Stormwater Management Systems

The following subsections cover flow calculations pertaining to the design of

the systems.

1. Runoff Computation

The peak rates of runoff for 5 yr and 100 yr were calculated using the

Rational Method, using the following formula:

Q = C*i*A/360

Where

Q = Peak Flow (m3 /s)

A = Drainage Area (ha)

i = Average rainfall intensity (mm/hr) for a duration equal to the

time of concentration for a particular storm frequency. The time of

concentration is the time required for stormwater runoff to flow from

the most remote point of a drainage area to the outlet.

C = Runoff coefficient (see table x)

This formula is used for sizing stormwater systems to remove water as

fast as possible from ground surfaces for the specific design storm

frequency. When

2. Drainage Area
 The drainage area to be used in the design of a stormwater system

should include all those areas which will reasonably or naturally drain

to the system.

The area term in the Rational Method formula represents the total area

tributary to the point on the system under consideration. (please refer

to Sect. X for the drainage area for the proposed site)

3. Rainfall Intensity

The rainfall intensity for a specific storm frequency and time of

concentration should be determined from intensity duration-frequency

curves (IDF curves)

2.1 Existing Land Use and Vegetation

The 54.3 hectare area to be used for the proposed Canadian Plaza is

currently a mixture of surfaces including grass and asphalt however, the

percentage of the paved road/asphalt is very small when compared to

 the landscape area/grass; this report has taken a conservative approach

and assumed that the entire existing area is cultivated land. The

resulting runoff coefficients for the existing condition are C = 0.34 and

0.47 for 5 year & 100 year storm event respectively.

Flow Diversion Structures

A flow diversion structure or flow splitter is place at between the downstream

of the main channel and the ponds. It is designed to deliver flows up to the

design water quality flow to off-line stormwater treatment facilities. Flows in

excess of the water quality flow are diverted around the treatment facility

with minimal increase in head at the flow diversion structure to avoid

surcharging the treatment facility under higher flow conditions. Flow

diversion structure is vaults equipped with weir to bypass excess runoff.

(see figure x). Weir height equal to maximum depth of Water quality flow (5

yr storm).

A flow splitter or flow diversion structure was used to direct the first fraction

of runoff (commonly called the “first flush”) into the quality pond, while

bypassing excess flows from 100 year event around the facility into a bypass

channel. The bypass then enters to a detention/quantity pond.

Runoff water is conveyed to the quality pond via the main open channel.

Once the main open channel reaches its design capacity, water backs up in

the channel and into the flow splitter itself. When the water level reaches

the bypass elevation, stormwater begins to bypass to the quantity pond.

The bypass is created and controlled by a weir in the flow splitter structure.

Bypass Elevation – the elevation of the bypass weir dictates the maximum

elevation of the water in the channel. Therefore, the bypass elevation is set

to equal to the design water elevation (which is 5 yrs storm event). Using

this method, the flow will only start to bypass the weir once the channel has

conveyed the design runoff volume.

End of Pipe Extended Detention Facility (Quantity and Quality

Control)

A two-cell facility which separates water quality and erosion control from

quantity control will be discussed in this section. The quality control cell was

designed as an artificial wet pond, and the quantity control cell was designed

as a dry detention area to receive flows only when quality pond filled.

The design criteria for the facility were:

Flood Control

– Post-development peak flows to be controlled to pre-development

levels for the lands draining to the facility for 5 to 100 year design

storm events. In addition, supplementary flood control storage was

 incorporated to ensure peak flows further downstream in the Detroit

river remained at pre-development levels

Erosion Control

– 24 hour detention for the runoff from a 40 mm storm was

incorporated.

Water Quality

– Storage was based on the 2003 SWMP Manual requirements for

enhanced protection including 40 m3/ha of active storage. This

active storage was in addition to that provided for flood and erosion

control.

Inlet Protection

Inlet areas should be protected to reduce erosion. The outfall from the

channel to the pond shall be modified to prevent erosion by use of large rip-

rap placed over filter cloth.

Pool benches are important for safety reasons and establishment of

emergent vegetation.

Outlet Design

A 8 m wide emergency overflow weir set at an elevation of 176.4 m will

convey flows out of the facility . The weir has been sized to pass a flow
equivalent to the design flow into the facility with a maximum water

elevation in the pond of 176.45m

At the outlet of the flow, a 2m long, 5 m wide rip-rap apron will be

constructed to protect the shoreline from erosion. The rip-rap will have a

median diameter of 200mm and will be placed to a depth of 400mm. The

erosion control mat that will line the flow route will extend underneath the

rip-rap to prevent any native fines from being washed away.

Other considerations

The end-of-pipe facility should be designed with a sediment forebay to

improve pollutant removal by trapping larger particles near the inlet of the

pond. It is important for maintenance and longevity of a stormwater

treatment pond. The sediment forebay sizing must be done in accordance

with MOE’s guideline 2003 and it should be constructed with a maintenance

access route to permit future monitoring and maintenance as well as provide

access in the event of an emergency. The forebay should be 1-2m deep to

minimize the potential for re-suspension and to prevent the conveyance of

re-suspended material to the pond outlet. The forebay dimensions should be

selected to provide maximum dispersion of the inflow to the pond, thereby

reducing velocities in the cell.

Oil/grit Separators (pre-treatment controls) can pre-treat the road runoff

prior to discharge to the channel by removing sediments. This, in turn, will

minimize any long-term deterioration of the pond function.

A landscaping plan for a stormwater pond and its buffer should be prepared

to indicate how aquatic and terrestrial areas will be vegetatively stabilized

and established. Wherever possible, wetland plants should be encourage in

a pond design, either along the aquatic bench, the safety bench and side

slopes or within shallow areas of the pool itself