Retention Ponds

What Is It?

A retention basin is used to manage storm water runoff to prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent river, stream, lake or bay. Sometimes called a wet pond or wet detention basin, it is an artificial lake with vegetation around the perimeter, and includes a permanent pool of water in its design.

How Does It Work?

● The basic idea is very simple. Instead of letting runoff from a building flow straight into a creek, it first flows into the retention pond. This pond can be either wet or dry. A wet pond always has some water in it, and therefore looks like a pond all the time. A dry retention structure may be as simple as a grassy basin that fills when it rains and then dries out.

● The point of the retention pond is to let water settle and absorb into the earth, rather than building up in lakes and rivers, which causes flooding.

How Easy or Complicated Is This?

● It's super easy! A retention pond is formed naturally based on the slope of the earth near a structure (i.e. school, apartment complex, shopping center).

● Next time you are near such a structure, look around for an area that appears to be where water runoff goes.

Examples

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retention_basin

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-retention-pond.htm

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1108/HowStuffWorks_retention_pond.php3