Pond Design Software
Pond Design Software
(OP)
I would like to purchase or obtain either a free or inexpensive software to design detention and retention ponds. The software should also be able to design the outlet structure, outlet pipe, orfice size and spacing, spillway, etc.
Software mentioned in a recent pond design seminar that I attended listed the following:
1) SWMM (by EPA)(Free)
2) CivilStorm (Haested)($7,000-$25,000)
3) TR-55 (NRCS website)(Free)
4) HEC-HMS (Corps of Engrs)(Free)
5) HydroCAD ($195 to $1595)
Does anyone have a recommendation for one of two of these for designing small residential subdivisions (5 - 25 acres)?
Software mentioned in a recent pond design seminar that I attended listed the following:
1) SWMM (by EPA)(Free)
2) CivilStorm (Haested)($7,000-$25,000)
3) TR-55 (NRCS website)(Free)
4) HEC-HMS (Corps of Engrs)(Free)
5) HydroCAD ($195 to $1595)
Does anyone have a recommendation for one of two of these for designing small residential subdivisions (5 - 25 acres)?





RE: Pond Design Software
I found SWMM hard to get into, but probably worth it given that it can do water quality calcs. I didn't devote much time to it; I find most software pretty intuitive, but SWMM was anything but. (Same for HEC-HMS.)
I've also been briefly exposed to PondPac, StormCAD and WMS. I didn't find the first two any better than Hydraflow Hydrographs, and WMS is a GIS application so a lot more powerful and very expensive.
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
However, as far as I can tell, the methods it uses to calculate runoff are theoretical, and I get much smaller peak flow rates than I do with TR-55 using the "unit hydrograph" method.
You can specify one of three infiltration methods (CN Number, Green, or Horton); and you can specify one of three routing methods (Steady Flow, Kinematic Wave, or Dynamic Wave).
No matter which combination of these motherds I choose, my Peak Flow rate at the outlet is much much smaller than that predicted by the TR-55 method (using the same basin size and % impervious, avg ground slope, etc).
I want to know if I'm setting up the model incorrectly, or is TR-55 really that conservative??
I input the same rainfall event that I used in TR-55 (24-hr, Type II storm with 7.2 inches of rainfall).
I think there may be a way to input an inflow hydrograph into SWMM instead of using a Rainfall event and Runoff calculations. This way you could use something like TR-55 (if specfiied by the local governmetn, for example), then use SWMM to analyze your pipe network, basins, water quality, etc.
The program seems worthy of further probing for me; but its definately got a steeper learning curve than some others.
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
One other question, should we buy the 5-node ($195) version for the small sites (5 - 25 acres) that we normally deal with or would I need more nodes to account for more offsite drainage, etc.?
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
TR55 will not route the outflow, only give you an estimated volume you will need for a depeaking target.
I am a very satisfied HydroCAD user, and unlike psmart, I have no incentive to steer you to it. It is simple to learn, and the output is the most compact and logical of any software I've seen. In fact the 5 node sampler might just work for the project you described. Give it a shot. I have 40 nodes, and only max'ed that out on one project; 575 acres, 6 watersheds, and lots of subareas which needed routed together. 20 nodes should be fine for 99% of the projects of the scope you've mentioned.
Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve
RE: Pond Design Software
....now, if I can accurately model all of the elements for our site.
RE: Pond Design Software
PondPack input and output methods are terrible.
RE: Pond Design Software
We switched to Hydraflow Hydrographs and I am very happy with it. It is very easy to use and gives a nice output that is concise and goes great in a report. Correction to francesca's post - the cost is $595 now, but you buy it and own it without having to pay any yearly license fees, and free lifetime technical support is included.
Have never tried HydroCAD.
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
RE: Pond Design Software
From NRCS, the Windows version of TR-55 does an actual outflow routing, unlike the earlier versions which just gave an estimate. It also is well documented.
Your best bet is SWMM (V5) free from EPA. It now has a GUI, but also produces a text-version of the input for your project file. It is well-documented, and has advanced features if you need them. E.g., by selecting dynamic wave routing, it will consider backwater effects, and can do multiple pond situations where you don't know in advance which way water will flow between ponds. It also produces tables, graphs of your choosing, and even animated profiles that let you watch the storm progress through the system if you wish.
RE: Pond Design Software
I also picked up CulvertMaster from Haestad which I use to document culvert analysis. HydroCAD models culverts fine but I prefer the report formats from a program solely devoted to culvert analysis. I have not, however, kept up with updates for CulvertMaster as I'm just not independently wealthy.
RE: Pond Design Software
Some of the comments on this thread lead me to believe that Hydraflow might even be better. But, our company has already purchased HydroCAD and seems to be working for the small projects that we do (5 - 10 acres)with one detention pond.
I use the Land Desktop Hydraulic Manning Circular pipe calculator to size the storm pipes.
RE: Pond Design Software
For complex projects with interconnected ponds i use XPSWMM. Its not the easiest to use and the reports arent great but it is a powerful tool.
I also like Culvert Master but I let my subscription lapse.