Green Infrastructure: Swales can be an important tool for retention and detention of stormwater runoff. Because they utilize vegetation, swales provide additional benefits, including cleaner air, carbon sequestration, improved biological habitat, and aesthetic value.
Swales retain solids and associated pollutants by settling and filtering. A typical method for assessing the performance of of BMPs with underdrains is therefore measuring and comparing pollutant concentrations at the influent and effluent. If the swale is designed for infiltration, see Assessing the performance of bioretention.
Related pages
- Overview for filtration
- Types of filtration
- Design criteria for filtration
- Construction specifications for filtration
- Assessing the performance of sand (media) filters
- Operation and maintenance of filtration
- Calculating credits for sand filter
- Calculating credits for dry swale (grass swale)
- Cost-benefit considerations for filtration
- References for filtration