surrounding soil. This system is effective for removing fine grained pollutants, but course grained pollutants can clog the infiltration basins. Detention System: This system slows down the rate of runoff and therefore helps to reduce the transport of pollutants and encourages the settling of suspended solids. Retention System: This system includes a lined or unlined wetponds which retains stormwater to hold (6months) storm events. Porous Pavement: Use of porous pavement such as interlocking tiles or bricks, allows st.

1. Stormwater BMPs for urban use:
Stormwater runoff is the water flowing on land from rainfall, snowmelts, as well as flows from
storm drains and natural drains serving industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural and
recreational lands. The stormwater runoff causes problems like flooding, erosion and water
pollution. These negative impacts can be eliminated by adopting the Best Management Practices
(BMPs). BMPs are structural, vegetative or managerial practice used to treat the stormwater in
order to prevent or to reduce the water pollution.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas contains higher concentration of pollutants like metals,
nutrients, oxygen demanding wastes and suspended solids. It also contains pathogenic
microorganisms, oil, and petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticide and variety of synthetic organics.
BMPs can be used for mitigation of urban Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) from urban areas.
Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) cannot be traced back to a single site of discharge as the
stormwater can be polluted by chemical runoff, subsurface flow, deposition from atmosphere,
fugitive discharge from pipelines etc.
The benefits of implementation of BMPs are:
Flood Control: By implementing the BMPs, the large volume of runoff is detained and then
released at a slower rate which thereby reduces or limits the chances of flooding.
Improved Water Quality: Stormwater BMPs help to remove the pollutants from water and
therefore helps to reduce the soil erosion, lower the contaminant loadings and provides cleaner
bottom sediments.
Environmental Amenities: Some BMPs techniques helps to create attractive environmental
features such as wetland habitat or open water areas which ideal for use by waterfowl, marsh
birds and other wildlife. Large wet ponds can also provide scope for recreational activities for
e.g., fishing, swimming or skating. Pond BMPs can help to develop recreational sites for
walking, bird watching or nature hikes.
Both structural and nonstructural BMPs can be effectively used to mitigate the urban NPSP.
Some of the structural BMPs for mitigation of urban NPSP are:
Structural BMPs system can be implemented by moving earth, planting and construction.
Infiltration System:
This system can be used by increasing the infiltration of precipitation in the soil and thereby
reducing the surface runoff and sediment transport. Infiltration basins capture stormwater and
store it until some, or all, of the stormwater filters into the surrounding soil. This system is
effective for removing fine grained pollutants, but course grained pollutants can clog the
infiltration basins.
Detention System:

2. This system slows down the rate of runoff and therefore helps to reduce the transport of
pollutants and encourages the settling of suspended solids.
Retention System:
This system includes a lined or unlined wetponds which retains stormwater to hold (6months)
storm events.
Porous Pavement:
Use of porous pavement such as interlocking tiles or bricks, allows stormwater runoff to
infiltrate the pavement and enter the soil in order to remove the fine grain pollutants and to
control the erosion.
Water Quality Inlets:
Oil/grease separators are also known as Water quality inlets. These separators remove sediments,
oils and greases from parking lots prior to discharge to the storm drain or infiltration basin.
Vegetative BMPs include a number of landscaping practices:
Biofilters:
Grassed swales, or ditches, can be placed in residential areas or in highway medians which helps
to reduce the peak runoff downstream through infiltration and storage. Filter strips are designed
to direct stormwater from impervious areas into a stone trench, which evenly distributes the
runoff over a grass strip.
Constructed Wetlands:
This system is similar to wet pond which have permanent standing water with an additional
advantage of biotic function like nutrients uptake and microbial degradation of pollutants.
Nonstructural BMPs types for mitigation of urban NPSP are:
Town planning:
This involves the implementation of stormwater policy in the town planning schemes, requiring
stormwater to be addressed at development stage itself.
Stormwater Management Plan:
A stormwater management plan for a city or a catchment can help to protect the aquatic
ecosystems.
Control of discharge:
Elimination of illicit discharge and point source regulation of stormwater discharge by licensing,
inspection/auditing industries and other enforcement activities
Sustained construction site management programs:
Strong enforcement of elements to address both public and private sector works.
Community training:
This can be implemented by targeted, intensive and interactive community training and
stormwater management education through participation programs

