Stormwater management, or SWM, is the application of retention, detention, infiltration or other measures to control the peak flow, runoff volume, or other aspects of stormwater. Typically, SWM is implemented to mitigate the effects of urbanization on a receiving system, by peak flow reduction, volumetric reduction, or quality control.
What is stormwater[]
Stormwater is a term used to describe water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt or runoff water from overwatering that enters the stormwater system.
Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff, which either flows into surface waterways or is channeled into storm sewers or storm water drain channels.
Stormwater is of great concern for two main issues: one related to the volume and timing of runoff water flood control and water supplies and the other related to potential contaminants that the water is carrying, i.e. water pollution.