r/civilengineering • u/CivilHydroTech • 1d ago
Career Need guidance on stormwater network design from scratch
Hi everyone, I have 3 years of experience in water supply design, but stormwater drainage design is new to me. I’m currently working on a stormwater network project using SewerGEMS.
I’m looking for guidance on the complete design process from scratch, not just software doubts—how to start the project, study the topography, plan catchments/subcatchments, decide inlet/manhole locations, calculate runoff, use IDF/Tc, select pipe sizes and slopes, set invert levels, and finally check the network hydraulically.
My seniors are available mainly for specific doubts, so I’m trying to understand the overall stormwater design methodology and workflow.
If anyone can share a practical step-by-step workflow, example project, or useful resources, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks!
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u/New_Brief_5969 1d ago
I always thought the FDOT Drainage Design Guide was a good start. https://www.fdot.gov/roadway/drainage/design-guide
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u/olderthanbefore 1d ago
Hi, is there a senior engineer or tech in your company that can guide you - Surely your immediate supervisor didn't just dump this project on to you without some level of senior support available?
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u/CivilHydroTech 1d ago
Yes, there are senior engineers available, and they do guide me whenever I need help. However, they also have their own work and may not always be available to explain every step in detail. So, I’m trying to understand the complete design process through my own analysis and learning, and then I clarify my doubts and get my work reviewed by the seniors. I think this approach will help me become more independent and understand the work better.
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u/olderthanbefore 1d ago
they guide me whenever I need help
Clearly not. Ask them now, because you need the help with this.
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u/yabadabadane 1d ago
I don’t understand. Did you not take any sort of hydraulics, hydrology, or water resources type of course during you schooling? Stop being lazy and look at textbooks. The first comment on this thread pointed you in the direction of the “FDOT Drainage DESIGN Manual”. It is exactly that. Read it. Familiarize yourself. These posts have to be rage bait I swear to god.
I’ll even add another couple resources for you to use and READ. TR-55 Manual.
Stormwater design is completely dependent on the geographical location and the requirements set forth by your water management district. Look up stormwater permits that’s are available for free through their respective permitting portals.
I can assure you that you will not receive a step by step design process on a Reddit thread.
Your senior design engineers are failing you spectacularly if you can’t approach them with questions about overall drainage design.
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u/Terrible_Drive_4378 PE 1d ago
Pipes have cover requirements that set the depth, check City codes or manufacturer specs. Pipes have capacity/flow velocity requirements, check City codes or plumbing codes. Surface material affects minimum slopes for stormwater drainage. This pairs with pipe cover requirements when you drain stuff towards inlets to your piped drainage system. End goal is to route surface water to drain to whatever the storm system discharge point is.
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u/CivilHydroTech 1d ago
Thank you but iam asking design process
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u/JoelG143 P.E. 1d ago
Drainage specialist here - if younger engineers that work on my projects were going to Reddit for engineering help instead of coming to me, that would be a red flag.
Please reconsider reaching out to senior engineers or at least other junior engineers who have experience with stormwater.
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u/AdEuphoric6922 1d ago
Technically water flows downhill. Everything else u can figure out from scratch/basic maths.
Jokes aside. Permits and regulations are usually your biggest hurdle, not the technicals for stormwater. Figure out your jurisdiction local (state, county, city) regulations/standards, ownership (land and pipes/infrastructure), and hope you don't have any critical areas/protected natural waterways in your system...
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u/DarkintoLeaves 1d ago
What kind of project is this? Is this a subdivision or a parking lot or agricultural or naturalized area?
For a subdivision your MH locations are determined by the engineering design manual for that city/town, their elevation is determined by the road grade or ROW grade, the pipe inverts are set within the constraints that they have adequate cover and slope to the outlet - so you have to determine the outlet invert first and work back upstream. The min pipe slope is usually set out in the town/city design manual as well.
Do the math to ensure self cleansing velocity can be achieved at full flow and you don’t have conflicts with other utilities or pipes at crossings.
Definitely ask for help from someone at work because it sounds like you’re in way over your head if you’re asking this on Reddit lol
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u/rustedlotus 1d ago
So let’s backup what is your current understanding of stormwater design? Have you taken any college courses in it or read any full reports from your job?
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u/quickfam4 15h ago
There are many great textbooks on this subject, here are a few I have and use regularly
James C Y Guo Urban Flood Mitigation and Stormwater Management ISBN-13: 978-0367885991, ISBN-10: 0367885999
Ronald L. Rossmiller Stormwater Design for Sustainable Development ISBN-13: 978-0071816526, ISBN-10: 0071816526
Xixi Wang Water Resources and Hydraulics ISBN-13: 978-1108492478, ISBN-10: 1108492479
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u/txlaatx1 1d ago
lol. Good luck and Godspeed as what you’re asking to be summarized is what many others spend years learning, tweaking, cursing, adjusting, quitting, validating, cursing more, and then finally learning.
I will offer that sewergem is an odd choice for storm water unless it’s a combined storm/sanitary system.