Structures

In SWMM (Storm Water Management Model), a variety of hydraulic structures are used to simulate and manage the flow of water within a sewer network. These structures play critical roles in controlling, directing, and storing stormwater and wastewater. Below is a summary of the most important sewer network structures of SWMM fully or partially supported in scenarify. For more detailed information, refer to the inline helper tooltips in scenarify and the SWMM User's Manual

Weir: A flow control structure that regulates or diverts water by allowing it to flow over a defined crest. It helps manage discharge by controlling water levels and flow rates in the sewer network. Common types include transverse, side-flow, and v-notch weirs, though scenarify currently supports only rectangular weirs with transverse or sideflow crests. For further reference, see page 56 of the SWMM User's Manual
Pump: A mechanical device used to lift water from sewer nodes with lower elevations to those with higher ones, overcoming gravity in the sewer network. Pumps can operate in various modes, including on/off control or based on specific flow conditions at its inlet and outlet nodes. For more details, refer to page 54 of the SWMM User's Manual
Orifice: An outlet or diversion structure in drainage systems, typically an opening in the wall or bottom of a manhole or storage unit. Orifices can be circular or rectangular and may feature a flap gate to prevent backflow. For more details, refer to page 55 of the SWMM User's Manual
Storage: A structure designed to temporarily store excess stormwater or wastewater during peak flow events, helping to reduce the risk of flooding and sewer overflows. Storage units can represent ponds, tanks, or other retention structures. For more details, refer to page 50 of the SWMM User's Manual
Discharge Restrictor: A flow control device designed to regulate and maintain a consistent discharge rate in a given link of a sewer network. It ensures that the flow of water, usually during periods of heavy rainfall, does not exceed a predetermined limit to prevent overloading the downstream sewer system. It can also be used to limit a backflow discharge
Discharge Controller: A flow control device used to regulate outflows from storage units or other nodes in a sewer network. It models complex dependencies between discharge and the hydraulic conditions at the inlet and outlet nodes—cases that cannot be accurately represented using weirs, pumps, or orifices. Discharge controllers can also include flap gates to allow flow in only one direction. In SWMM terminology, these structures are referred to as "outlets." For more details, see page 57 of the SWMM User's Manual