Stormwater Management

Hours: 360 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

Stormwater I:

Stormwater effects on receiving streams and the aquatic ecosystems in them is very important. Developing performance goals and design criteria for stormwater controls is a necessary step. This course addresses the concept of unit processes and unit operations as they apply to stormwater management.  Learners will become familiar with a simplified framework to facilitate communication between stormwater management professionals, and how to promote the development of a stormwater management strategy, at the site level, that serves as a blueprint for the design process.  The importance of basin volume to effectively treat stormwater, and the five categories of stormwater controls, for example: swales and strips, and filters are explained.

Stormwater II:

Maintenance activity to preserve the intended water quality benefit, and stormwater conveyance capacity of stormwater controls are critical to stormwater management. This course explores Whole life costing (also known as life cycle cost analysis) and teaches participants how to effectively evaluate the performance of stormwater controls.  It addresses the importance of municipal, industrial, and watershed agencies to screen and select site-specific and feasible stormwater controls, that will achieve technical, and regulatory requirements in a cost-effective manner. This course examines recent challenges and specific considerations pertinent to the selection and application of analytical tools. 

Stormwater Management: Hydraulics And Hydrology I:

The main focus of this course is engineering hydraulics and hydrology of yesterday and today.  The course takes a close look at the various aspects of modern stormwater management and reviews general principles of engineering design. It describes the differences among solid, liquid, and gas, properties of water, such as: cohesion, adhesion, and capillarity, and provides a method of calculating the specific weight and gravity of various liquids, and the viscosity of a fluid. 

In this course participants will quantify the pressure exerted by water on an imaginary submerged surface or on container walls, and describe mathematically the flow of water from a higher location to a lower location.  The methods of measuring the flow of water is discussed, and computations are provided for the following:

  • The flow through an orifice, over a weir, under a gate
  • The slope of a channel, and identify normal depth in a channel
  • Normal depth in a channel or pipe, and normal depth in a stream including overbanks, a water surface profile at an entrance to a channel
  • A basic hydraulic jump

Stormwater Management: Hydraulics And Hydrology II:

In the past stormwater was annoying. Today, it is viewed as a beneficial resource with the ability to return to its natural path-ways through distributed controls. This course highlights the Manning’s Equation, Channel, Pipe, and Stream flow. It describes varied flow in channels, culvert hydraulics, fundamental hydrology, and provide necessary calculations for runoff.  Participants will explore designs for storm sewer, culvert, and detention, and explain stormwater detention..

This course prepares students American Public Works Association (APWA) Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) certification exam.

Course Outline:

