Austin Balser, Daniel Chewning,

Kelly Creswell, Tyler DuBose

Introduction
Overview
Problem
Goals
Constraints
Literature Review
Design Methodology and Materials
Analysis of Information
Synthesis of Design
Alternative Design Options
Approach to Solution and Final Design
Sustainability
Budget
Timeline
References

Problem
Recognition:
Urban and suburban development leads to high runoff
rates and low infiltration rates which reduce the quality
of ground and surface water
Definition:
Rapid increase of development in Charleston, SC
leading to high volume of runoff and flooding

http://www.modelstoglobe.com/ESW/Images/Earth_Globe.png

Goal
Design a stormwater management plan for Sea Aire

subdivision that:
Meets state and local regulations by ensuring the peak

flow during a 2 and 25 year storm event doesnt exceed

pre-development levels
Ensures the post-development runoff volume doesnt
exceed pre-development levels

Robinson Design Engineers: Site Plan

Robinson Design Engineers: Site Plan

Constraints
Ecological: Must work with existing soil, water table,

vegetation, and waterways

Ultimate use: Residential living and recreational
space
Skills: Limited knowledge and experience with
stormwater design
Cost: Budget of $1200 for design process. Must account
for travel expenses, software, and testing services

Questions of User, Client and Designer

User- Residents of Sea Aire
What is a rain garden, why are there plants in the ditch?
What do I have to do?
Client- New Leaf Builders through Robinson Design

Engineers
Will this meet regulations?
Will it cost more?

Designer- The design team and RDE

Will this be long lived?
Can this be an amenity?

Governing Equations
Energy Balance
Mass Balance

Curve Number Method

Hortons Equation
Universal Soil Loss Equation

Stormwater Management
Conventional Methods versus LID methods
Conventional methods provide solutions at the bottom
of the site (ponds, basins, ect.)
Low impact development methods encourage
infiltration from all locations on site in an effort to
mimic the more natural process

Comparison of Volume
1 Pre-development
2 Conventional Methods
3 LID Methods

LID methods maintain predevelopment runoff volume

while conventional methods
lead to increased volume
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/green/upload/lid_hydr.pdf

Conventional Methods
Detention basins
Drains
Concrete ditches

Culverts

http://www.stormwaterpartners.com/facilities/images/DetentionPond1.jpg

http://precisionsetup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/v-ditch-4.jpg

Low Impact Development Methods

Green roofs
Rain water collection
Constructed wetlands
Bioretention cells
Rain gardens
Permeable pavement

https://encryptedtbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQE5A0MNi9kLQ7syPJpxKb0aRJ3k2h5L7U6Zzy3Fy5c
AJWabiTIF5Vo_Ds

http://www.sciotogardens.com/images/rain%20garden.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4Z-m20Aw00nkD4n_06eBr9JWP2j7-09BC-PVkD6LVcGVnJe6M4g

Constructed Wetlands
Public area of development will

need a way to catch and retain

stormwater
Help filter and remove
containments, Natures Kidney
Shallow depression in the ground
with a level bottom

https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/safes/faculty_staff/research/hitchcock/7_strosnider_et_al_asabe_2007.pdf

Design Methodology and Materials

Analysis of Information
Synthesis of Design
Evaluation of Alternatives
LID Techniques
Stormwater Pond
Stormwater Wetland
Selection of Final Approach

Analysis of Information
Rainfall Distribution Data: Type II
2-year storm: 4.3 inches
25- year storm: 8.0 inches
5

Cummulative Rainfall (in)

4.5
4
3.5

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15
Time (hours)

20

25

30

Determining Site Runoff

Determined weighted curve number for site using

WebSoil Survey Data

Calculated runoff depth using Curve Number Method
Used HEC HMS and SWMM to compute and compare
runoff depth for the entire site

http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

2-Year Storm Hydrographs

2-Year Storm: Pre- Development
Runoff Depth: 0.62 inches
Peak Runoff Rate: 0.8 cfs

2-Year Storm: Post- Development

Runoff Depth: 2.57 inches
Peak Runoff Rate: 3.5 cfs

25- Year Storm Hydrographs

25-Year Storm: Pre- Development
Runoff Depth: 2.70 inches
Peak Runoff Rate: 3.9 cfs

