Stormwater Management

Stormwater Systems

Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Understanding Stormwater Systems

Each stormwater system is made up of components or assets called stormwater control measures (SCMs) or best management practices (BMPs). SCMs can include retention ponds, parking lot swales and curb inlets. Most stormwater systems are a mix of aboveground and underground systems. Some may be traditional “gray infrastructure” or manufactured, concrete devices, while some SCMs may utilize vegetation to treat water, called green stormwater infrastructure. 

Request a Consultation

Services

Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Aboveground Assets

Aboveground stormwater assets collect and treat stormwater, offering water quality benefits and reducing flooding.
sinkholes

Catch Basins, Inlets & Grates

Also referred to as gutters, storm grates or curb drain inlets, catch basins are the first line of defense against property flooding.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Detention Pond

Detention ponds are designed to temporarily hold stormwater to improve water quality and reduce peak flow.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Dry Wells

Dry wells are deep chambers underground that allow stormwater to infiltrate into the surrounding groundwater table.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Grassed Swales & Rip Rap

Grassed swales and riprap slow stormwater runoff, allowing the dense grass and vegetation to collect pollutants and reduce runoff velocity.
stormwater vactor services

Hydrodynamic Separators

Hydrodynamic separators are underground systems that utilize technology and innovations to removal trash, debris, sediment and hydrocarbons from stormwater.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Level Spreaders

Level spreaders are installed to disperse waterflow and avoid erosion by redirecting the concentrated energy created by runoff.
erosion

Outfalls

Stormwater outfalls are crucial points of a stormwater system. Explore components of these discharge points and how they manage stormwater.
cleaning stormwater filtration systems

Proprietary Systems

Proprietary systems are prefabricated stormwater control measures designed to efficiently treat stormwater with advanced technology.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Retention Pond

Retention ponds are designed to capture, store and treat stormwater runoff in urban areas.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Storm Sewers

Underground pipeline that conveys water from urban properties to receiving waters.
stormwater infiltration assets

Stormwater Infiltration Assets

Similar to Detention Ponds, Infiltration Basins collect stormwater and allow it to filter back into the groundwater.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Stormwater Vaults

Stormwater vaults collect runoff from rain events but do not naturally offer treatment. Learn more about maintaining and inspecting these stormwater assets.
trash can in ground

Trash Capture Devices

Trash capture devices are designed to collect debris and trash before it can infiltrate local waterways.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Underground Infrastructure

Some stormwater asset control measures are installed underground to collect and treat stormwater. Learn more about the various types and uses of these assets.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Emergency Response

For assistance with emergency service needs, call us immediately.

855-480-1273
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Nationwide Services

Review our locations and find your local representative with our interactive search. 

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions about Stormwater Systems

The stormwater assets on a property were designed to best serve the property based on expected rainfall, common pollutants and municipal regulations. Together these assets store and convey stormwater to reduce flooding and pollutants while stormwater returns to larger bodies of water to facilitate the water cycle. As these assets collect pollutants, they must be regularly inspected, cleaned and maintained. 

Stormwater systems can be designed to collect the following: 

  • Sediment 
  • Trash and debris 
  • Excess runoff 
  • Nitrogen and phosphorus 
  • Metals 
  • Oils and grease 

It is best practice to have a stormwater professional perform a site inspection to understand what assets are on your property. There may be records of original design plans that include SCMs, but these may be outdated. 

Municipalities may send property owners a notice of violation or corrective notice due to lack of compliance with stormwater regulations. The notice will include the stormwater failure and a timeline to perform repairs. Contact a stormwater professional today to remediate the notice.

Stormwater maintenance is preventative. Regular maintenance ensures the system will continue to operate without major interruptions.

In some cases, the original design of the property does not account for modern rainfall and runoff amounts. If your stormwater system no longer properly manages stormwater on your property, you may need to consult a stormwater engineer about adding or rehabilitating stormwater assets on your property. 

Maintaining Stormwater Systems

Case Studies

beaver dam catch basin manhole

Beaver Dam, Wis. Catch Basin Spray Cast

AQUALIS stormwater professionals inspected a retail property and found severe damage to multiple catch basins, necessitating repairs to prevent environmental liability and ensure site operations.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Pataskala, Ohio Pond Aeration

This commercial distribution center has four retention ponds on the property to offset the impervious surface area. These ponds collect, store and treat stormwater runoff.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Durham, N.C. Systematic Neglect Leads to Rehabilitation

The property owners on this site noted cracking and shifting along the edge of the parking lot near stormwater assets. Understanding the gravity of the situation, they reached out to AQUALIS to conduct a preliminary inspection of the stormwater system.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Broward County, Fla. Corrective Maintenance Protects Assets

Regular maintenance of stormwater assets protects properties from failures related to buildup and structural issues. Routinely inspecting and maintaining these assets can prevent costly repairs.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Durham, N.C. Sinkhole Leads to Stormwater System Rehabilitation

The tenant on this property noticed a depression that opened to the ground below and notified the property owners.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Steubenville, Ohio Slope Collapse

The stormwater pipe on this property failed leading to a catastrophic sinkhole that affected a nearby wastewater line. Quick, efficient work was of the upmost importance to repair both pipelines, the sinkhole and surrounding area.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Kenosha, Wis. Highway KR Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance

The Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Kenosha County, and others worked with AQUALIS to design and implement an innovative solution for stormwater control along Highway KR.
Open manhole cleaning

