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Discover how green infrastructure helps municipalities, engineers and developers capture, treat, detain and control stormwater closer to where it falls. Watch our on-demand webinar and explore this comprehensive technical guide covering design principles, bioretention, biofiltration, cold climate design and real-world applications.
For decades, stormwater infrastructure was designed with one primary objective: collect runoff and convey it away as quickly as possible. Today, however, climate change, urbanization and aging infrastructure are placing unprecedented pressure on these conventional systems.
More frequent and intense rainfall events are increasing peak flows, while expanding impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots and buildings reduce the natural infiltration of rainwater into the ground. As a result, municipalities are experiencing more overloaded storm sewer systems, urban flooding, erosion and degradation of receiving water bodies.
Green Infrastructure (GI), also known as Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), offers a complementary approach to conventional stormwater systems. By integrating vegetation, bioretention, biofiltration and underground stormwater management systems, Green Infrastructure manages runoff closer to where it falls. This approach helps reduce peak flows, improve water quality, promote groundwater recharge and increase the resilience of stormwater infrastructure.
Rather than replacing conventional stormwater infrastructure, Green Infrastructure works alongside it. Together, green and gray infrastructure create more sustainable, adaptable and resilient stormwater management systems capable of meeting today’s environmental challenges while preparing communities for future climate conditions.
In this webinar, our experts explore the principles, benefits, design considerations and real-world applications of Green Infrastructure. You’ll gain practical insights into how these systems can be successfully integrated into municipal, commercial and institutional developments.
Throughout this webinar, you’ll discover:
Green Infrastructure: Designing More Climate-Resilient Stormwater Infrastructure
Watch the webinar replay and discover how green infrastructure can capture, treat, retain, and manage stormwater to improve communities’ resilience to climate change.
Traditional stormwater infrastructure was designed for a time when rainfall patterns were more predictable, cities were less densely developed and drainage systems had sufficient capacity to quickly convey runoff away from urban areas. Today, those conditions have changed significantly.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, while continued urban development is replacing natural landscapes with impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots and buildings. As a result, less water infiltrates into the ground and more runoff is directed into storm sewer systems.
At the same time, much of North America’s stormwater infrastructure is reaching or exceeding its intended service life. Aging systems must now accommodate greater runoff volumes than they were originally designed for, increasing the risk of overloaded storm sewers, localized flooding, combined sewer overflows and damage to receiving water bodies.
To address these challenges, the way stormwater infrastructure is designed is evolving. Rather than simply collecting and conveying runoff as quickly as possible, today’s best practices focus on managing stormwater closer to where it falls while restoring natural hydrologic processes.
This approach combines solutions that capture, treat, detain, infiltrate, control and gradually release stormwater. By reducing peak flows and limiting the volume of runoff entering existing storm sewer systems, Green Infrastructure helps communities become more resilient while protecting critical public infrastructure.
Green Infrastructure does not replace conventional stormwater infrastructure—it complements it. By integrating vegetation, bioretention, biofiltration and underground stormwater management systems with traditional gray infrastructure, engineers can design stormwater systems that are more efficient, sustainable and better prepared for future climate conditions.
Key Takeaway
Stormwater infrastructure can no longer be designed using yesterday’s assumptions. Climate change, urbanization and aging infrastructure require a new approach to stormwater management—one that manages runoff at its source. By combining Green Infrastructure with conventional stormwater systems, municipalities can reduce peak flows, protect existing infrastructure and build more climate-resilient communities.
Green Infrastructure is built around one fundamental principle: manage stormwater as close as possible to where it falls while restoring the natural water cycle. Unlike conventional stormwater systems, which are primarily designed to collect and convey runoff away from developed areas as quickly as possible, Green Infrastructure slows, filters, detains and infiltrates stormwater before it reaches the storm sewer system.
Managing stormwater at its source reduces the volume of runoff entering existing infrastructure, lowers peak flows and helps minimize the risk of flooding and system overload during heavy rainfall events. By distributing stormwater management across multiple complementary practices, municipalities can improve the performance of their existing infrastructure while increasing resilience to future climate conditions.
The benefits of Green Infrastructure extend well beyond hydraulic performance. Through bioretention and biofiltration, vegetation and engineered soil media naturally remove suspended solids and many common pollutants from stormwater runoff before it infiltrates into the ground or is discharged to receiving waters.
Where site conditions permit, infiltration also helps replenish groundwater resources and restore a more natural hydrologic cycle. Green Infrastructure provides additional environmental and community benefits by reducing urban heat islands, supporting biodiversity, enhancing public spaces and creating healthier, more attractive communities.
