There’s a good chance that you’ve heard the terms retention pond and detention pond at some point in your life. For a lot of us, we hear these terms in a way that makes them seem interchangeable. If we take a look at a retention pond versus a detention pond, we’ll begin to see how they are different.
Let’s break down what you need to know.
What Is a Retention Pond?
A retention pond permanently retains water. Unless there’s a drought, you can pretty much always find water in a retention pond. They’re also often stocked with fish and can have decorative fountains in the middle.
A retention pond is built to help store rainwater and prevent flooding. You can find retention ponds in cities, small towns, and even in rural areas. They often have a lot of vegetation around the bank. They are sometimes referred to as a wet detention basin, since this is their primary function.
Retention ponds help to reduce flooding, and can contribute to a beautiful green space. If you like having a pond, drawing wildlife to the area around your home, or a quiet green space, a retention pond might be for you. However, in some areas, you may have to fence off the pond and place warning signs for legal protection.
What Is a Detention Pond?
A detention pond is built to help prevent flooding and downstream erosion. They are quite popular in flood management around urban areas. They are often called a detention basin and remain dry for most of the year. You can spot a detention pond because of the excavation that goes into their construction.
When the rainy season, or severe thunderstorms hit, these ponds will fill up with water. This helps to prevent overflow that could damage structures or cause flooding. A proper detention pond is built in such a way that contaminants and pollutants don’t reach the local water table.
The Differences
The first, and most obvious difference, is that a retention pond holds water all the time. This means that for all intents and purposes it is a permanent or near-permanent pond. A detention pond does not, being dry most of the time. There are a few more technical differences, however.
A detention pond is designed to store water for as long as possible. This means that it stores the water and then that water slowly dissipates due to evaporation and other natural effects. A retention pond is often built with a spillway or overflow system to prevent it from becoming too full.
The Similarities
Both types of pond are great for controlling flood water. Detention ponds and retention ponds are also both built to fill from the bottom up. This can be done via a natural system, or through pipes and artificial means.
If you were judging both ponds by how they look when full, then there’s little difference to speak of. They are two options for accomplishing the same task. You will have to decide which one will work best for you, considering what you want, the land you own, and the needs you have.
Building a Retention or Detention Pond
When it comes to having a retention or detention pond built, you want it done right. You don’t want to have a contractor that doesn’t do a good job, or leaves things half finished. This could lead to flooding, property damage, and even present a risk to human life.
BDH Land Solutions is able to get the pond you need built. Professional contractors that act with integrity and determination are a hallmark of BDH Land Solutions. If the job turns out to require more work than we thought, we’ll stop and wait for your approval before continuing.
Don’t put your land, home, or family at risk by having substandard contractors do the work for you. When it comes to making a retention pond, or a detention pond, BDH knows what has to be done. We have the equipment and the experience to tackle any job, no matter how large.
Protect Your Property and Family
It is an unfortunate reality that there is frequent flooding in many areas of Montana. Having a retention or detention pond built can help protect everything you own from destructive flood waters. Don’t put off having a consultation with BDH Land Solutions.
You will feel and be safer once your retention or detention pond is built. Let BDH Land Solutions help you determine what is right for your situation and property. Contact us; we can’t wait to hear from you and get started making your land safer and more secure.
