Stormwater Management Solutions with Neoloy® Tough-Cells

Stormwater Management Challenges

Stormwater management is a core infrastructure requirement for developments, transport facilities, industrial sites and public spaces. Effective systems must control runoff close to its source, manage peak flow and storage, protect water quality and safely convey or release water without creating erosion, flooding or downstream impacts. 

The challenge is not solved by one drainage component. Successful strategies combine source control, attenuation, infiltration, conveyance, treatment and controlled discharge, with each feature designed for site hydrology, soil conditions, pollutant risk, climate exposure, structural loading and long-term maintenance. 

  • Increased runoff and peak flows from impervious surfaces
  • Flooding and ponding from insufficient drainage capacity
  • Sediment, hydrocarbons, chemicals and pollutants in runoff
  • Erosion and scour along slopes, swales, banks and outfalls
  • Weak or saturated soils exposed to wetting and maintenance traffic
  • Clogging that reduces infiltration and drainage efficiency
  • Groundwater and contamination constraints on infiltration
  • Drainage integration with pavements, landscaping and space constraints
  • Water, chemical and ground-movement impacts on liners and structures
  • Ongoing inspection, vegetation control, sediment removal and access


For owners, civil engineers, drainage designers and contractors, stormwater performance affects flood risk, regulatory compliance, water quality, asset protection, public 
safety and whole-life maintenance cost.
 

How Neoloy® Tough-Cells Support Stormwater Management

Neoloy® Tough-Cells provide 3D cellular confinement that can reinforce key components within Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), Low Impact Development (LID) and conventional stormwater infrastructure. The cells confine soil, aggregate, vegetation media or concrete, helping preserve the designed surface and structural layer. 

The cellular matrix distributes loads, limits lateral movement and protects infill against erosion and washout. Perforated cell walls support drainage, lateral water movement and root interlock, while the reinforced layer can stabilize permeable pavements, vegetated swales, open channels, pond slopes and containment structures. 

For stormwater infrastructure, Neoloy® Tough-Cells can help: 

  • Reinforce permeable pavements and maintenance-access areas under traffic loads
  • Stabilize swales, bioswales, ditches, pond slopes and banks
  • Confine gravel, soil, turf and armor materials under stormwater flow
  • Support infiltration while reducing runoff, erosion and aggregate migration
  • Maintain soil structure and vegetation on drainage slopes
  • Reinforce channels, outfalls and high-flow transition zones
  • Protect geomembranes and separation layers in lined systems
  • Create flexible concrete linings for selected ponds and channels
  • Reduce cracking, rutting and long-term erosion repairs

Neoloy® Tough-Cells are manufactured from Novel Polymeric Alloy – NPA, with engineering properties suited to long-term confinement in wet, exposed and chemically demanding stormwater environments.

Stormwater Management Applications

Industrial & Airport Runoff Containment

Reinforces lined ponds and channels used to separate, store, treat or release higher-risk runoff under controlled conditions. 

Reinforces open-graded aggregate, turf, gravel or permeable paving layers while supporting vehicle loading and localized infiltration. 

Stabilizes pond slopes, banks, bases and maintenance access, with options for vegetated, aggregate or concrete surfaces.

  • Protects soil structure,
  • Reduces surface erosion,
  • Supports green cover on exposed or restored drainage corridors. 

Holds gravel, concrete or vegetated cover in place under sheet flow and concentrated hydraulic conditions. 

  • Confines growth media, limits erosion and channeling,
  • Supports vegetation and drainage along shallow conveyance features. 

Key Benefits for Stormwater Infrastructure

Hydraulic & Water-Quality Benefits

Runoff management

Supports localized source-control and conveyance features that slow, spread, store or direct runoff as part of the engineered drainage train.

Infiltration

Perforated cells and permeable infill can support infiltration and lateral water movement where soil and groundwater conditions permit.

Flood-risk reduction

Helps maintain the shape and function of swales, ponds, permeable surfaces and channels used to attenuate and manage stormwater.

Sediment and pollutant control

Stabilized soil and vegetation can reduce erosion and sediment release; pollutant treatment performance depends on the complete system design.

Controlled containment

Concrete or protected lining systems can support separation, storage and controlled handling of contaminated or higher-risk runoff.

Groundwater protection

Supports lined or non-infiltrating solutions where unrestricted infiltration is unsuitable, subject to environmental design and permitting.

Erosion, Structural & Material Benefits

Erosion and scour resistance

Cell confinement limits soil, gravel and aggregate movement under rainfall, sheet flow and localized hydraulic forces.

Slope and channel stability

Provides tensile confinement that holds specified cover materials on pond banks, embankments, ditches and channels.

Flexible concrete reinforcement

Cellular concrete sections can accommodate minor ground movement and vibration while limiting transverse cracking.

Traffic load support

Reinforces maintenance roads, shoulders, permeable parking areas and access surfaces adjacent to drainage assets.

Material retention

Maintains separation and protects cover over geotextiles, geomembranes or other specified drainage-system layers.

Environmental, Construction & Lifecycle Benefits

Green infrastructure integration

Supports vegetated swales, turf surfaces, green corridors and multifunctional drainage landscapes.

Efficient construction

Folded sections simplify transport and installation; cellular concrete applications can eliminate conventional formwork.

Reduced recurring repairs

Limiting erosion, material migration and cracking can reduce rehabilitation and operational disruption.

Long-term maintainability

Stable surfaces improve access for inspection, vegetation management, sediment removal and emergency response.

Site and resource efficiency

Reinforced slopes and localized systems can conserve land, reduce aggregate displacement and protect existing soil structure.

Project Validation: Airport Stormwater Retention Ponds

An international airport in Western Europe required two retention ponds to manage runoff from large pavement areas. One pond stored contaminated runoff for pumping to treatment, while the second managed cleaner water for natural filtering and controlled discharge. The system had to perform over weathered clay and withstand fuel, de-icing fluids, operational vibration and demanding maintenance conditions. 

Neoloy® Tough-Cells were used to reinforce a 200 mm dry-lean concrete lining on the pond bases and slopes. The cellular form held the concrete uniformly without conventional formwork and provided a flexible, non-corroding reinforcement system for the containment surfaces. 

Project value delivered 

  • Separated contaminated and cleaner runoff through two concrete-lined retention ponds
  • Reinforced 1:3 pond slopes with vertical heights of 6.5 m and 5 m
  • Eliminated conventional formwork and improved concrete-placement control
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View Airport Stormwater Retention Pond Case Study

Design Resilient Stormwater Infrastructure with PRS

Stormwater systems must manage water safely while protecting the surrounding soil, infrastructure, receiving waters and landscape throughout the development life cycle.