Storm Water BMP: How Detention and Retention Ponds Benefit Communities

Communities that are located in areas where frequent rains occur may experience issues with the management of storm water runoff and flooding. To address this, man made ponds are built to help in collecting rainwater through connections to the community’s drainage system. These ponds are termed either detention ponds or retention ponds. Either one provides communities with storage space to trap rainwater and gradually release it to the environment. Usually, these ponds are surrounded by local vegetation that act as natural flood buffers. Apart from containing storm water, these ponds also serve as holding areas for various sediments that might eventually contaminate community water supplies and water systems.
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