Online tool assesses stormwater BMPs

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Urban BMP Performance Tool, a new web-based tool to provide stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies assessing the performance of more than 275 stormwater best management practices (BMPs). The tool provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low-impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavement, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments.

EPA plans to add more studies to this tool during the coming year, focusing on expanding the collection of studies of low-impact development or green infrastructure BMPs. The Urban BMP Performance Tool can be accessed at www.epa.gov/npdes/urbanbmptool.