definition

A bioretention area is a stormwater treatment system that is a depression integrated into the landscape. A bioretention area captures runoff from an impervious surface and allows that water to infiltrate through the soil media. As the water infiltrates, pollutants are removed from the stormwater runoff through a variety of mechanisms including adsorption, microbial activity, plant uptake, sedimentation, and filtration. Some of the incoming runoff is temporarily held by the soil of the bioretention area and later "leaves" the system by way of evapotranspiration or exfiltration to the ground water.
(Bioretention at North Carolina State University BAE, accessed on Sept. 2016)

Co-benefits and impacts

Bioretention areas can be planned as landscaping features, they are very effective in removing urban pollutants and can reduce volume and rate of runoff. Additional advantages are their flexible layout to fit into landscape, their good retrofit capability, and that they are well-suited for installation in highly impervious areas, provided the system is well-engineered and adequate space is made available (Susdrain, Bioretention areas, accessed on Sept. 2016).

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Last modified: Sept. 19, 2016, 7:50 a.m.