After seeing many different versions of proprietary stormwater treatment systems, never being overly impressed, I happened upon this vortex system for energy production. Quite cool.
Nice shot of a series of infiltration trenches managing runoff from a roadway. Note the use of open section roadway and a grass filter strip for pretreament prior to the trench. Stormwater is stored in the void spaces between the stone and infiltrates into the ground.
Just about the best sustainable stormwater management practice – from a treatment and groundwater recharge standpoint. The site MUST have soils that can infiltrate at least 0.5 inches per hour (other opinions may vary on the numbers) to use this – which eliminates many sites with silty or clayey soils.
May not be the best practice from a maintenance and repair standpoint – as the voids can fill with sediment over time and clog the filter cloth between the stone and native soil…. And to repair – it needs to be essentially replaced, which may not be considered to be truly “sustainable”.
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Happened upon this guide by Bill Hunt of NC State. Nice that it includes most aspects of rain garden /bioretention design, although with specifics about North Carolina.
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Not stormwater related – but as an avid bicyclist – and understanding that trends in sustainable development are toward more pedestrian-friendly concepts, this video about advocating appropriate bike lanes in NY is a good one for the Land Planning Archives here. Quite educational – includes some simple things that every Land Planner – and bicyclist – should know. For those who have not spent much time in major cities, it also shares the importance of streets – and how they impact the lives of everyone. City streets are for people as much (or more?) as for automobiles. Oh – speaking of bicycles, our newest:
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So we have a contract to do Inspections and Maintenance for a major retailer, which sends us throughout the Northeastern US. We had an interesting one yesterday.
Seems another firm is advising our client, but the client wanted us to give another opinion. We were wondering what the deal was… why the need for a second opinion. Yesterday, we found out. Apparently the other firm was telling the store manager that they need to dispatch an employee to an offsite storm drain outfall EVERY DAY(!) to clean out trash. Every day. Can you say “Not Realistic?”
The above photo is from another site for another client – a gas station – that had not been maintained for years. The stormwater management system worked – it captured and held the pollutants. Routine maintenance two or three times a year is what is needed – NOT daily.
Now, we are very motivated to do the right thing for the environment. That is why we do what we do. But while we wish to help save the earth, we do not view ourselves as “Save The Earth” people. I have often wondered why. Maybe this is the difference…. we realize that there are logical limitations on what can be done… and that does not include being perfect or Inspiring Guilt.
It is unfortunate that this particular firm feels as though such an unrealistic approach is really warranted. But by doing so, they have damaged their relationship with their client AND – worse yet – they have sullied the notion of what it takes to routinely maintain stormwater management systems.
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Interesting step for New Urbanism….. or is it New Ruralism
?
“… plans to cluster 600 homes in European-style hamlets and attach garden plots to each. Homeowners would own and maintain 150 to 200 more acres of pasture, crop land and orchards. The medieval prototype development will come with such modern luxuries as tennis courts, a spa, coffee shops and the latest in high-tech energy efficiency. “
Read it all at:
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/25/Business/Call_it_green_medieva.shtml
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We’re doing research on permeable pavers for a project, some of the links we are finding after the jump:
Seems I’m having a green roof moment, surfing off to various links: Penn State Center for Green Roof Research Green Roof Resources Blog, and a half hour from us in the Mid-Atlantic: Green Roof Plants
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Casey trees is an interesting organization doing some great work in DC. Check them out here.
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I spent last year traveling the entire United States (doing workshops on environmentally sensitive “Low Impact Development” stormwater management design), so I think I have some idea of the state of stormwater management in this country. I understand that some regions are ahead of others, when it comes to protecting the environment.
But when I hear about folks that are “outraged” by being fined for having no erosion and sediment control – and stating that it is “only dirt and mud”- I am simply amazed.
Latest one I’ve seen in Tennessee: http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
Some comments on the situation here: http://www.knoxviews.com/node/4400
Maybe it’s my perspective – living in an area where we’ve had sediment control for nearly 30 years….. but I find the ignorance and gall of these folks to be rather despicable. If a developer can not understand and respect the fact that having tons of sediment running into streams is a bad thing…. then they should find another business to get into – that does not involve changing the surface of the planet.
In this writer’s opinion, such a developer is not qualified to do business that disturbs the land – it is 2007 – NOT 1967. Wake up.
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Sustainable Stormwater Management 