HydroCAD vs PCSWMM vs SWMMHYMO for Detention Pond Design

[davegricor]

thread162-175446

Similar to the previous thread, I'm looking to get some opinions on programs to design detention ponds for small to medium size land development projects. The three we have narrowed it down to are:

- HydroCAD ($195-$1595)
- PCSWMM ($120-$180/month subscription)
- SWMHYMO ($1250)

Does anyone have experience with these programs (or others) that they would recommend for detention pond design?

Thanks

 

[Twinkie]

I love HydroCAD, I've been using it for about 6-7 years. It is super easy to use, cost effective, and easy and cheap to upgrade if you come across a larger project.

If you are doing a lot of pre-fab underground stuff, the chamber wizard within HydroCAD can not be beat.

They have a free trial you can download as well to try it out.

 

[gbam]

It depends on whether you are modeling multiple interconnected ponds or not. For a single pond with a low level outlet and emergency weir HEC-1 or HEC-HMS will suffice as will a spreadsheet. The nice thing is HMS is free. For the interconnected ponds (ones that can flow backwards) ICPR and other more robust models are required. I also think that EPA SWMM is free as well in lieu of PCSWMM. We use PONDPACK (Our Company has subscription to Bentley Products) for multiple ponds but have not needed the more robust modeling, so I am not sure if can handle that. I still use HMS or HEC-1 for single pond modeling, but I am a bit oldschool.

 

[ceelias]

Consider Hydrology Studio. It was written by Terry Stringer, who also wrote the older Hydraflow program. It will handle interconnected ponds, but is commercial software ($ 495). A google search should find it.

I'm a frequent lurker on this forum, but rarely contribute. And....just for the record, while I'm using Hydrology Studio, I have no fiscal interest in the company.

 

[Builder604]

ceelias, thanks for the reference to hydrology studio, it looks very similar to hydraflow. I just started my own firm and am in dire need of hydrology with minimal learning curve and this software looks like it may be best option for me so far.