An evaluation of applying existing bioretention sizing methods to cold climates with snow storage conditions

• Eight of the current sizing and design methods proposed for bioretention facilities were evaluated for rainfall runoff and snow storage volumes for a costal cold climate in Trondheim, Norway. The RECARGA bioretention infiltration model was used to compare the performance of the methods using 10 months of observed data from a pilot scale bioretention box. The surface areas, total ponding time, number and duration of overflow events, and snow storage volumes were compared. It was found that even in a costal cold climate with several intermittent melt cycles the snow storage requirements were an important design parameter, and if more than 25% of the total snow volume should stored this became the deciding design parameter.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Vattenteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Water Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Bioretention design

cold climate

snow storage

urban stormwater

VA-teknik

Urban Water Engineering

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)