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Stormwater

When it rains, your community is tested. Stormwater that isn’t managed well doesn’t just cause flooding — it damages infrastructure, strains budgets, threatens water quality, and erodes public confidence. DLZ helps municipalities anticipate challenges with comprehensive stormwater planning and design that’s practical, sustainable, and built around the way your community actually works.

From watershed-based master planning to green infrastructure and regulatory compliance, we bring the full range of stormwater expertise to every engagement. Whether you’re addressing aging systems, managing growth, or navigating increasingly complex environmental requirements, DLZ delivers solutions that protect your community today and scale with its needs for decades to come.

Featured Capabilities

Stormwater Master Planning & Drainage Studies

DLZ evaluates your existing drainage infrastructure, identifies flooding and capacity issues, and develops watershed-based improvement plans that prioritize projects by risk, cost, and community impact. It’s a clear, defensible roadmap for long-term investment.

Hydrologic & Hydraulic Modeling

Before a single pipe is designed, DLZ models how your system performs under real storm conditions. By simulating a range of scenarios, we identify bottlenecks, flood-prone areas, and surcharge risks, turning complex data into confident, cost-effective design and capital planning decisions.

Green Infrastructure Design & Implementation

Nature-based solutions like bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement do more than manage runoff — they improve water quality, enhance community spaces, and stretch infrastructure dollars further. DLZ designs and integrates green infrastructure into existing urban environments in ways that are practical, maintainable, and built to last.

Stormwater Quality & Regulatory Compliance

Stormwater regulations are complex and constantly evolving — and the consequences of falling short are real. DLZ designs systems that meet NPDES permit requirements, MS4 obligations, and local standards, while addressing pollutant loading and improving the health of receiving waterways. We also support permitting and agency coordination so you’re never navigating compliance alone.

Retrofit & Urban Infrastructure Solutions

Improving stormwater performance in already-developed areas requires creativity and precision. DLZ implements targeted improvements in constrained urban environments, carefully coordinating with existing roadways and utilities to maximize system performance while minimizing disruption to the communities we serve.

Stormwater Reviews

DLZ evaluates development and infrastructure plans for stormwater compliance, using hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to verify designs meet regulatory standards and manage runoff effectively. Their approach draws on source control methods like retention/detention basins and infiltration practices, paired with traditional conveyance systems such as storm sewers and pumping stations, streamlining approvals while protecting communities from flooding and water quality issues.

Related Work

Big Walnut Trail for City of Columbus, Department of Recreation and Park

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, Ohio

Hydraulic Structure Sizing On-Call for INDOT

Multiple cities

, Indiana

Water & Sewer Utilities Department Building, West Bloomfield

West Bloomfield Township

, Michigan

Blueprint Near South – Morrill Ann Area Green Infrastructure

Columbus

, Ohio

Related Capabilities

Tony

Kenning, MS, PE

Division Manager

Indiana

Jon

LaTurner, PE

Division Manager - Stormwater and Permits