Stormwater Management

Why It Matters and How Modern Solutions Are Changing the Game

Innovative stormwater technologies and design approaches are helping projects meet challenges more effectively than ever.

As communities grow and weather patterns become more unpredictable, stormwater management has shifted from a background utility to a critical part of resilient infrastructure.

Cities, developers, and engineers are facing increasing pressure to control runoff, prevent flooding, and protect local waterways—all while working within tighter space constraints and stricter regulatory requirements.

Wind turbines in a field along a highway.
What Is Stormwater Management
Stormwater management refers to the systems, strategies, and products used to control the runoff that occurs during rain events. Instead of letting water rush across paved surfaces—collecting pollutants and overwhelming drainage systems—stormwater management slows it down, cleans it, stores it, or allows it to infiltrate back into the ground.

Effective systems typically aim to:

01
Reduce flooding by detaining or redirecting flows
02
Improve water quality with filtration and treatment
03
Protect infrastructure from erosion and damage
04
Restore natural hydrology where possible
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Why It’s Becoming More Important

01
Increased
Urbanization
More pavement means less natural infiltration. As cities grow, so does the volume and speed of runoff.
02
Aging
Infrastructure
Many municipalities are relying on stormwater systems built decades ago—often undersized for today’s conditions.
03
Regulatory
Pressure
Permitting agencies continue tightening requirements for nutrient removal, sediment reduction, and post-construction runoff control.
04
Climate Change & Extreme Rainfall
Historically rare storm events are becoming more common, pushing systems to their limits.
Modern Solutions Making a Difference
Today’s stormwater toolbox includes a wide range of technologies designed to address these challenges with more efficiency, better performance, and smaller footprints.

High-Performance Biofiltration

  • Modular systems like biofiltration units provide rapid, repeatable installation while delivering strong pollutant removal.

Hydrodynamic Separation & Advanced Filtration

  • Devices that capture sediment, trash, oils, and nutrients help meet water-quality-based effluent limits (WQBELs) and keep pollutants out of receiving waters.

Underground Detention and Infiltration

  • Modular underground systems maximize storage without sacrificing buildable land—ideal for urban lots and redevelopment sites.

Smart Monitoring & Flow Control

  • Automated structures allow real-time adjustments, optimizing storage, improving water quality outcomes, and reducing manual maintenance.

Permeable Surfaces & Green Infrastructure

  • Solutions such as permeable pavers, vegetated systems, and erosion control products help reconnect developments with the natural water cycle.
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A More Resilient Future

Stormwater management is no longer a check-the-box requirement—it’s a defining feature of sustainable development. From protecting communities to enhancing water quality to supporting green infrastructure goals, modern stormwater solutions are helping engineers design spaces that work with nature rather than against it.

Bridge going across a river.
As technology advances, the industry is moving toward integrated systems, data-driven controls, and smarter designs that prioritize resilience.