The Fundamentals of Managing Water for Effective Stormwater Treatment

Managing water anchors the Five Pillars of Stormwater Management. How we manipulate the direction, volume, velocity, and rate of discharge of stormwater runoff determines how effective we will be at managing its quantity and quality. It is extremely important that stormwater professionals understand and be able to discuss water as they contribute to stormwater practice planning, design, installation, and maintenance.
In this workshop, Barry Fagan will describe in simple terms how water fits into a fundamental and holistic approach to managing stormwater. He will break down key concepts with simple language and practical examples to provide attendees the confidence they need to confidently manage and speak water.

Full Abstract: In a construction setting, managing water includes all efforts that address the flow of waters through the project to protect the work area and minimize the work of managing erosion and sediment. In developed urban environments, managing water is about managing both the quality and the quantity of stormwater runoff to address pollutants and their sources.
Managing water anchors the Five Pillars of Stormwater Management. How we manipulate the direction, volume, velocity, and rate of discharge of stormwater runoff determines how effective we will be at managing its quantity and quality. It is extremely important that stormwater professionals understand and be able to discuss water as they contribute to stormwater practice planning, design, installation, and maintenance.
Unfortunately, many stormwater professionals are fearful of learning or discussing the basic properties and characteristics of water that affect their work. The science of hydraulics and hydrology are often relegated to those who are “more educated” or “licensed.” Simple concepts, including those listed below are often not discussed and not applied, causing plans, implementation, and professionals to not be as effective as they could be.
In this two-hour workshop, Barry Fagan will describe in simple terms how water fits into a fundamental and holistic approach to managing stormwater. Water-related myths and rules of thumb will be challenged as related best practices are presented and explored. Barry will draw and work examples on a whiteboard and engage the audience with questions and invitations to share their experiences.
Barry will break down these and other key concepts with simple language and practical examples to provide attendees with the confidence they need to confidently manage and speak water:
- Water is dumb. We get to tell it where to go and how fast to get there.
- Source control is always more effective and less expensive than end-of-pipe treatment and symptom control.
- “Insignificant” increases in site development discharges can create “significant” impacts as they compound within a watershed.
- Fast water is more erosive and carries more sediment than slow water.
- To reduce velocity, we can increase area (Q=VA).
- Ponding is more effective (and more likely) than filtering.
- Moving flowing water away from sediment is relatively easy compared with removing sediment from flowing water.
- Practicing clean water in, clean water out is an effective mantra and practice achieved by simply protecting run-on and flow-through waters as they move through the site.
- “First, do no harm” can and should be applied to stormwater management.