New England is known for heavy rain spells, making it difficult for business owners with larger properties to manage all the stormwater. A flooded parking lot on your commercial or retail property can do much more than deter business; it can have adverse effects on water quality, cause erosion, and ruin your premise’s reputation. Let’s review how you can protect your commercial property by using retention and detention ponds to manage stormwater.

Why Is it Important to Manage Stormwater?

When stormwater falls on asphalt or other hard surfaces, it’s barred from seeping into the ground and runs off into lower areas. If the weather is severe, the redirection of a high volume of water can cause stream banks to erode and damage wildlife habitats. As the water flows, it can also pick up chemicals and refuse along the way, polluting nearby rivers and lakes. That’s why it’s important to manage stormwater on your property in the following ways.

Detention and Retention Ponds

Detention and retention ponds – also known as stormwater basins – collect water runoff and slowly releases it at a gentle, controlled rate to prevent the risk of flooding and erosion. A retention pond is built so that it retains a permanent pool of water, much like a traditional pond. A detention – or dry – pond, on the other hand, completely drains the water from its basin between storms. Both types of stormwater basins are great for storing and slowing the flow of water from pavement and roofs, and they benefit the environment as they filter refuse and harmful sediment from the water.

Underground Detention Ponds

A popular method of managing stormwater for properties without a lot of free space is an underground detention pond. If you have less than a few acres of land, you may want to consider an underground detention pond, as you can build one underneath a parking deck. Underground ponds operate similarly to traditional detention ponds, but it’s a bit trickier to ensure there’s proper drainage. To handle water flow, underground basins have pumps installed to assist with the flow of water and keep your parking area or driveway dry.

Commercial property owners need to ensure stormwater is redirected from the property at an even flow rate, which is why retention and detention ponds are so effective. Though, once these retention and detention ponds are installed, they require inspections and maintenance to ensure they’re working efficiently. At Dolan Landscaping, our construction services can help build you a small detention or retention pond for your commercial or residential property, and we can help with maintenance, as well. If you need help with your stormwater flooding, contact us today.