Seattle, Wash. Lift Station Rehabilitation

During the retrofit process on this commercial property, the client and their previously hired engineering firm noted an expected increase in their waste stream. AQUALIS regularly maintained the lift station on the property and was the first choice for the two entities to advise and redesign the current lift station.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

San Antonio, Tex. Sand Filter Remediation

The sand filter basin on this site was not maintained and over time became laden with vegetation and no longer offered water quality benefits.
War Memorial Center stormwater maintenance

Milwaukee, Wis. War Memorial Center Stormwater Management

The War Memorial Center in Milwaukee, Wis. is a living memorial and museum intended to “Honor the Dead by Serving the Living”. Constructed in 1955, this site needed restructuring to better treat stormwater runoff from parking lots prior to entering Lake Michigan.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Milwaukee, Wis. Green Stormwater Schoolyard Redevelopment Projects

Through received grants, Milwaukee Public School’s (MPS) project goal was to remove tens of thousands of square feet of asphalt to manage hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater runoff while providing significant opportunities for students to engage in Green Infrastructure and eco-literacy topics firsthand through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curricular connections.
Goats graze in a field for vegetation management

Lakewood, Wash. Vegetation Management

A customer site in Lakewood, Wash. was experiencing vegetation overgrowth that was invasive and unsightly. To prevent the vegetation from overtaking stormwater assets, goats were used to naturally remove the plants and protect existing stormwater assets.
Retention pond covered in algae surrounded by downed trees with a house and Mt Rainer in the background

Tacoma, Wash. Pond Clearing

Proactive property managers of this homeowners association requested rehabilitation of stormwater ponds after over twenty years of neglect.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Maynard, Mass. Underground Pipe Inspection

During routine inspection, the Town of Maynard, Mass. found pollutants leaving this retail site. To remediate the issue the AQUALIS inspected, cleaned and repaired the stormwater pipes.
pond rehabilitation

Pontiac, Mich. Pond Rehabilitation

Improper pond dredging and sediment stabilization leads to necessary stormwater pond rehabilitation.
Summerfest Administration Building

Milwaukee, Wis. Grant Assistance and Green Infrastructure

AQUALIS assisted Summerfest earn grant assistance for Green Infrastructure redesign.
Excavator digging a trench alongside a full parking lot behind and below a metal barrier

Salisbury, Md. Bioretention Remediation

Commercial property received Notice of Violation (NOV) requiring remediation of two bioretention cells on site.
Stormwater Systems - AQUALIS

Snohomish County, Wash. Underground Stormwater System Rehabilitation

A multi-family property received a notice of violation (NOV) listing fifteen deficiencies requiring corrective action.
Man looking up helps to guide placement of lift station pump hanging from red hook into an opening with metal hinged doors lifted

Hallandale Beach, Fla. Commercial Lift Station Repair

During a maintenance visit, technicians noticed lift station pumps nearing failure. Because this was found before failure, the replacement was scheduled to avoid backups.
Man walks along compacted path beside detention pond surrounded by trees under a blue sky

Jacksonville, Fla. Wet Detention Pond Rehabilitation

A wet detention pond located adjacent to a shipping and transportation warehouse required corrective action to restore access for maintenance.
Stormwater detention basin at the foot of grassy hill split by a rock- filled gash below office building and parking lot

Columbia, Md. Stormwater Detention Basin Rehabilitation

The local municipality issued an NOV for this basin experiencing sediment displacement and buildup and failing structures.
Lift Station After

Blaine, Wash. Lift Station Replacement

AQUALIS’ lift station experts were called to inspect the condition of the two above-ground sanitary lift stations.
Two Sinkholes

Raleigh, N.C. Sinkhole Restoration

Sinkholes appeared in the drive lane of this complex. AQUALIS was called to investigate.
Truck with hydro vacuum, orange traffic cones and front-mounted hose spool parked at curb in front of storm drain grate

Bellevue, Wash. Utility Daylighting and Repairs

This property experienced regular flooding around downspouts. AQUALIS was notified to ensure the system was functioning properly.
Overhead view of sewage pump suspended from metal bar with chains, connected to gray pipe and white air blower

Edgewater, N.J. Lift Station Repairs

Neglected and without a proper maintenance plan, the system ran without issue for a time, until it did not.
Overgrown Basin

Augusta, Ga. Stormwater Basin Rehabilitation

This location lacked a consistent stormwater maintenance plan, leaving the property to fall out of compliance.
Retention Pond Outlet Pipe

Athens, Ga. Stormwater Detention Pond Outlet Faces Severe Erosion

In Athens, GA, a retail store’s stormwater detention pond outlet was affected by substantial erosion.
Clean Filter Vault

Newton, N.J. Contech Filter Vault Rehabilitation

During AQUALIS’ first service visit to the site, a Contech Filter Vault was identified, and quickly found to be out of compliance with manufacturer guidelines.
Cleared Retention Pond

Fayetteville, N.C. Wet Detention Basin Restoration

A store in Fayetteville, NC provides the community with excellent customer service, and durable and long-lasting products that will hold their value for years to come.
Rehabilitated Dry Detention Pond

The City of Florence Dry Detention Basin Rehabilitation

For decades, a store in Florence, KY has provided innovative products that create a personalized shopping experience for customers. Their dedication to excellent customer service has made this store a go-to for customers of all ages.

Did you receive an NOV? Have an urgent need? We can help.

Reach out to an AQUALIS representative today.

Learn More About NOVs
Request a Consultation