Green Infrastructure is therefore much more than an environmental initiative. It is an engineering strategy that helps optimize existing stormwater infrastructure, reduce the need for costly system expansions and build communities that are better prepared for future climate challenges.
Key Takeaway
Green Infrastructure restores many of the functions of the natural water cycle. By capturing, filtering, detaining, infiltrating and controlling stormwater runoff, it reduces pressure on existing stormwater infrastructure while creating more resilient and sustainable communities.
Green Infrastructure is designed to mimic the natural hydrologic cycle. Instead of conveying stormwater directly into the storm sewer system, it slows the movement of runoff to encourage treatment, temporary storage and, where site conditions allow, infiltration into the underlying soil.
Every component within a Green Infrastructure system performs a specific function. Working together, these elements manage runoff volumes, reduce peak flows and improve water quality before stormwater is gradually released back into the environment or conveyed to the storm sewer system.
Runoff from roads, parking lots and other impervious surfaces is first collected through catch basins, trench drains or other collection structures. Depending on project requirements, pretreatment measures may also be incorporated to capture sediment, debris and floating pollutants before stormwater enters the system.
Stormwater is then directed into a bioretention area where vegetation plays a critical role. Plants slow runoff, promote evapotranspiration and naturally remove pollutants while improving the overall health of the system.
Beneath the vegetation, specially engineered soil media filters stormwater as it moves through the system. This layer removes fine particles, improves water quality and creates an ideal environment for root development and beneficial microbial activity that supports natural treatment processes.
After passing through the filter media, stormwater reaches a drainage layer consisting of clean stone or an underground detention system. This temporary storage reduces peak discharge rates while allowing infiltration into the native soil where site conditions are suitable.
Where infiltration capacity is limited or controlled release is required, a flow control device regulates the rate at which stormwater leaves the system. This controlled discharge helps protect downstream infrastructure during heavy rainfall events while meeting project-specific hydraulic requirements.
Once stormwater has been treated, detained and controlled, it is gradually discharged to the storm sewer system or a receiving water body in accordance with the project’s design criteria. This process more closely replicates the natural hydrologic cycle while improving the overall performance and resilience of stormwater infrastructure.
Key Takeaway
High-performing Green Infrastructure functions as an integrated system. Every component—from stormwater collection and pretreatment to biofiltration, detention and flow control—works together to sustainably manage runoff while maximizing the long-term performance of the entire stormwater management system.
The performance of a Green Infrastructure system depends as much on thoughtful design as it does on selecting the right components. Every project presents unique challenges related to site conditions, climate, soil characteristics and stormwater management objectives.
Before designing a bioretention or biofiltration system, engineers should evaluate several key factors to ensure long-term hydraulic performance, simplified maintenance and reliable operation throughout the system’s service life.
One of the first considerations is the site’s infiltration capacity. This determines whether stormwater can infiltrate directly into the native soil or whether an underground detention system with controlled discharge is required.
Geotechnical investigations and infiltration testing provide valuable information about soil permeability and help determine the most appropriate stormwater management strategy.
A successful Green Infrastructure system must be designed to manage runoff generated by the project’s target storm events.
Sizing bioretention areas, underground detention systems and flow control devices appropriately helps reduce peak flows while meeting local design requirements and regulatory criteria.
Vegetation and engineered soil media play a critical role in stormwater treatment.
Plant species should be selected for the local climate and be capable of tolerating alternating wet and dry conditions. Likewise, engineered media should provide an optimal balance between filtration performance, hydraulic conductivity and healthy plant growth.
Pretreatment protects downstream Green Infrastructure practices by capturing sediment, debris and pollutants before stormwater enters the bioretention system.
Depending on project requirements, pretreatment may include treatment catch basins, filtration systems, hydrodynamic separators or sediment forebays. Effective pretreatment significantly improves long-term performance while reducing maintenance requirements.
Like any municipal asset, Green Infrastructure should be designed with inspection and maintenance in mind.
Access to key components, vegetation replacement, sediment removal and routine inspections should all be considered during the design phase to ensure long-term performance and minimize lifecycle costs.
Successful Green Infrastructure projects require collaboration among civil engineers, landscape architects, planners, municipalities and other project stakeholders.
An integrated design process ensures that hydraulic performance, environmental objectives, urban design and long-term operations are considered together, resulting in more efficient and resilient stormwater infrastructure.
Key Takeaway
High-performing Green Infrastructure is not built around a single product or practice. Its success depends on integrating complementary components—including collection, pretreatment, bioretention, biofiltration, detention, flow control and controlled discharge—into one coordinated stormwater management system.