25-Year Storm: Post- Development

Runoff Depth: 5.82 inches
Peak Runoff Rate: 8.0 cfs

Change in Runoff
Overall change for site
2: +2.08
25: +2.71
Change per lot
2: +2.52
25: +3.86
Volume retained for site
2: 40833 ft3 (0.3 mil. gal)
25: 67892 ft3 (0.5 mil. gal)
Volume retained per lot
2: 1024 ft3 (7666 gal)
25: 1570 ft3 (11743 gal)

Design Options
Detention Basin
125717 ft3 (0.94 million gal)
0.9 Acres (15%)
Treatment Wetland
138288 ft3 (1 million gal)
1 Acre (17%)
LID Techniques
1860 ft2 lot area (50%)
1133 ft2 roof area

Evaluation of Options
Detention Basin
Low cost
Space
Treatment Wetland
Higher cost
Space
LID Techniques
Lower cost
Lower space

Final Approach
LID Techniques
Vegetative Roof
Rain Barrel
Rain Garden
Porous Pavement
Infiltration Trench
Bioretention Cell
Constructed Wetland

Average Residential Lot

Lot Area: 4857 ft2
Roof Area: 1133 ft2

Driveway Area: 527 ft2

Robinson Design Engineers: Site Layout

Garage Area: 264 ft2

40% of the residential lot is impervious

Vegetative Roof
Plants
Sedum
Growing Media
Filter fabric
Drainage Layer
Root Protection

Layer
Waterproof
Membrane
Structural
Component

http://godfreyroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/green-roofing-layers.png

http://www.optigreen.com/produkte/draenageplatten/fkd-40/

Design Considerations
Initial Growth of Vegetation
Avoiding Leaks
Cost of Materials

Access to Roof- Maintenance

Pitch of Roof
Gutter System

http://i.stack.imgur.com/tW8B8.jpg

http://www.jrsmith.com/uploads/fileLibrary/1010_rdp_lg.jpg

Vegetative Roof Holding Capacity

Designed to hold 50% of the amount of water falling on the

roof during a 2-year storm

Each layer of a vegetative roof has a certain water capacity
Component
Plants

Water Holding Capacity

-

Total
-

Media Layer
Filter Fabric

40%, 4 inches
-

148.7 ft3
-

Drainage Layer

8 L/m2

32.3 ft3

Root Protection Layer

Waterproof Layer
Roof Material

4 L/m2
-

14.8 ft3
-

Total Water Storage: 195 ft3

Rain Barrels

Balance between aesthetics and

storage
1800 gallons roof runoff (2 yr.storm)
2700 gallons roof runoff (25 yr. storm)

Linked barrels increased

http://gardenwatersaver.com/c
onnector-kits/

http://gardenwatersaver.com/connector-kits/

volume without overwhelming size

Tank Volume: 200 gallon tanks
Dimensions: 47height, 36 diameter
To be placed on both the house and
garage
Total Storage Capacity: 800 gallons
(4 barrels total)
Overflow management: Automatic
Downspout Diverter

Automatic Downspout Diverter

http://www.gardeners.com/buy/downspout-diverter/33-991VS.html

Permeable Pavement

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater/PublicationFiles/PermPave2008.pdf

Pavement
Surface
Storage
Underdrain

Design Considerations
Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICPs)
Maintenance
Street sweeping
Pressure washing
Vacuum truck
At least once per year, or after evident damage

PICP Design
3-inch pavement layer
Surface slope = 2 to 3%
Storage thickness = 6 to 18

inches
Underdrain pipe = 1 to 4
inches from bottom of
layer
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater/PublicationFil
es/ICPIreport2004.pdf

Infiltration Trench
Underground water storage and infiltration feature
Coarse gravel surrounded by filter fabric and topped

with soil

Schueler, Controlling Urban Runoff

Design Details
Appropriate area and volume
15% of the lot area
2196 ft3
Water storage
40% void space
878 ft3
Infiltration rate

http://stormwaterbook.safl.umn.edu/sites/stormwaterbook.safl.umn.edu/files/fig9.3.jpg

