Chester County's Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan

The Importance of Chester County Stormwater Management

Before you can understand why stormwater management is so important, you need to know more about what happens to rainwater after it falls. While this may be an afterthought for most, rainwater has to go somewhere, and once the ground it falls on reaches its saturation point, the remaining runoff will always be pulled by gravity down the path of least resistance until it eventually drains into local bodies of water including stream, lakes, and rivers. 

This may not seem like a big deal, but when you build something new, you drastically change natural drainage patterns, which can result in devastating consequences, including a higher risk of flooding, property damage, and local water quality degradation due to increased runoff pollution. 

Stormwater management aims to address all these issues and ensures that stormwater runoff can drain safely without having any adverse effects on the property or the environment around it. 

Innovative Stormwater Management Solutions for Chester County Construction and Land Management

Now that you know just how important having a stormwater management plan is, you may be wondering what techniques you can use to guarantee your Chester County stormwater management plan is a success. 

Well, while there is no one-size-fits-all plan for stormwater management, there are a number of techniques that you can use to tackle the unique challenges that come along with building or managing a property in Chester County. So, if you’re looking for proven techniques that work, here are some of the best stormwater management practices that you can utilize in your Chester County stormwater management plan. 

Dry Detention and Retention Basins 

Dry detention and retention basins are some of the most effective stormwater management solutions out there, and while there are significant differences, both of these solutions are great for collecting runoff water and filtering out all the garbage and pollutants that get dragged in with it. 

Both of these solutions are essentially just big basins for water to flow into, with the main difference being that dry detention basins are drained, while retention basins hold water permanently. This means that dry detention basins are particularly effective at flood control, while retention basins excel more at providing eco-friendly water filtering. 

Still, despite their differences, both of these pieces of stormwater infrastructure are well-suited for large commercial developments all over Chester County and the surrounding area.

Box and French Drains

Box and French drains are some of the most commonly used stormwater drainage solutions on properties all throughout Chester County and the surrounding area, and for good reason. They’re compact, relatively easy to install, and incredibly effective at safely directing excess water away from a property. 

While not always an all-in-one solution, if your property is plagued by perpetually wet and swampy surfaces, installing box and/or French drains can go a long way to improving the situation. 

Rain Gardens 

Rain gardens are an increasingly popular stormwater management solution that isn’t just great at dealing with stormwater runoff but can also add beauty and variety to your existing Chester County landscape. 

These special gardens essentially utilize the power of local plants and flowers to soak up and filter excess runoff as it flows downhill, making them a great option for anyone looking for a more attractive and eco-friendly stormwater management solution.

Bioswales

Bioswales are another innovative and eco-friendly stormwater management solution that’s ideal for larger properties with significant stormwater management needs. Bioswales are essentially large channels filled with local plants, gravel, and mulch that direct runoff water away from a property while also filtering out pollutants before they can contaminate local waterways. 

These bioswale channels are incredibly effective at collecting, filtering, and draining large quantities of water after storms. So, if your Chester County property has any large paved areas like parking lots, walkways, and patios that can’t absorb water, building a bioswale could be the perfect solution. 

Soil Amendments

Runoff only becomes a problem when the ground becomes completely saturated, so naturally, increasing the amount of water that the ground can absorb is a great way to reduce the amount of runoff you have to manage altogether. 

Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can add to the soil around your property to increase water absorption by increasing the amount of space between particles and providing essential nutrients that make it even easier for plants to soak up more water. From compost and wood chips to tree back and gravel, all of these can drastically increase the amount of water your landscape can absorb.

Contact R&S Property Services Today

Are you looking for innovative and effective Chester County stormwater management solutions? Give us a call. Our team is always here and happy to discuss new potential projects and will gladly tell you more about how we can make your next project a success. 

We even offer free estimates so that you’ll always have everything you need to know to fit our services into your budget. So, don’t let your stormwater management plan be anything less than a success. Call R&S Property Services and start your next project today!