Stormwater Treatment Terminology: A Tower of Babel

There is a need for a formal, logical and simplified rainwater management framework, say leading practitioners

“The proliferation of terminology has led to misperceptions of performance, uncertainty as to applicability of particular treatment systems, and the inconsistent, confusing, and sometimes illogical application of design criteria,” states Dr. Gary R. Minton, author of the textbook Stormwater Treatment.

"Once one removes the Tower of Babel (as Gary Minton calls it) by going back to basics and examining the physical processes, there are only two processes in play: rainfall infiltration and excess runoff,” adds Jim Dumont, Engineering Applications Authority for the Water Balance Model.

To read the complete story posted on Water Bucket, click on Stormwater Treatment Terminology: A Tower of Babel.

News Release #2010-12

April 6, 2010