Stormwater I Curriculum:
Lesson 1 Introduction
  • Urban Stormwater Management Overview
Lesson 2 Effects of Stormwater on Receiving Waters
  • Effects of Urbanization on Water Quantity
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Water Quantity
  • Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Water Quality
  • Effects of Urbanization on Channel Form
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Channel Form
  • Effects of Urbanization on Aquatic Biota
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Aquatic Biota
Lesson 3 Performance Goals for Stormwater Controls
  • Introduction
  • Methods for Establishing Performance Criteria
  • Methods for Establishing Watershed-Based Performance Criteria
  • Methods for Establishing Technology-Based Performance Criteria
Lesson 4 Unit Processes and Operations for Stormwater Control
  • Introduction
  • Application of Unit Processes and Operations Concepts
  • Unit Processes for Quantity Control
  • Unit Processes for Quality Control
Lesson 5 Selection Criteria and Design Considerations
  • Introduction
  • Understanding Goals and Design Criteria
  • Understanding and Protecting Site Resources
  • Identification of Source Controls
  • Implementation and Performance Monitoring
Lesson 6 Basins
  • Description
  • Design Principles
  • Cisterns and Rain Barrels
  • Forebays
  • Vaults and Swirl Concentrators
  • Oil and Water Separators
  • Dry Basins
  • Wet Basins
  • Wetlands
Lesson 7 Swales and Strips
  • Description
  • Basic Design Principles
  • Swales
  • Strips
Lesson 8 Filters
  • Description
  • Design Principles
  • Surface Sand Filter
  • Subsurface Sand Filter
  • Bioretention Filter
  • Landscaped Roofs
  • Drain Inlet Inserts
  • Manufactured Filters
  • Subsurface Gravel Wetland
Stormwater II Curriculum:
Lesson 1 - Infiltrators
  • Description
  • Design Principles
  • Infiltration Basins
  • Infiltration Trenches and Vaults
  • Dry Wells
  • Permeable Pavement
Lesson 2 - Gross Pollutant Traps and Mechanical Operations
  • Basic Design Principles
  • Screens
  • Nets
  • Baskets
  • Racks
  • Hoods
Lesson 3 - Maintenance of Stormwater Controls
  • Introduction/Overview
  • General Maintenance Considerations
  • Detailed Guidelines for Stormwater Control Maintenance
Lesson 4 - Whole Life Cost of Stormwater Controls
  • Whole Life Cost Model
  • Capital Costs
  • Capital Costs for Various Stormwater Controls
  • Maintenance Costs for Various Stormwater Controls
  • Whole Life Cost Summary
  • Whole Life Cost Comparison
  • Effect of Stormwater Systems on Whole Life Cost
Lesson 5 - Performance Assessment
  • Introduction
  • Overview of Assessment Plan Development
  • Formulating Objectives and Assessment Criteria or Metrics
  • Assessment Methods
  • Data and Informational Needs
  • Performance Assessment Plan
  • Plan Implementation
  • Reporting Stormwater Control Performance
  • Statistical Analysis
Lesson 6 - Analytical Tools for Simulation of Stormwater Controls
  • Introduction—Modeling Needs
  • Modeling Processes in Stormwater Controls
  • Conceptual Models for Stormwater Controls
  • Modeling Approaches
  • Selection of a Stormwater Control Model
  • Data Needs
  • Model Application
  • Case Studies
Lesson 7 - Recent Developments in Analytical Tools
  • Climate Change
  • Sustainability
  • Integrated Urban Drainage Modeling
Stormwater Management: Hydraulics and Hydrology – Part I Curriculum:
Lesson 1 - Uniform Flow in Channels
  • Manning's Equation
  • Channel Flow
  • Pipe Flow
  • Stream Flow
  • Problems
Lesson 2 - Varied Flow in Channels
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Backwater Profile
  • Entrance to a Channel
  • Hydraulic Jump
  • Problems
Lesson 3 - Runoff Calculations
  • Rational Method
  • Modified Rational Method
  • NRCS Method
  • NRCS Method Computations
  • NRCS Method versus Rational Method
  • Problems
Lesson 4 - Storm Sewer Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Design Investigation
  • System Layout
  • Hydraulic Design
  • Storm Sewer Outfalls
  • Case Study
  • Problems
  • Further Reading
Lesson 5 - Culvert Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Design Investigation
  • Design of New Culvert
  • Culvert Replacement
  • Case Study 1
  • Case Study 2
  • Problems
Lesson 6 - Stormwater Detention
  • Stormwater Impoundment
  • Outlet Structure
  • Emergency Spillway
  • Reservoir Routing
  • Problems
Lesson 7 - Detention Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • On-Site Detention Design
  • Case Study 1
  • Case Study 2
  • Problems
Stormwater Management: Hydraulics and Hydrology – Part II Curriculum:
Lesson 1 - Uniform Flow in Channels
  • Manning's Equation
  • Channel Flow
  • Pipe Flow
  • Stream Flow
  • Problems
Lesson 2 - Varied Flow in Channels
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Backwater Profile
  • Entrance to a Channel
  • Hydraulic Jump
  • Problems
Lesson 3 - Runoff Calculations
  • Rational Method
  • Modified Rational Method
  • NRCS Method
  • NRCS Method Computations
  • NRCS Method versus Rational Method
  • Problems
Lesson 4 - Storm Sewer Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Design Investigation
  • System Layout
  • Hydraulic Design
  • Storm Sewer Outfalls
  • Case Study
  • Problems
  • Further Reading
Lesson 5 - Culvert Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Design Investigation
  • Design of New Culvert
  • Culvert Replacement
  • Case Study 1
  • Case Study 2
  • Problems
Lesson 6 - Stormwater Detention
  • Stormwater Impoundment
  • Outlet Structure
  • Emergency Spillway
  • Reservoir Routing
  • Problems
Lesson 7 - Detention Design
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • On-Site Detention Design
  • Case Study 1
  • Case Study 2
  • Problems

All necessary materials are included.

Certification(s):

This course prepares students American Public Works Association (APWA) Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) certification exam.

To demonstrate eligibility, candidates must submit an application documenting the completion of one of the following education and work experience pathways:

  • High school graduation or equivalent and 7 years of relevant work experience
  • Associate’s degree or equivalent trade school certificate and 5 years of relevant work experience
  • Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of relevant work experience
  • Master’s degree and 2 years of relevant work experience
  • Doctoral degree and 1 year of relevant work experience

Relevant work experience is that performed within or for a public entity in one or more aspects of stormwater management as defined in the CSM target audience description and illustrated in the CSM Content Outline.

Please note that the individual state requirements may vary.  Students will be responsible to check with their state’s governing body for state specific requirements.


System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

  • Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

  • CPU: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 4 GB or higher
  • Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
  • Speakers / Headphones
  • Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

  • Windows 7 or higher.
  • Mac OSX 10 or higher.
  • Latest Chrome OS
  • Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

  • Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
  • Latest Mozilla FireFox
  • Latest Microsoft Edge
  • Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

  • Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
  • PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
  • Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.


** The course outlines displayed on this website are subject to change at any time without prior notice. **