Green Infrastructure has become an established best practice for sustainable stormwater management. However, designing these systems for northern climates requires additional considerations to ensure reliable long-term performance.
Freeze-thaw cycles, snow accumulation, winter maintenance operations and the use of de-icing salts all introduce challenges that should be addressed during the design process.
Contrary to common misconceptions, Green Infrastructure performs exceptionally well in cold climates when designed according to recognized best practices. Numerous projects across Canada and the northeastern United States have demonstrated their ability to reduce peak flows, improve stormwater quality and increase the resilience of municipal infrastructure.
Plant selection is critical to the long-term success of any Green Infrastructure system.
Species should be able to tolerate extended wet and dry periods, winter conditions and exposure to road salts. A diverse planting palette also improves system resilience while reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
The engineered soil media used in bioretention systems must provide adequate drainage while supporting healthy vegetation and effective pollutant removal.
Proper media composition is essential to maintaining consistent hydraulic performance throughout seasonal changes.
Green Infrastructure should be designed to accommodate routine municipal maintenance practices.
Snow storage, plowing operations, spring street sweeping and seasonal inspections should all be considered to ensure year-round functionality and long-term reliability.
Heavy rainfall can occur during spring snowmelt or when soils remain partially frozen.
Green Infrastructure systems should therefore incorporate adequate detention storage, flow control devices and emergency overflow pathways to safely manage excess runoff during extreme weather events.
Designing Green Infrastructure for cold climates is not simply a matter of applying solutions developed for warmer regions.
It requires an integrated approach that combines vegetation, pretreatment, underground stormwater infrastructure, detention, infiltration and flow control to create systems capable of performing reliably despite seasonal weather extremes.
Key Takeaway
Green Infrastructure is well suited to Canada’s climate when it is designed using proven cold-climate best practices. By accounting for freeze-thaw cycles, winter maintenance operations, road salts and seasonal runoff patterns, engineers can build systems that deliver reliable long-term hydraulic and environmental performance.
Green Infrastructure principles can be applied across a wide range of municipal, commercial and institutional developments. By integrating stormwater collection, pretreatment, bioretention, biofiltration, underground detention and flow control practices, engineers can design systems that meet hydraulic, environmental and urban design objectives simultaneously.
Explore five real-world applications that demonstrate how Green Infrastructure can be integrated into different types of developments to sustainably manage stormwater while improving community resilience.
Parking lots typically contain large impervious surfaces that generate significant stormwater runoff. Integrating bioretention areas, pretreatment systems and underground detention solutions helps reduce peak flows, improve stormwater quality and maximize the efficient use of available space.
→ Explore the Commercial Parking Lot Application
Commercial streets must balance mobility, public safety, urban greening and effective stormwater management. By combining street trees, bioretention systems, underground infrastructure and conventional storm sewer networks, municipalities can create streetscapes that are both more resilient and more attractive.
→ Explore the Commercial Street Application
Roundabouts provide an excellent opportunity to integrate Green Infrastructure directly into transportation corridors. Vegetated bioretention areas, trench drains and biofiltration systems capture and treat stormwater runoff while enhancing the surrounding landscape.
→ Explore the Roundabout Application
Vegetated medians manage stormwater at its source while improving the appearance and environmental performance of roadways. Through bioretention, biofiltration and flow control, they reduce runoff volumes, improve water quality and support healthier urban ecosystems.
→ Explore the Vegetated Median Application
Active transportation corridors can also contribute to sustainable stormwater management. By incorporating bioretention systems, perforated underdrains and engineered drainage infrastructure, multi-use paths become multifunctional corridors that improve both hydraulic performance and community livability.
→ Explore the Multifunctional Paths Application
Key Takeaway
Green Infrastructure principles can be successfully applied to a wide variety of developments, including commercial streets, parking lots, roundabouts, vegetated medians and multi-use paths. Every project combines different stormwater management practices to achieve hydraulic performance, environmental protection and resilient urban design.
Successful Green Infrastructure is never the result of a single product. It is created by integrating multiple stormwater management practices that work together to collect, treat, detain, control and safely convey stormwater runoff.
The combination of solutions will vary depending on site conditions, project objectives and regulatory requirements. By selecting the appropriate practices for each stage of the stormwater management process, engineers can develop systems that improve hydraulic performance, protect water quality and increase long-term infrastructure resilience.
Effective stormwater management begins with safely collecting runoff from impervious surfaces and directing it toward treatment or detention systems.
Typical Solutions
Pretreatment removes sediment, debris and floating pollutants before stormwater enters downstream Green Infrastructure practices. This critical first step protects treatment systems, improves long-term performance and minimizes maintenance requirements.
