KCI | Environmental Compliance and Stormwater Management

Berm it

Pre-planning for stormwater run-off and erosion and sediment control early is a necessity.  All landscapes are unique.  For every site being developed, one of the top priorities is ensuring stormwater run-off is diverted properly on a construction site.

There are many ways a site developer or contractor can implement proper stormwater flow diversion structures.  Storm drains, dikes, berms, and swales can be used to collect and divert runoff preventing stormwater contaminants depositing into receiving waterbodies.

Preplanned flow diversion structures are frequently modified throughout a construction timeline.  As the landscape becomes altered as the construction phases progress, many times various diversion systems must be re-aligned to accommodate proper stormwater run-off containment.

One primary measure is the specific data associated from the typical stormwater flow at a site.   Collecting data will promote better understanding to specific patterns of stormwater drainage so effective diversion structures and their locations can be identified for maximum flow efficiently.

Florida has many types of wetlands such as swamps, marshes, and natural springs everywhere.  Many of the construction sites we perform stormwater management are extremely close to a wetland.  We see a variety of diversion structures utilized through-out the construction phases with most of our clients. 

From the grading and excavation to final stabilization, berms are used effectively to guarantee erosion, sediment, and unwanted contaminants do not enter Florida’s beautiful wetlands.  Every day, the landscape is continuously altered during construction.  At times, the site must be modified to properly allow for stormwater runoff to flow towards a specific conveyance system to eliminate run-off leaving the site.

Berms can be temporary or permanent stormwater diversions during the lifecycle of a construction development.  Berms also are used at times to help divert stormwater flow towards other BMPs like basins, swales, and possibly detention or retention ponds. During the end of the construction project, berms are often used during final stabilization and eventually end up as part of the permanent vegetative stormwater-run control within the aesthetic landscaping process.  

Let KCI help you Berm it.  We are stormwater management experts.  Call us today at 888-346-7779 to learn more.