Small Storm Hydrology and Why it is Important for the Design of Stormwater Control Practices

Abstract

Different drainage design criteria and receiving water use objectives often require the examination of different types of rains for the design of urban drainage systems. These different (and often conflicting) objectives of a stormwater drainage system can be addressed by using distinct portions of the long-term rainfall record. Several historical examinations (including Heaney, et al. 1977) have also considered the need for the examination of a wide range of rain events for drainage design. However, the lack of efficient computer resources severely restricted long-term analyses in the past. Currently, computer resources are much more available and are capable of much more comprehensive investigations (Gregory and James 1996). In addition to having more efficient computational resources, it is also necessary to re-examine some of the fundamental urban hydrology modeling assumptions (Pitt 1987). Most of the urban hydrology methods currently used for drainage design have been successfully used for large “design” storms. Obviously, this approach (providing urban areas safe from excessive flooding and associated flood related damages) is the most critical objective of urban drainage. However, it is now possible (and legally required in many areas) to provide urban drainage systems that also minimizes other problems associated with urban stormwater. This broader set of urban drainage objectives requires a broader approach to drainage design, and the use of hydrology methods with different assumptions and simplifications. This paper reviews actual monitored rainfall and runoff distributions for Milwaukee, WI (data from Bannerman, et al. 1983), and examines long-term rainfall histories and predicted runoff from 24 locations throughout the U.S. The Milwaukee observations show that southeastern Wisconsin rainfall distributions can be divided into the following categories, with possible management approaches relevant for each category of rain: • Common rains having relatively low pollutant discharges are associated with rains less than about 0.5 in. (12 mm) in depth. These are key rains when runoff-associated water quality violations, such as for bacteria, are of concern. In most areas, runoff from these rains should be totally captured and either re-used for on-site beneficial uses or infiltrated in upland areas. For most areas, the runoff from these rains can be relatively easily removed from the surface drainage system.