Rain Garden

Surface Area: 600 ft2

Soil Media 70% sand content
Depth: 3 ft. (Infiltration rate x 24 hr)
Ponding Depth: 6 in.
Plants: Beautyberry, Palmetto Dwarf, Purple Coneflower
Water Table Level

http://kawarthaconservation.com/images/rain-garden_diagram.jpg

Bioretention Cells
Bioretention cells in public area
The cells will overflow into vegetative swales or

underdrain pipes below the bioretention cell to leave

the site via the constructed wetland

http://www.northinlet.sc.edu/LID/FinalDocument/loRes/4.2%20Bioretention%20low%20res.pdf

Constructed Wetland
Manage water flowing onto the site through existing

ditch
Treat water for quality and quantity before it leaves the
site
Handle excess runoff from individual lots and
common areas

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/448/448-407/L_IMG_fig6.jpg

Can We Do It?
Design Storm

2 year
25 year

Units
Gallons
Feet3

Green Roof
1465
196

Pre-Development
Runoff Depth (in)

Post-Development
Runoff Depth (in)

Increase in Runoff
Depth After
Development (with
no LID controls) (in)

0.62
2.7

3.14
6.56

2.52
3.86

Rain Barrels
800
107

Water Storage Capacities of LID Methods

Infiltration Trench
Permeable Pavement
6567
1800
878
241

Runoff Volume (gal)

7629
11686

Rain Garden
5520
738

Total Water Storage

16152
2159

If all LID methods were used together the 25 year storm could

theoretically be contained on each property

Due to spatial and budgetary constraints, not all LID controls will be
installed on a property
Balance between space allotment, water capacity, and budget
Therefore, management of flow into the main area from individual
plots must still be considered

SWMM Model

EPA SWMM, Tyler Dubose

http://www.hydraulicmodel.com/sites/hydraulicmodel.com/files/images/epa_logo_1_2.th
umbnail.png

SWMM Cont.

EPA SWMM, Tyler Dubose

Sustainability Measures
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Materials selected
Carbon and Water costs
Efficiency
Societal Issues
Overall Carbon and Water footprint

Life Cycle Assessment

Vegetative Roof:
Polypropylene, HDPE, PVC, media transportation
Rain Garden and Bioretention Cell:
PVC, material transportation, construction
Porous Pavement:
PICP, gravel
Infiltration Trench:
Geotex filter fabric, gravel, excavation and transportation
Rain Barrel:
Polyethylene
Constructed Wetland:
Plants, soil media, drain materials

LCA Cont.
Ecological goal of zero impact on the runoff volume

coming from the site as a means of maintaining the

existing ecosystem
Social ultimately serves the people living in the
development. Promotes an active lifestyle and provides
an educational opportunity.
Economic prevents future flooding and erosion
Ethical aim to balance the wishes of the clients and
the biological integrity of the site

Sustainability
Efficiency
Capture 100% of stormwater runoff on site for design
storm
Carbon and Water footprint
Carbon negative

Gravity fed systems

Plants will sequester carbon

Potential for decreased freshwater demands due to

rainwater recycling (rain barrels)

Budget
Vegetative Roof
$5700 not including construction cost or initial roofing cost,
approximately $5/ft3
Rain Garden:
$2300, not including installation costs
Porous Pavement:
$3450, not including installation costs
Rain Barrels:
$1170 for all 4
Infiltration Trench:
$1800 gravel and geotex

Timeline
Event
Finish Proposal
Present Proposal
Finish majority of Literature Review
Pick Design
Start Writing Midterm Paper
3- week progress report
Develop preliminary Design
Calculations for Design
Finish Writing Midterm paper
Midterm Presentation and paper due
Cost Analysis for Design
Bring together final design
Write Final Paper
Final Presentation

9/8

9/10

9/17

9/24

10/1

10/7

10/8

10/15

10/22

10/29

11/5

11/12

11/19

11/26

12/3

Questions?

Robinson Design Engineers

References
http://landstudy.org/Resources.html
Fangmeier, D.D., Elliot, W.J., Huffman, R.L.,

Workman, S.R. 2013. Wetlands. Soil and Water

Conservation Engineering. Seventh Edition. 287-302.
Best Management Practices Handbook. South
Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control.
www.scdhec.gov/Environment/waterquality/stormwat
er/BMPHandbook/