Stormwater is a major health hazard and one of the greatest destructive forces of all. Water resulting from heavy rains and storms can cause severe damage to buildings and infrastructure elements. Besides, it poses a huge risk of contamination with germs and bacteria. The role of underground stormwater retention systems is to slow down this water and to filter dirt, debris and various other pollutants. These are the two major benefits of installing such systems. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
The first benefit of such retention systems is that they can slow down the water, thus limiting the amount of damage it can cause. In order for them to be effective, these systems need to be positioned in locations that enable them to collect high stormwater volumes. This will save buildings, ponds, parking lots, and various infrastructure elements from water damage, as they won’t need to withstand such huge impact forces.
The second benefit of underground stormwater retention systems is that they can reduce the amount of pollutants and sediment, hence improving the water quality and reducing the contamination risk. These underground basins or cisterns feature mechanical filters that help removing debris and sediment from the water. In addition, they also include chemical filters that remove soluble pollutants and heavy metals. Although the resulting water may not be suitable for drinking, it will surely be safer for the environment. Taking into consideration that collected stormwater will eventually return in the soil, it makes sense to filter it along the way. The popular belief that stormwater basins are meant solely to direct the water to treatment plants is wrong. These systems act as treatment plants themselves, so their role is even more important in protecting the environment and man-made structures from floods.
The third but not less important benefit of such detention vaults is that they help prevent flooding and can reduce erosion in streams or rivers. They act like buffers, slowing down the water flow and making it more manageable. Sometimes, this can be achieved by using tunnels instead of basins, hence managing to keep the costs at a lower level. However, areas with frequent storms and flood volumes require complex systems that include underground retention chambers and various other elements that help controlling the flow and reducing the contaminants and the sediment in the water.
These retention basins are designed to retain a permanent amount of water that can be used for various purposes. This is yet another benefit of such systems. They can be extremely effective during the dry season, when water becomes scarce and expensive to use.
The fact that underground systems are so popular comes from the huge advantage of not needing a large area to be installed on. Of course, there are restrictions and bet practices when it comes to choosing the ideal location of such a system in relationship to other elements in the field. However, they won’t take as much space as retention ponds or other surface stormwater management systems.
