What is a stormwater pond?
Stormwater ponds, also known as detention and retention ponds, are designed to capture stormwater runoff, and help reduce flooding and erosion by slowing the flow of stormwater. Gutters and storm drains direct stormwater off of paved surfaces and out of ditches and through a series of underground pipes which discharge into stormwater ponds. Stormwater ponds are not meant to hold water permanently, and therefore connect to receiving waterways. These ponds are designed to trap sediments and other large solids carried from the landscape via stormwater. In addition to sediments, stormwater ponds also collect a number of other pollutants such as bacteria, oils, heavy metals, and organic contaminants such as pesticides and herbicides, all of which can be very dangerous to those who come in contact with the water. Stormwater ponds are a common feature in the South Carolina coastal landscape, and are often advertised as “amenities” to homebuyers who wish to live near a water feature. They are
