OpenSWMM User Manual

See Authors & Contributors for the full list of authors and contributors.

DISCLAIMER

This software is provided on an "as is" basis and the user assumes responsibility for its use. Although a reasonable effort has been made to assure that the results obtained are correct, the authors are not responsible and assume no liability whatsoever for any results or any use made of the results obtained from these programs, nor for any damages or litigation that result from the use of these programs for any purpose.

ABSTRACT

The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is a dynamic rainfall-runoff simulation model used for single event or long-term (continuous) simulation of runoff quantity and quality from primarily urban areas. The runoff component of SWMM operates on a collection of subcatchment areas that receive precipitation and generate runoff and pollutant loads. The routing portion of SWMM transports this runoff through a system of pipes, channels, storage/treatment devices, pumps, and regulators. SWMM tracks the quantity and quality of runoff generated within each subcatchment, and the flow rate, flow depth, and quality of water in each pipe and channel during a simulation period comprised of multiple time steps. This user's manual describes in detail how to use the OpenSWMM computational engine. It includes instructions on how to build a drainage system model, how to set various simulation options, and how to view results in a variety of formats. It also describes the different types of files used and provides useful tables of parameter values. Detailed descriptions of the theory and numerical methods can be found in the separate reference manuals.

FOREWORD

OpenSWMM is the next generation of the EPA Storm Water Management Model, maintained and advanced as a community-driven open source project. It builds on the foundational work of EPA's SWMM, which was first released in 1971 and has undergone several major upgrades since then. OpenSWMM preserves the rich legacy of SWMM while advancing the codebase with modern architecture, improved modularity, enhanced performance, and support for model coupling through the HydroCouple framework.

SWMM is used throughout the world for planning, analysis, and design related to stormwater runoff, combined and sanitary sewers, and other drainage systems. It can be used to evaluate gray infrastructure stormwater control strategies, such as pipes and storm drains, and is a useful tool for creating cost-effective green/gray hybrid stormwater control solutions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

OpenSWMM builds on the original EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. The original user's manual and SWMM 5 software were created by Lewis A. Rossman, Environmental Scientist Emeritus at the U.S. EPA. His extraordinary contribution to the field of stormwater modeling is gratefully acknowledged.

The original SWMM documentation was reviewed by Michelle Simon, Katherine Ratliff, and Anne Mikelonis, all of the U.S. EPA, by Robert Dickinson (Innovyze), Mitch Heineman (CDM Smith), Mike Gregory (CHI), and Nandana Perera (CHI).

See Authors & Contributors for the complete list of authors and contributors.

Manual Contents

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION — CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2 – QUICK START TUTORIAL — CHAPTER 2 – QUICK START TUTORIAL
CHAPTER 3 - SWMM’S CONCEPTUAL MODEL — CHAPTER 3 - SWMM’S CONCEPTUAL MODEL
CHAPTER 4 - SWMM’S MAIN WINDOW — CHAPTER 4 - SWMM’S MAIN WINDOW
CHAPTER 5 - WORKING WITH PROJECTS — CHAPTER 5 - WORKING WITH PROJECTS
CHAPTER 6 - WORKING WITH OBJECTS — CHAPTER 6 - WORKING WITH OBJECTS
CHAPTER 7 - WORKING WITH THE MAP — CHAPTER 7 - WORKING WITH THE MAP
CHAPTER 8 - RUNNING A SIMULATION — CHAPTER 8 - RUNNING A SIMULATION
CHAPTER 9 - VIEWING RESULTS — CHAPTER 9 - VIEWING RESULTS
CHAPTER 10 - PRINTING AND COPYING — CHAPTER 10 - PRINTING AND COPYING
CHAPTER 11 - FILES USED BY SWMM — CHAPTER 11 - FILES USED BY SWMM
CHAPTER 12 - USING ADD-IN TOOLS — CHAPTER 12 - USING ADD-IN TOOLS
CHAPTER 13 – PROGRAMMATIC C API — CHAPTER 13 – PROGRAMMATIC C API
APPENDIX A - USEFUL TABLES — APPENDIX A - USEFUL TABLES
APPENDIX B - VISUAL OBJECT PROPERTIES — APPENDIX B - VISUAL OBJECT PROPERTIES
APPENDIX C - SPECIALIZED PROPERTY EDITORS — APPENDIX C - SPECIALIZED PROPERTY EDITORS
APPENDIX D - COMMAND LINE SWMM — APPENDIX D - COMMAND LINE SWMM
APPENDIX E - ERROR AND WARNING MESSAGES — APPENDIX E - ERROR AND WARNING MESSAGES