Retention basins hold water and can be simple or complex with concrete walls, alarms, and overflow dams. They are used to accommodate contaminated water, prevent flooding, and provide temporary habitat for animals. The design depends on the service it is to render. Industrial facilities also use retention basins to contain liquid discharges.
A retention basin is an area set aside, often just a dip in the ground or a lightly dug depression that holds water. The basin can be more complex and include concrete walls, alarms and overflow dams to accommodate water that may have been contaminated by an industrial process or by leaching through polluted soil. The key operational consideration is that the retention basin water level must be designed and monitored to accommodate seasonal changes in water levels.
Many scenarios require retention basins. A reservoir is a giant retention basin, which holds rainwater and snowmelt for later use and prevents flooding at lower elevations. Tank levels are recorded and reviewed to ensure adequate holding space for sudden increases in incoming flows. In general, retention basins are not formally monitored after completion.
In suburban areas, retention basins are often included in master plans as areas of open space that can accommodate stormwater runoff and also serve as temporary habitat for migratory birds. Other city animals, including foxes, squirrels, and bats, take advantage of these oases in the suburban sprawl. If the water in the retention basin is stagnant, mosquitoes and midges can breed on the site. A successful retention basin in a residential area incorporates landscaping with native plants that require no water or additional maintenance. Ideally, the retention basin blends into the neighborhood, with little keeping-fit attention required for its true purpose.
The design of the basin depends on the exact service it is to render. Some are designed to be emptied by evaporation only. Grates, pipes and gates allow the water to be raised or lowered in some retention tanks.
The water in a retention basin can absorb the surrounding earth. Drainage aids can help channel some of the water out of the basin. In one method, a larger basin is dug and then partially filled with gravel, sand, chunks of concrete, or other materials. Once buried, these materials create an invisible drainage path. In another technique, pipes with multiple small openings drilled into the sides are placed to collect and direct the flow of water.
The term retention basin has been applied to areas of an industrial or electrical facility that house equipment and are constructed to contain any liquid discharges from the facility. Refineries often have retention basins under each distillation tower. These areas will have stairs to exit the area, but no doors or other foundation passages.
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