3. Maintenance operations:
Implementation of suitable maintenance operations by the local government authorities or other
drainage service providers such as the Water Corporation to improve the stormwater quality. For
e.g. maintenance of the stormwater drainage network and manual litter collections
Business/industry programs:
Targeted campaigns involving education, incentives, site assessments, and enforcement to
improve procedures and practices relating to stormwater management on commercial or
industrial sites
Solution
Stormwater BMPs for urban use:
Stormwater runoff is the water flowing on land from rainfall, snowmelts, as well as flows from
storm drains and natural drains serving industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural and
recreational lands. The stormwater runoff causes problems like flooding, erosion and water
pollution. These negative impacts can be eliminated by adopting the Best Management Practices
(BMPs). BMPs are structural, vegetative or managerial practice used to treat the stormwater in
order to prevent or to reduce the water pollution.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas contains higher concentration of pollutants like metals,
nutrients, oxygen demanding wastes and suspended solids. It also contains pathogenic
microorganisms, oil, and petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticide and variety of synthetic organics.
BMPs can be used for mitigation of urban Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) from urban areas.
Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP) cannot be traced back to a single site of discharge as the
stormwater can be polluted by chemical runoff, subsurface flow, deposition from atmosphere,
fugitive discharge from pipelines etc.
The benefits of implementation of BMPs are:
Flood Control: By implementing the BMPs, the large volume of runoff is detained and then
released at a slower rate which thereby reduces or limits the chances of flooding.
Improved Water Quality: Stormwater BMPs help to remove the pollutants from water and
therefore helps to reduce the soil erosion, lower the contaminant loadings and provides cleaner
bottom sediments.
Environmental Amenities: Some BMPs techniques helps to create attractive environmental
features such as wetland habitat or open water areas which ideal for use by waterfowl, marsh
birds and other wildlife. Large wet ponds can also provide scope for recreational activities for
e.g., fishing, swimming or skating. Pond BMPs can help to develop recreational sites for
walking, bird watching or nature hikes.

4. Both structural and nonstructural BMPs can be effectively used to mitigate the urban NPSP.
Some of the structural BMPs for mitigation of urban NPSP are:
Structural BMPs system can be implemented by moving earth, planting and construction.
Infiltration System:
This system can be used by increasing the infiltration of precipitation in the soil and thereby
reducing the surface runoff and sediment transport. Infiltration basins capture stormwater and
store it until some, or all, of the stormwater filters into the surrounding soil. This system is
effective for removing fine grained pollutants, but course grained pollutants can clog the
infiltration basins.
Detention System:
This system slows down the rate of runoff and therefore helps to reduce the transport of
pollutants and encourages the settling of suspended solids.
Retention System:
This system includes a lined or unlined wetponds which retains stormwater to hold (6months)
storm events.
Porous Pavement:
Use of porous pavement such as interlocking tiles or bricks, allows stormwater runoff to
infiltrate the pavement and enter the soil in order to remove the fine grain pollutants and to
control the erosion.
Water Quality Inlets:
Oil/grease separators are also known as Water quality inlets. These separators remove sediments,
oils and greases from parking lots prior to discharge to the storm drain or infiltration basin.
Vegetative BMPs include a number of landscaping practices:
Biofilters:
Grassed swales, or ditches, can be placed in residential areas or in highway medians which helps
to reduce the peak runoff downstream through infiltration and storage. Filter strips are designed
to direct stormwater from impervious areas into a stone trench, which evenly distributes the
runoff over a grass strip.
Constructed Wetlands:
This system is similar to wet pond which have permanent standing water with an additional
advantage of biotic function like nutrients uptake and microbial degradation of pollutants.
Nonstructural BMPs types for mitigation of urban NPSP are:
Town planning:
This involves the implementation of stormwater policy in the town planning schemes, requiring
stormwater to be addressed at development stage itself.
Stormwater Management Plan:

5. A stormwater management plan for a city or a catchment can help to protect the aquatic
ecosystems.
Control of discharge:
Elimination of illicit discharge and point source regulation of stormwater discharge by licensing,
inspection/auditing industries and other enforcement activities
Sustained construction site management programs:
Strong enforcement of elements to address both public and private sector works.
Community training:
This can be implemented by targeted, intensive and interactive community training and
stormwater management education through participation programs
Maintenance operations:
Implementation of suitable maintenance operations by the local government authorities or other
drainage service providers such as the Water Corporation to improve the stormwater quality. For
e.g. maintenance of the stormwater drainage network and manual litter collections
Business/industry programs:
Targeted campaigns involving education, incentives, site assessments, and enforcement to
improve procedures and practices relating to stormwater management on commercial or
industrial sites