This table classifies common models by type of model.

Link to this table.

Model or tool Input complexity Simulation type(s) Public domain Unsteady flow Type of water quality model Built-in BMPs Assess TP Assess TSS Assess volume Comment on use
TR-55 Low Event Yes None No No Replaced by WinTR-55
Rational method (equation) Low Event Yes None No No
HEC-1 Medium Yes None Replaced by HEC-HMS
HEC-HMS Medium Yes None No No
Win TR-55 (or TR-20 DOS version) Medium Event or continuous Yes None No No
Win TR-55 Low Event Yes None No No
HydroCAD Medium Event No Detention ponds and storage chambers Yes Yes No
HEC-RAS Medium Event or continuous Yes Yes Receiving water None Yes No
HEC-2 Medium yes No None No No Replaced by HEC-RAS
WSPRO Medium Yes No None No No This is an old model and likely no longer used
CulvertMaster Low Event No no None No No
Flow Master Low Event No No None No No
PondPack Medium Event No No Detention ponds. PondPack can calculate first-flush volume and aid in designing for minimum drain time, but does not model pollutants No No No
EPA SWMM Medium/High Event or continuous Yes Yes Loading, Receiving Water (limited to first order decay) Low impact development BMPs including rain barrels, permeable pavers, vegetative swales, bioretention cells, infiltration trenches; traditional BMPs including detention basins, infiltration practices, wetlands, ponds. Yes Yes Yes
PC SWMM Medium/High Yes No Yes Loading, Receiving Water (limited to first order decay) Low impact development BMPs including rain barrels, permeable pavers, vegetative swales, bioretention cells, infiltration trenches; traditional BMPs including detention basins, infiltration practices, wetlands, ponds. Yes Yes Yes
Info SWMM Medium/High Event/Continuous No Yes Loading, Receiving Water (limited to first order decay) Low impact development BMPs including rain barrels, permeable pavers, vegetative swales, bioretention cells, infiltration trenches; traditional BMPs including detention basins, infiltration practices, wetlands, ponds. Yes Yes Yes
XPS SWMM Medium/High Event/Continuous No Yes Loading, Receiving Water (limited to first order decay) Rain gardens, green roofs, rain barrels, street sweeping, infiltration trenches, dry detention basins, wet ponds, swales, porour pavement, filter strips Yes Yes Yes
MIKE URBAN (SWMM or MOUSE) Medium/High Event/Continuous No Yes Loading, Receiving Water (limited to first order decay) Low impact development BMPs including rain barrels, permeable pavers, vegetative swales, bioretention cells, infiltration trenches; traditional BMPs including detention basins, infiltration practices, wetlands, ponds. Yes Yes Yes
ICPR Medium Event No Ponds No No No Not believed to be a widely used model for stormwater/pollutant modeling
InfoWorks ICM High Event/Continuous No Yes Yes Yes
Mike 11
CivilStorm Medium Event No Yes Ponds, low impact development controls No No Yes
MODRET
WINSLAMM Medium Event No BMP, Loading Detention ponds, infiltration devices, porous pavements, grass swales, catch basin cleaning, and street cleaning. Yes Yes Yes
P8 Medium Event/Continuous Yes BMP, Loading Detention ponds, infiltration basins, swales or buffer strips, and generalized devices Yes Yes Yes
BASINS Yes BASINS is a user interface to set up models in WinHSPF, SWAT, SWMM, PLOAD, and GLWF-E. These models are listed here separately.
QUAL2E/QUAL2K Medium Yes Receiving water model
WinHSPF High Event/Continuous Yes Yes Loading, receiving water Nutrient management, Contouring, Terracing, Ponds, Wetlands; USEPA BMP Web Toolkit available to assist with implementing structural BMPs such as detention basins, or infiltration BMPs that represent source control facilities, which capture runoff from small impervious areas (e.g., parking lots or rooftops). Yes Yes Yes
LSPC High Event/Continuous Yes Yes Loading, receiving water Though developed for HSPF, the USEPA BMP Web Toolkit can be used with LSPC to model structural BMPs such as detention basins, or infiltration BMPs that represent source control facilities, which capture runoff from small impervious areas (e.g., parking lots or rooftops). Yes Yes Yes
SWAT Medium/High Event/Continuous Yes Yes Loading Model offers many agricultural BMPs and practices, but limited urban BMPs at this time. BMPs related to urban practices include detention basins, infiltration practices, vegetative filter strips, street sweeping, wetlands. Yes Yes Yes
PLOAD Low Event Yes Loading User-defined practices with user-specified removal percentages Yes Yes no
PondNet Low Event Yes Loading Wet detention ponds Yes No Yes
WASP
WMM
WARMF
SHSAM
Virginia Runoff Reduction Method
MapShed
MIDS calculator
EPA National Stormwater Calculator
SELECT
Metropolitan Council Stormwater Reuse Guide Excel Spreadsheet
MCWD/MWMO Stormwater Reuse Calculator
North Carolina State University Rainwater Harvesting Model
i-Tree Streets
i-Tree Hydro
RECARGA
SELDM
MIDUSS
QHM
WWHM
HY8
Hydraulic Toolbox
SMS
GWLF-E
EPD-RIV1
CE-QUAL-RIV2
CE-QUAL-W2