Stormwater Management Course

Lesson 1 • The Hydrologic Cycle Explained

Covers precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and runoff pathways. Establishes the natural baseline against which urban impacts are measured.

Lesson 2 • Stormwater Pollutants and Sources

Identifies common stormwater pollutants including sediment, nutrients, and heavy metals. Links pollutant sources to land-use categories for targeted management.

Lesson 3 • Watershed Concepts and Boundaries

Defines watersheds and delineates their boundaries using topographic data. Establishes the watershed as the primary planning unit for stormwater management.

Lesson 4 • Regulatory Framework Overview

Introduces the functional structure of stormwater regulations at federal, state, and local levels. Provides context for permit requirements and compliance obligations.

Lesson 1 • Rainfall Data and Design Storms

Covers intensity-duration-frequency curves and design storm selection. Accurate rainfall inputs are essential for all downstream runoff calculations.

Lesson 2 • Rational Method for Peak Flow

Applies the Rational Method to small urban catchments for peak discharge estimation. Introduces runoff coefficients and time of concentration calculations.

Lesson 3 • Unit Hydrograph Methods

Explains unit hydrograph theory for translating rainfall excess into a runoff hydrograph. Builds temporal flow distribution skills needed for detention design.

Lesson 4 • Hydrologic Modelling Software Basics

Introduces widely used hydrologic modelling platforms for automating runoff calculations. Students gain practical skills in model setup, calibration, and output interpretation.

Lesson 1 • Inlet Design and Capacity

Examines curb, grate, and combination inlet types and their hydraulic performance. Proper inlet design prevents street flooding and protects downstream systems.

Lesson 2 • Storm Sewer Pipe Design

Addresses pipe sizing, slope, and material selection for underground storm sewers. Connects hydraulic capacity requirements to practical layout decisions.

Lesson 3 • Culvert Hydraulics and Design

Covers inlet and outlet control conditions for culvert sizing under roadways. Students apply headwater and tailwater analysis to select appropriate culvert dimensions.

Lesson 4 • Roadside Swales and Ditches

Designs vegetated swales and roadside ditches for conveyance and basic water quality. Integrates erosion protection with hydraulic performance requirements.

Lesson 1 • Embankment and Basin Geometry

Covers earthen embankment design, side slopes, and basin grading for constructability. Proper geometry ensures structural integrity and long-term maintenance access.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Spillway Sizing

Designs emergency spillways to safely pass extreme storm events without embankment failure. Addresses freeboard requirements and spillway hydraulic capacity.

Lesson 3 • Storage Volume Determination

Applies stage-storage relationships and routing methods to size detention volumes. Accurate volume sizing ensures compliance with pre-development runoff targets.

Lesson 4 • Outlet Structure Design

Covers riser pipes, orifices, weirs, and multi-stage outlets for controlled release. Outlet design governs peak flow attenuation and water quality treatment time.

Lesson 1 • Permeable Pavement Systems

Examines pervious concrete, porous asphalt, and permeable interlocking pavers. Addresses structural design, subbase storage, and maintenance requirements.

Lesson 2 • Green Roofs and Rainwater Harvesting

Covers extensive and intensive green roof systems and cistern-based rainwater capture. Both practices reduce runoff volume and provide ancillary environmental benefits.

Lesson 3 • LID Principles and Site Planning

Introduces low impact development philosophy and site-scale hydrologic goals. Establishes how LID reduces runoff at the source before conveyance is needed.

Lesson 4 • Urban Trees and Vegetated Buffers

Quantifies stormwater benefits of urban tree canopy and riparian buffer strips. Integrates ecological and hydrologic functions into site and corridor planning.

Lesson 1 • Erosion Prevention Best Practices

Covers source controls including phased grading, soil stabilisation, and cover crops. Prevention reduces sediment generation before transport controls are needed.

Lesson 2 • Erosion Processes and Risk Assessment

Explains sheet, rill, and gully erosion mechanics and the factors that drive soil loss. Risk assessment informs BMP selection and sequencing on construction sites.

Lesson 3 • Construction Site Stormwater Plans

Develops stormwater pollution prevention plans required for construction site permits. Integrates erosion and sediment controls into a compliant, site-specific document.

Lesson 4 • Post-Construction Stabilisation

Addresses final stabilisation requirements including seeding, sodding, and hard armouring. Ensures disturbed areas are permanently protected before permit termination.

Lesson 1 • Pollutant Removal Mechanisms

Explains sedimentation, filtration, adsorption, and biological uptake as treatment processes. Understanding removal mechanisms guides BMP selection for specific pollutants.

Lesson 2 • Constructed Wetlands for Treatment

Covers surface flow and subsurface flow constructed wetland design for stormwater polishing. Wetlands provide nutrient and pathogen removal with ecological co-benefits.

Lesson 3 • Treatment Train Design

Combines multiple BMPs in sequence to achieve cumulative pollutant removal targets. Treatment train design optimises performance within site area and cost constraints.

Lesson 4 • Sand Filters and Media Filters

Designs surface and underground sand filter systems for fine sediment and metal removal. Addresses pretreatment requirements and filter media replacement cycles.

Lesson 1 • Stormwater Infrastructure Inspection

Establishes inspection protocols for pipes, inlets, ponds, and green infrastructure assets. Regular inspection data drives maintenance prioritisation and capital planning.

Lesson 2 • Permit Compliance and Reporting

Covers annual report preparation, record-keeping, and self-audit procedures for permit compliance. Accurate documentation protects municipalities from enforcement actions.

Lesson 3 • Municipal Stormwater Programme Structure

Outlines the six minimum control measures required under municipal stormwater permits. Provides a framework for organising programme activities and staff responsibilities.

Lesson 4 • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Develops systematic field procedures for identifying and removing non-stormwater discharges. Illicit discharges are a primary source of chronic water quality impairment.