Stormwater detention basin design: a review of traditional approaches and current challenges

Flood risk and associated damages are increasing worldwide due to more intense extreme rainfall events and ongoing urbanization, challenging the adequacy of conventional, stationary stormwater design. This paper presents a critical review and synthesis of methods for the design and operation of stormwater detention basins, with emphasis on climate change adaptation. We first examine traditional ‘design-storm’ and storage-based approaches, outlining their simplifying assumptions (e.g. fixed hyetograph shapes, constant runoff coefficients, constant outflows, etc.) and the implications for underestimating flood risk in non-stationary contexts. We then survey advances that address these limitations: risk-based and multi-objective optimization frameworks, hydrodynamic modelling, analytical–probabilistic formulations that accommodate multiple operating rules and pre-filling, and emerging tools including real-time control and AI-driven prediction. Building on recent evidence of changing extreme precipitation, we review pathways to incorporate future rainfall into design (delta-change scaling, non-stationary frequency analysis, and climate-model-informed projections) and discuss requirements for downscaling and bias correction when coupling hydrological models with projections. Finally, we highlight the central role of damage assessment to link hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, enabling cost–benefit evaluation of detention basin alternatives. The paper consolidates methodological guidance for practitioners: use updated/non-stationary rainfall information, prefer ensemble-driven hydrological–hydraulic modelling, and embed damage evaluation in design.