Best Management Practice

Wet Detention

What is wet detention?

Wet ponds, known as stormwater ponds, wet retention ponds, or wet extended detention ponds, are basin structures designed to retain a continuous pool of water, typically present year-round or during the wet season. These ponds primarily utilize sediment settling and biological activity to remove pollutants, particularly nutrients, from stormwater runoff. Historically, wet ponds have been widely employed as a stormwater control measure, particularly in larger development initiatives.

Why use wet detention?

Structural stormwater management aims to achieve four overarching objectives for resource preservation: flood mitigation, channel integrity, groundwater replenishment, and pollutant reduction. Wet ponds play a significant role in fulfilling these goals by offering flood control, safeguarding channels, and facilitating pollutant removal.

Advantages

Durable over time 

Requires little maintenance 

Increases water quality

Disadvantages

Causes loss of wetland and forest

Requires large area of land

For more resources click the links below!

Check out our social media below

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Flickr

Copyright © 2024 Protect Wisconsin Waterways