The Stormwater Blog

Biofiltration and bioretention systems are sometimes viewed skeptically in cold climates, where freezing temperatures, snow management, and deicing practices raise concerns about performance and durability. In practice, however, many biofiltration systems operate successfully in cold regions when they are designed with winter conditions in mind. The key is understanding potential cold-climate risks and mitigating them through thoughtful design, operation, and maintenance planning.

As urban development intensifies and stormwater regulations grow more complex, engineers are challenged to design treatment systems that perform effectively within constrained site layouts. Engineered biofiltration has long been a proven solution, with vertical-flow systems like Filterra® delivering reliable, high-rate performance in compact sites. Building on that foundation, Contech’s Modular Wetlands® Linear (MWL) uses horizontal-flow technology that addresses hydraulic and spatial challenges, giving engineers even greater flexibility in how they design for water quality.

We are an industry of abbreviations and acronyms. The terms we use daily can sometimes hold a general or broad meaning in our minds, but the actual definition.

The only sure way to eliminate stormwater pollution is to eliminate stormwater runoff. In recognition of this fact, Green Infrastructure (GI) and Low Impact