Urban stormwater treatment poses increasing challenges as cities continue to grow. Stormwater treatment systems continue to evolve as technology changes, and finding a stormwater treatment unit or stormwater treatment devices to treat runoff presents a myriad of options.

Solutions for the treatment of stormwater will vary based on many factors. If you're building a stormwater treatment facility from the ground up or retrofitting an existing stormwater treatment system, then you can start your build or renovation by knowing the answers to three basic questions:

1. How much stormwater will the stormwater treatment facility treat?

2. What methods will the stormwater treatment facility use?

3. How will the stormwater treatment facility discharge the stormwater?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about stormwater treatment processes

The treatment of stormwater varies from treating potable or waste water: stormwater runoff treatment methods must go to the water rather than having a system of pipes that directs the water to a central treatment facility. Because of this it can be difficult to estimate the amount of stormwater treatment areas will handle; quantities vary depending on rainfall. Pay attention to wetlands areas and large industrial areas as these will both factor heavily into choosing a specific stormwater treatment device.

I recommend: Fusionspark Media presents a basic stormwater tutorial that you can watch to understand the simple ways to manage the treatment of stormwater. Download the BOSS International free trial of its StormNET stormwater modeling software so you can get a deeper understanding of a stormwater treatment system.

Explore different stormwater quality treatment options

Now that you have a better idea of what types of options you have for stormwater runoff treatment you can start looking at stormwater treatment options. From alum recovery plants to a stormwater treatment train, you'll find no shortage of solutions. Pay attention to everything, and if you have any questions, ask your sales representative. If he can't answer the question, then keep asking it until someone gives you a satisfactory answer.

I recommend: When looking at options for stormwater treatment devices, make sure the vendor you choose clearly explains how the system works. For example, StormTreat Systems lets you take a virtual tour of its on-site stormwater treatment unit. If you want replacement parts for an existing system, check out DirectIndustry--it offers a myriad of stormwater treatment device parts.

Decide how and where the stormwater treatment systems will discharge the water

How do you manage stormwater treatment? Wetland creation is one popular option. Other areas return the treated stormwater to lakes, rivers and bays. Obviously, every stormwater treatment area will differ, and your stormwater treatment area will present its own challenges.

I recommend: Dr. Gary Minton, P.E., wrote "Stormwater Treatment," a comprehensive book for practicing professionals in the stormwater treatment industry. The last few chapters in the book deal with wetlands mitigation and soil processes, an invaluable read for any organization facing stormwater discharge issues. The Center for Watershed Protection sells two manuals that deal with watershed restoration as part of its "Urban Subwatershed Restoration" series.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It's tempting to want to engineer a stormwater treatment facility and stormwater treatment devices without outside help, but a professional engineer (P.E.) or consulting firm that specializes in stormwater treatment systems might save you money in the long run.