Commercial Stormwater Management in Southwest Washington
Stormwater is one of the most important parts of commercial site development.
When a property is cleared, graded, paved, and developed, the amount and direction of runoff can change significantly.
Commercial projects therefore need to account for drainage and stormwater as part of the overall civil design.
Why Does Development Change Stormwater?
Natural land can absorb and slow rainfall.
Development introduces surfaces such as:
Buildings
Asphalt
Concrete
Roads
Parking lots
These surfaces can increase runoff and change how water moves across the property.
Common Stormwater Components
Depending on the project, stormwater infrastructure can include:
Catch basins
Inlets
Storm pipe
Manholes
Detention facilities
Retention facilities
Swales
Outfalls
Erosion-control measures
Underground Storm Systems
Commercial developments frequently use underground stormwater piping to move runoff from developed surfaces to the appropriate treatment, detention, retention, or discharge system.
Installation can involve:
Excavation
Bedding
Pipe installation
Structures
Connections
Backfill
Compaction
Detention vs. Retention
The terms are often confused.
A detention system generally temporarily stores stormwater and releases it at a controlled rate.
A retention system is generally designed to retain water rather than simply release it through an outlet.
The actual system should be designed by the project's qualified professionals based on applicable requirements.
Construction Stormwater
Construction itself can create stormwater concerns because grading and excavation disturb soil.
Washington's current Construction Stormwater General Permit requires regulated construction sites to develop stormwater pollution-prevention plans and implement erosion, sediment, and pollution-prevention measures.
Lewis County Stormwater
Lewis County maintains its own stormwater-management regulations and permit resources through Public Works.
Project requirements depend on the location and type of development.
Stormwater and Grading Work Together
The stormwater system doesn't exist independently of the rest of the site.
Grading establishes where water flows.
Roads affect runoff.
Buildings affect runoff.
Utilities cross drainage systems.
That means stormwater needs to be coordinated with the complete civil plan.
Rockridge Stormwater Construction
Rockridge installs stormwater systems according to project plans, specifications, and applicable requirements.
Our work includes:
Storm piping
Inlets
Manholes
Detention
Retention
Drainage
Erosion-control measures
Planning a commercial development in Southwest Washington? Contact Rockridge to discuss the excavation and stormwater construction portion of your project.
