Stormwater is one of the biggest health hazards humans have to put up with. This water contains dangerous pollutants such as debris, sediment, germs and various pathogens. This is why we have to prevent it from reaching rivers and oceans by collecting and filtering it to remove all hazards and to make it safe again. The two main functions of stormwater treatment systems are to improve the quality of the water and to manage the volume of runoff.

Let’s take a closer look into the role of underground stormwater chambers, in order for you to gain a better understanding of the need to include such devices into any stormwater management system.

Storms and floods are violent. They damage buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure works. This debris moves very fast with flood waters, hence being a tremendous hazard to other buildings or structures. These moving giants can cause severe damage to roads, buildings and vehicles. They can also harm people and animals. This is why we need to do everything it takes to control the flow and to filter the amount of debris by installing special chambers to retain water at high flows.

The role of a hydrodynamic separator or screening device is to remove trash, constructions materials and other solids from runoff. These systems play another important role, which is to reduce the amount of oil and of various other pollutants, in order to prevent the system from clogging. The result is a lower system maintenance cost. However, these systems can’t do their job without the help of additional equipment such as underground stormwater chambers.

By storing the water in these special chambers, stormwater management systems can slow the rate of runoff, thus controlling flow rates. This is one of the most effective methods to manage stormwater and to limit the damage to infrastructure and buildings. Besides, is is a cost-effective solution to protect various constructions such as commercial buildings, parking lots, shopping malls, and various other structures.

One of the main reasons to opt for underground systems is that they can help you save space. Besides, these chambers and their filters will be less exposed to the elements, since they will be almost completely buried. By using these chambers in combination with underground filters, you can remove some of the extremely challenging pollutants such as oil and grease, soluble metals, fine solids, phosphorus and various organic matters. Since these filters require a limited flow to maintain their effectiveness, it comes without saying that storing stormwater to control the flow is an absolute must. Without these chambers, it would be virtually impossible to reach the same filtration efficiency levels.

These are the main functions of these water retention chambers and the main reasons why every stormwater management solution should rely on them to provide a more effective filtration of water pollution and of flow rates. Determining the right size and type of chamber is an endeavor that requires expert analysis and a thoughtful consideration of all high flow scenarios and potential events.