Project Details

After Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston region in 2017 — flooding over 120,000 structures in Harris County and delivering more than 50 inches of rain in some areas — local authorities were determined to find better flood mitigation strategies. The catastrophic damage made Harvey the second costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, compelling Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to explore innovative solutions to prevent future flooding events.

Harris County hired the engineering firm Binkley & Barfield to develop methods for diverting water from creeks into tailwater ponds. Their goal was to store stormwater for extended periods, maximizing infiltration into the ground. By holding water longer, they aimed to recharge aquifers, reduce pollutant runoff, and minimize flood risks in lower-lying residential areas.

What Convergent Water Technologies Provided

To meet these goals, Binkley & Barfield partnered with Convergent Water Technologies to implement the smartPOND® Rotary Weir system. Thanks to its customizable, programmable features, smartPOND could be tailored specifically to project requirements.

Here’s how the system worked:

• A 24-inch culvert directed water from the creek to a junction box and then into the tailwater pond through a 24-inch concrete pipe fitted with a backflow preventer — ensuring water could enter but not exit through the same route.
• During a storm event, the smartPOND Rotary Weir remained upright in a closed position, allowing the pond to impound up to six feet of water.
• Once water filled the pond, smartPOND’s sensors triggered a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to hold the stored water for 72 hours to promote infiltration into the ground.
• After the 72-hour hold, the system gradually transitioned the weir from closed (vertical) to open (horizontal) over 48 hours, ensuring a slow surface release that minimized pollutant discharge.

This controlled process significantly altered the natural watershed flow, temporarily removing large volumes of stormwater from the system and storing it safely.

Why Harris County Chose smartPOND

Harris County selected smartPOND for its ability to meet several critical objectives:

• Customizability: smartPOND could be programmed to precisely match the infiltration and release schedule required for this project.
• Reliability: The backflow prevention system and programmable holding periods offered peace of mind during major storm events.
• Environmental Benefit: By holding water longer, the project enhanced infiltration, helped recharge the aquifer, and reduced the downstream pollutant load.
• Flood Risk Reduction: smartPOND helped delay the release of 195 acre-feet of stormwater, significantly decreasing the immediate flood threat to downstream communities.

By utilizing smartPOND technology, Harris County successfully modified the watershed’s behavior, taking proactive steps to protect residents and infrastructure from future catastrophic flood events..