Stormwater detention vault
Encyclopedia
A stormwater detention vault is an underground structure designed to manage excess stormwater
runoff
on a developed site, often in an urban setting. This type of best management practice
may be selected when there is insufficient space on the site to infiltrate
the runoff or build a surface facility such as a detention basin
or retention basin
.
Detention vaults manage stormwater quantity flowing to nearby surface water
s. They help prevent flooding
and can reduce erosion in rivers and streams. They do not provide treatment to improve water quality
, though some are attached to a media filter
bank to remove pollutants.
, aluminum, steel, plastic, fiberglass, pre-cast
or poured-in-place concrete
.
The vault is typically buried under a parking lot
or other open land on the site. In the latter case this underground vault may be preferable to a surface detention pond if other uses are intended for the land (e.g. a pedestrian plaza or park). In other situations a vault is used because installing a pond might pose other problems, such as attracting unwanted waterfowl
or other animals. In some sites a vault may be installed in the basement of a building, such as a parking garage.
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
on a developed site, often in an urban setting. This type of best management practice
Best management practice for water pollution
Best Management Practices is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe a type of water pollution control. Historically the term has referred to auxiliary pollution controls in the fields of industrial wastewater control and municipal sewage control, while in stormwater management ...
may be selected when there is insufficient space on the site to infiltrate
Infiltration basin
An infiltration basin , is a type of best management practice that is used to manage stormwater runoff, prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent river, stream, lake or bay...
the runoff or build a surface facility such as a detention basin
Detention basin
A detention basin is a stormwater management facility installed on, or adjacent to, tributaries of rivers, streams, lakes or bays that is designed to protect against flooding and, in some cases, downstream erosion by storing water for a limited period of a time. These basins are also called "dry...
or retention basin
Retention basin
A retention basin is used to manage stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent river, stream, lake or bay. Sometimes called a wet pond or wet detention basin, it is an artificial lake with vegetation around the perimeter, and includes a...
.
Detention vaults manage stormwater quantity flowing to nearby surface water
Surface water
Surface water is water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean; it is related to water collecting as groundwater or atmospheric water....
s. They help prevent flooding
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
and can reduce erosion in rivers and streams. They do not provide treatment to improve water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
, though some are attached to a media filter
Media filter
A media filter is a type of filter that uses a bed of sand, crushed granite or other material to filter water for drinking, swimming pools, aquaculture, irrigation, stormwater management and other applications.-Filter Design:...
bank to remove pollutants.
Design and installation
Underground stormwater detention allows for high volume storage of runoff in a small footprint area. The storage vessels can be made from a variety of materials, including corrugated metal pipePipe (material)
A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases , slurries, powders, masses of small solids...
, aluminum, steel, plastic, fiberglass, pre-cast
Precast concrete
By producing precast concrete in a controlled environment , the precast concrete is afforded the opportunity to properly cure and be closely monitored by plant employees. Utilizing a Precast Concrete system offers many potential advantages over site casting of concrete...
or poured-in-place concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
.
The vault is typically buried under a parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
or other open land on the site. In the latter case this underground vault may be preferable to a surface detention pond if other uses are intended for the land (e.g. a pedestrian plaza or park). In other situations a vault is used because installing a pond might pose other problems, such as attracting unwanted waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
or other animals. In some sites a vault may be installed in the basement of a building, such as a parking garage.
See also
- Best management practice for water pollutionBest management practice for water pollutionBest Management Practices is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe a type of water pollution control. Historically the term has referred to auxiliary pollution controls in the fields of industrial wastewater control and municipal sewage control, while in stormwater management ...
- Detention basinDetention basinA detention basin is a stormwater management facility installed on, or adjacent to, tributaries of rivers, streams, lakes or bays that is designed to protect against flooding and, in some cases, downstream erosion by storing water for a limited period of a time. These basins are also called "dry...
- Retention basinRetention basinA retention basin is used to manage stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent river, stream, lake or bay. Sometimes called a wet pond or wet detention basin, it is an artificial lake with vegetation around the perimeter, and includes a...