Stormwater management is an essential part of any community’s infrastructure. During heavy rain events, large volumes of water can quickly accumulate and cause damage to homes, businesses, and the surrounding environment. If not properly managed, stormwater can also cause erosion, pollution, unwanted sedimentation, and pose a threat to public health.
As a natural compliment to landscape architecture, BGS civil engineering services are tailored to site development, permitting and construction. In Florida, we specialize in stormwater management, water distribution systems and utilities management and permitting.
What is Stormwater Management?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stormwater management is the effort to reduce runoff caused by excessive precipitation onto hardscape and greenscape areas, while also improving water quality of existing surface water.
Why is it Important?
- Prevents Flooding: South Florida experiences heavy rainfall, and sometimes, the occasional hurricane throughout the year. If stormwater infrastructure is not properly managed, heavy flooding can cause serious damage to the community, cause property damage, disrupt transportation, as well as pose a threat to public safety.
- Helps Protect Natural Areas: South Florida is home to unique ecosystems that rely on clean water to survive. Proper stormwater management can help protect these natural areas and the species that depend on them.
- Protects Water Quality: Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants, such as oil and grease, pesticides, and fertilizers, into local water bodies, including lakes, rivers, and the ocean. In South Florida, these water bodies are critical to the region‘s economy and recreational activities.
How to Effectively Manage Stormwater:
Our team of civil engineering professionals specialize in stormwater management and utilize various designs and specifications to ensure effective stormwater management. Our services encompass a wide range of approaches to manage stormwater, including:
- Stormwater Management & Design: Stormwater management and design involves planning, designing, and implementing systems to manage stormwater runoff. This includes designing stormwater infrastructure, such as surface & sub-surface drainage systems to collect, treat, and discharge stormwater.
- Grading & Drainage: Grading and drainage involves shaping the land and paved surfaces to promote proper drainage and prevent water from pooling or flooding. This includes designing grading and drainage systems to direct stormwater runoff away from structures and towards appropriate stormwater management systems.
- Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling: Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling involves the use of computer software and calculations from known equations to illustrate how water moves through the landscape. This helps our engineers design stormwater infrastructure and predict how it will perform under different weather conditions.
- Water Management System Design: Water management system design involves designing systems to manage both stormwater and other types of water, such as wastewater and drinking water. This includes designing infrastructure such as pipes, pumps, and utility systems to collect and distribute water.
- Construction Inspections and Administration: Construction inspections and administration involve overseeing the construction of stormwater infrastructure and ensuring that it is built to the required standards, specifications, and design drawings. This includes performing inspections during construction and managing the construction process.
- Drainage Inspections & Certifications: Drainage inspections and certifications involve inspecting stormwater infrastructure post construction to ensure that it is functioning properly and meets regulatory requirements. This includes certifying that any stormwater management systems (e.g., exfiltration, ponds, drainage, etc.) are functioning as designed and that they are not causing adverse impacts to the environment or surrounding properties.
- Local and SFWMD Permitting: Local and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) permitting involves obtaining the necessary permits for stormwater infrastructure projects. This includes obtaining local permits from the municipality or county where the project is located, as well as obtaining permits from the SFWMD, which is responsible for regulating water resources in South Florida. These permits ensure that stormwater infrastructure is built to the required standards and does not cause adverse impacts to the environment or surrounding properties.
Ensuring proper stormwater management is essential for safeguarding communities and the environment. At BGS, we specialize in this field and are developing a track record optimizing properties for effective stormwater management. If you are looking to learn more about our services or looking to collaborate on a new project, we’d be interested to talk with you more. Please contact us today or call 561-602-6277.