How do swales and retention/detention ponds work?
Swales look like ditches alongside the road and are usually planted with long grasses or leafy plants to help remove debris and litter from stormwater flowing through them. Swales act in conjunction with a series of drainage ponds to further slow the flow of stormwater and allow it time to soak into local areas. There are two types of drainage ponds. Retention ponds are a permanent water-feature that act as a natural pond to capture stormwater. Detention ponds are temporary ponds that act as infiltration zones and trap excess stormwater in times of heavy rainfall, providing extra time for the water to soak into the soil.
