Detention Pond vs Retention Pond: Key Differences

Stormwater runoff can overwhelm cities’ sewer systems and causes them to overflow into local waterways, which can cause significant environmental damage. Reducing runoff from rainstorms near their sources can help prevent expensive damage caused by floods and erosion. One way to manage storm water runoff is by building basins. Basins are meant to collect the water, and release it at a rate the prevents flooding or erosion.

There are two types of basins and although commonly mixed up, there are differences between a detention pond vs retention pond.

Differences Between Detention and Retention Ponds

A detention pond is a reservoir created to temporarily hold storm water runoff, while a retention pond is constructed for the purposes of reducing downstream flooding. The main difference between these two types of ponds is that detention ponds are designed to be dry most of the time and used only after storms, whereas retention ponds are designed with features like an outlet or spillway that regulate how much water can leave the pond at one time.

Other key differences in detention vs retention ponds includes detention ponds having no outlets or spillways and rely on natural processes such as evaporation for water removal. While retention ponds often discharge excesses via an outlet or spillway

Similarities Between Detention and Retention Ponds

Although different, a detention pond and retention pond also share some similarities such as being excellent options for hold storm water runoff. Both are also usually designed to be filled from the bottom up through a system of pipes. They both are known to hold off flood waters, slowly releasing the water to prevent floods.

What is a Detention pond?

Detention ponds serve a purpose of holding off storm water to prevent flooding. They are especially useful during periods of heavy rain and flooding. The detention pond is a man-made reservoir that holds the runoff, so it doesn’t overflow onto nearby properties or public roads, but also empties slowly to prevent downstream flooding from occurring. Detention ponds have a dry space for most of the year until there’s an influx in water. These ponds are built separate from local groundwater supplies to prevent movement of pollutants from surface water.

What is a Retention pond?

Retention ponds are permanent pools of standing water that are used to treat and store storm water runoff. A retention pond is a man-made reservoir that captures and holds rainwater. They are designed to slow the flow of runoff so water can be stored for use during drier periods, or it may also provide treatment by storing polluted storm water until natural processes remove contaminants. While a detention pond is temporary, a retention pond is a permanent pool of water in its design.

Detention pond maintenance

Detention and retention ponds both need to be attended to as time goes on. It is important to keep them clear and clean by removing leaves, plant debris, trash. This will help prevent algal growth in the pond water which can lead to a smelly or unhealthy environment. Detention ponds have a dry space for most of the year until there is an influx in water. To maintain it, the water levels need to be checked regularly and adjusted as needed. The maintenance of these ponds may also include dredging or pumping out sediment buildup within the body of standing water to prevent it from clogging up.

Detention Pond Landscaping & Design

When designed right, a detention pond on your commercial or residential property can become an amenity versus an eyesore. Used correctly, it can have the potential to become a great amenity on your property. They can be designed and landscaped with landscape features that make them aesthetically pleasing for visitors while also acting as an important environmental strategy. The pond design should include areas where people can walk around it or fish in safety. Designing a detention pond considers the area that needs to be protected–either a nearby home or neighborhood, for example. The designer will carefully consider how much water can safely enter and what the exit strategy should be when it’s time to drain the pond after flooding ends..

Retention Pond Landscaping & Design

Retention ponds, like a dentation pond, can be designed to bring eye appeal rather. With retention pond landscaping, you can have a water feature that is customized to bring beauty to it. Since a retention pond is a permanent body of standing water, it might be smart for your commercial business to look into retention pond landscaping options!

A detention pond is a temporary storage for excess water that would otherwise overflow and cause potential flooding of homes or neighborhoods downstream. They are important to have in place to prevent damage to nearby buildings or homes. If you would like to receive further information on a detention pond, contact a team of commercial landscapers, like our team at CLC, Inc.

Retention Ponds in Subdivisions

Retention ponds are increasingly being built into new suburban subdivisions to help manage stormwater runoff. Helping rain on rooftops, sidewalks, and driveways can’t be absorbed by the dense network of hard surfaces like it once was, leaving many communities overwhelmed by flooding. Retention ponds not only hold excess water until it can be drained away safely without flooding a neighborhood, but also prevent soil erosion and filter pollutants from runoff before it reaches nearby rivers and lakes.

The presence of these ponds can increase low-income housing prices which may lead to displacement of communities that have been there for generations, but attention should also be given to the positive benefits they bring; improved quality of water bodies, reduced flooding, and increased green spaces that could otherwise be taken up by pavement or structures.

Detention Basin vs Retention Basin

There is often confusion between detention and retention basins, yet they are quite different. A detention basin is designed to mitigate flooding by temporarily storing stormwater and releasing it slowly into a stream or river. Conversely, a retention basin does both; storing water from storms in addition to holding large volumes of water and releasing them gradually between storms – something the detention basin cannot do.

Both basins help to reduce stream erosion as well as control sedimentation pollution. While both are valuable for flood mitigation, retention basins also provide recreational space for communities. Taking these differences into account can make a big difference when considering which basin will best suit an area’s needs.

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