Typical Solutions
Bioretention and biofiltration use vegetation and engineered soil media to naturally improve stormwater quality. These systems remove suspended solids and pollutants while restoring many of the functions of the natural hydrologic cycle.
Typical Solutions
Underground detention and infiltration systems temporarily store stormwater to reduce peak flows and relieve pressure on existing storm sewer infrastructure. Where soil conditions permit, these systems also promote groundwater recharge.
Typical Solutions
Flow control devices regulate how quickly stormwater leaves the system, ensuring downstream infrastructure is protected during heavy rainfall events while meeting project-specific hydraulic requirements.
Typical Solutions
Every project presents unique challenges. The most successful Green Infrastructure systems combine multiple complementary practices into one integrated solution that addresses hydraulic performance, environmental protection and long-term operational requirements.
By bringing together collection, pretreatment, treatment, detention, infiltration and flow control within a coordinated system, engineers can design stormwater infrastructure that is more resilient, more sustainable and better prepared for future climate conditions.
Key Takeaway
High-performing Green Infrastructure is not built around individual products—it is built around an integrated stormwater management system. By combining collection, pretreatment, treatment, detention, infiltration and flow control, engineers can create resilient solutions tailored to the unique requirements of every project.
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Green Infrastructure is an approach to stormwater management that uses natural and engineered systems to capture, treat, detain, infiltrate and manage stormwater runoff closer to where it falls. It combines practices such as bioretention, biofiltration, permeable surfaces and underground stormwater systems to improve water quality, reduce peak flows and increase the resilience of stormwater infrastructure.
Gray infrastructure relies primarily on conventional engineered systems such as storm sewers, pipes and detention facilities to convey or temporarily store stormwater. Green Infrastructure complements these systems by using vegetation, engineered soils and natural processes to manage runoff at its source. Most modern stormwater management strategies integrate both approaches to improve hydraulic performance and long-term resilience.
Green Infrastructure slows the movement of stormwater by capturing, filtering, detaining and infiltrating runoff before it enters the storm sewer system. This reduces the amount of water reaching downstream infrastructure during heavy rainfall events, helping prevent localized flooding and reducing pressure on existing stormwater systems.
Bioretention systems, biofiltration practices and pretreatment devices remove suspended solids, nutrients and other pollutants from stormwater runoff before it reaches receiving waters. Vegetation, engineered soil media and natural biological processes all contribute to improving stormwater quality.
Yes. Green Infrastructure has been successfully implemented throughout Canada and the northern United States. When designed according to recognized best practices, these systems perform well despite freeze-thaw cycles, snow accumulation and winter maintenance operations.
No. Green Infrastructure is designed to complement—not replace—traditional stormwater infrastructure. Together, green and gray infrastructure create more resilient stormwater systems that better manage runoff while reducing pressure on existing municipal assets.
Green Infrastructure can be incorporated into municipal, commercial, institutional and residential developments. Typical applications include commercial parking lots, streetscapes, roundabouts, vegetated medians, parks, schools and multi-use pathways.
Bioretention is a Green Infrastructure practice that temporarily stores and filters stormwater through vegetation and engineered soil media. It improves water quality, reduces runoff volumes and promotes infiltration where site conditions allow.
Biofiltration uses vegetation and engineered filter media to naturally remove sediment and pollutants from stormwater runoff before it is discharged or infiltrated into the ground. It is often integrated into bioretention systems.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is the term commonly used in North America to describe Green Infrastructure practices specifically designed to manage stormwater runoff. GSI combines natural systems with engineered solutions to reduce flooding, improve water quality and restore natural hydrologic processes.
Low Impact Development (LID) is a stormwater management approach that seeks to mimic natural hydrology by managing runoff as close to its source as possible. Green Infrastructure practices such as bioretention, permeable pavements and infiltration systems are common components of LID design.
Design begins with evaluating site conditions, including soil infiltration rates, drainage areas, runoff volumes, groundwater conditions and local regulatory requirements. Engineers then combine collection, pretreatment, treatment, detention, infiltration and flow control practices to achieve the project’s hydraulic and environmental objectives.
Routine maintenance is essential to ensure long-term performance. Typical activities include sediment removal, vegetation management, inspection of pretreatment devices, debris removal and periodic inspection of flow control structures.
Explore our technical guides, webinars, and application pages to learn how Green Infrastructure can be successfully integrated into municipal, commercial and institutional stormwater management projects. Find more here.
Our stormwater experts work alongside engineers, municipalities and developers to design sustainable stormwater management systems tailored to the unique requirements of every project.
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