What should a site's storm-water management plan aim to achieve?

The aim of a site's storm-water management plan should focus on restoring or enhancing natural infiltration rates. This approach is crucial because it helps to manage runoff, reduce erosion, and replenish local aquifers. Effective storm-water management recognizes the importance of allowing water to infiltrate into the ground rather than running off into drainage systems, which can overwhelm those systems and cause flooding.

Enhancing natural infiltration contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem by maintaining groundwater levels and ensuring that local flora and fauna can thrive. This practice also supports sustainable landscape management by reducing reliance on water treatment facilities, improving water quality by allowing natural filtration processes to occur, and promoting the resilience of urban environments to manage storm-water effectively.

Maximizing impermeable surfaces, removing all water sources, or minimizing vegetation would counteract these benefits, leading to increased runoff, decreased groundwater recharge, and potential harm to local ecosystems. These practices would not align with the objectives of sustainable infrastructure and storm-water management principles.