Stormwater management, urban stormwater runoff, best-management practices (BMP), municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), total maximum daily loads (TMDL), and many other terms and issues have made stormwater a much more complex challenge than in the past. Treatment of urban stormwater runoff presents its own challenges. Communities and developers, public and private entities now must plan to meet these challenges and improve and control discharges into the streams and rivers of our country.

The names and acronyms for stormwater management may be challenging, but the overall process does not have to be a mystery. Stormwater management is the latest segment of our environment to receive attention, and it is based upon many of the same premises developed in control of other systems such as combined sewers.

Several factors should be considered in arriving at a plan and developing solutions. These factors can include floodplain and floodway delineations, retention/detention facilities, and stormsewer systems which include swales, pipes, BMP facilities, and inlets.

State and federal regulations require specific steps be taken over a period of time to improve the stormwater quality. A community or utility must maintain its facilities to treat, to convey, and to store its stormwater to meet existing and new regulations for water quality.

Whitaker Engineering provides the expertise with a personal touch to meet the challenges to any stormwater system. Staff members use traditional engineering capabilities with new technology, including GIS and computer modeling software, to give any utility or community the best information available about its water system. These approaches have won engineering and GIS Awards.

Whitaker Engineering’s staff designs stormwater facilities and manages their construction and rehabilitation. Staff members model stormwater systems to properly size and locate facilities for improved service to the community.

Whitaker Engineering’s greatest strength is its ability to plan for the future with its clients. Master plans promote sound decisions and help budget for future system improvements and maintenance.