A Site-Scale Tool for Performance-Based Design of Stormwater Best Management Practices

Abstract

The objective of this research is to develop a module for the design of best management practices based on percent pollutant removal. The module is a part of the site-scale integrated decision support tool (i-DSTss) that was developed for stormwater management. The current i-DSTss tool allows for the design of best management practices based on flow reduction. The new water quality module extends the capability of the i-DSTss tool by adding new procedures for the design of best management practices based on treatment performance. The water quality module can be used to assess the treatment of colloid/total suspended solid and dissolved pollutants. We classify best management practices into storage-based (e.g., pond) and infiltration-based (e.g., bioretention and permeable pavement) practices for design purposes. Several of the more complex stormwater tools require expertise to build and operate. The i-DSTss and its component modules including the newly added water quality module are built on an accessible platform (Microsoft Excel VBA) and can be operated with a minimum skillset. Predictions from the water quality module were compared with observed data, and the goodness-of-fit was evaluated. For percent total suspended solid removal, both R2 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values were greater than 0.7 and 0.6 for infiltration-based and storage-based best management practices, respectively, demonstrating a good fit for both types of best management practices. For percent total phosphorous and Escherichia. coli removal, R2 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values demonstrated an acceptable fit. To enhance usability of the tool by a broad range of users, the tool is designed to be flexible allowing user interaction through a graphical user interface.