Notation

A_c

Area of the catchment, whole contributing drainage area (usually in m²).

A_p

Area of the practice e.g. footprint area of a bioretention cell (usually in m²)

d

Depth e.g. of an infiltration practice (units of length, usually m)

f

Infiltration rate (usually mm/hr)

h

height (units of length)

i

Thornthwaite Heat Index (-)

L

Length, e.g. of a reach, channel or swale (usually in m)

m

run of side slopes in channel cross sections (length, but usually expressed as a ratio in relation to rise. e.g. side slopes = 1:3, so m = 3)

n

Manning's coefficient (unitless) Note: for clarity porosity is being expressed as 'void ratio' and sharing the notation V_R

P

Perimeter of infiltration practice or swale x-section (m)

q

Infiltration rate in (length per time, usually mm/hr)

q'

Infiltration coefficient in (length per time, usually mm/hr) after application of safety correction factor (SCF)

Q_p

Peak flow in units of volume per time (e.g. m³/s)

R

Ratio of catchment (A_c) to the practice footprint area (A_p). syn. I/P ratio. For green roofs (and often permeable paving systems) this will be 1:1. In bioretention it may be 15 or 20 to 1.

R_a

Existing rise of swale gradient (length, usually m)

R_b

Rise of compensation gradient for an enhanced swale (length, usually m)

RVC_T

Runoff volume control target (as outlined by MOECC, units are mm)

S₀

Longitudinal slope (m/m, i.e. dimensionless)

S_x

Cross slope (m/m, i.e. dimensionless)

SCF

Safety correction factor (dimensionless)

t

time (usually in hrs)

T

Temperature (°C)

V

Volume (usually in m³)

V_R

Void ratio, as usually applied to aggregates and yard materials. In this guide, it is also applied to native soils in lieu of porosity (unit for both are vol/vol, i.e. dimensionless)

y

Depth of water (length, usually m or sometimes mm)

The land draining to a single reference point (usually a structural BMP); similar to a subwatershed, but on a smaller scale.

The total surface area upstream of a point on a stream that drains toward that point. Not to be confused with watershed. The drainage area may include one or more watersheds.

A shallow excavated surface depression containing prepared filter media, mulch, and planted with selected vegetation.

The rate at which stormwater percolates into the subsoil measured in inches per hour.

A shallow constructed channel, often grass-lined, which is used as an alternative to curb and channel, or as a pretreatment to other measures. Swales are generally characterized by a broad top width to depth ratio and gentle grades.

The porosity (n) of a mixture is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the total or bulk volume of the mixture. It is closely related to the concept of void ratio (e) where void ratio is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the volume of solids. n = Volume of voids/Total volume of mixture = e/(1+e)

The void ratio (e) of a mixture is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the volume of solids. It is closely related to the concept of porosity (n) where porosity is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the total or bulk volume of the mixture. e = Volume of voids/Volume of solids = n/(1-n)

The ratio of the impervious catchment (drainage) area to the pervious (footprint) area of the receiving BMP.

An alternative practice to traditional impervious pavement, prevents the generation of runoff by allowing precipitation falling on the surface to infiltrate through the surface course into an underlying stone reservoir and, where suitable conditions exist, into the native soil.

Vegetated open channel, with check dams; designed to convey, treat and attenuate stormwater runoff.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

The void ratio (e) of a mixture is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the volume of solids. It is closely related to the concept of porosity (n) where porosity is the ratio of the volume of void-space to the total or bulk volume of the mixture. e = Volume of voids/Volume of solids = n/(1-n)

A broad category of particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates, and available in various particulate size gradations.