International Stormwater BMP Database
More than a decade ago, stormwater quality experts identified a need to gather sufficient technical design and performance information to improve urban stormwater best management practice (BMP, also known as “control measure”) selection and design so that local stormwater problems can be cost-effectively addressed. As a result, the International Stormwater BMP Database Project (www.bmpdatabase.org) was initiated, with WWE playing a key role from 1997 to the present. The project was originated by members of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environmental and Water Resources Institute’s Urban Water Resources Research Council with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initially providing funding. In 2004, the project transitioned to a more broadly supported coalition of partners led by the Water Research Foundation, and including the Federal Highway Administration, as well as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The project’s original goal was to develop and populate a national database to enable users to evaluate BMP pollutant removal characteristics and assess how differences in BMP design influence the effectiveness of pollutant removal and control runoff rates to receiving waters. The long-term goal of the project is to promote technical design improvements for BMPs. The database now has over 750 BMP data sets, along with data analysis summaries of individual BMPs and overall BMP categories. Studies include traditional stormwater BMPs, green infrastructure practices, and over 100 manufactured treatment devices. The database is widely cited in criteria manuals, regulatory and permitting materials, and national academic research.
In recent years, WWE has worked to develop companion databases to the urban stormwater BMP Database including a stream restoration database, an agricultural BMP database, and a special user portal for transportation agencies. Additionally, WWE has led development of a BMP operation and maintenance cost database accessible on www.bmpdatabase.org.