Most have heard of the Pacific garbage patch. The new news is there is also one in the Atlantic. Removing plastics from catch basins and stormwater management facilities is one way to reduce the increase of these major collection points of non-point pollution.
Just had an article on Inspection of stormwater management infrastructure published on http://www.Buildipedia.com
Check it:
Negotiations in Annapolis have resulted in a compromise. Key points:
• Developers of projects with preliminary approval would be exempt from the stricter storm-water rules if they get final local approval of their plans within three years and start construction by 2017.
• Redevelopment projects in designated growth areas with less than 40 percent pavement would be eligible for some breaks on how much storm water would need to be controlled.
Check it out here: Compromise reached on storm-water pollution rules – baltimoresun.com.
Many (most?) site designers in Maryland are facing the challenges of designing sites with integrated Environmental Site Design practices – which will be mandated as of May, 2010.
We have developed a series of Excel spreadsheets that make quick work of computing the new Maryland Environmental Site Design (ESD) requirements and sizing of practices. They are available for free download at www.mdesd.com. The software incorporates a defined design process that allows a designer to efficiently determine what is the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) for their given site.
We will also be offering training programs that apply these free software tools to real life ESD site design problems. If interested in training, fill out the form at http://www.mdesd.com/training.html. We just finished a private two day workshop with some very positive feedback. More dates are being planned.
Updates will be posted here – subscribe to this blog to be notified.
Chris from the UK made some interesting comments on the raging Maryland ESD debate, mentioning what redevelopment is like in London.
Is anyone in Annapolis listening?
“We interrupt the sky-is-falling rhetoric on the state’s new stormwater regulations for a few facts…..”
Quite a lead-in to an interesting counter-point response. No doubt controversial for the development community, but alot of good points to consider.
Check it out here – http://articles.centermd.org/?p=433
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Now the Baltimore County Executive weighs in.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.stormwater02feb02,0,7585308.story
Months after the Environmental Site Design Chapter 5 manual revisions and regulations are set in stone, the backlash to ESD heats up.
The main issues are grandfathering on projects that are already designed and the requirements for redevelopment sites.
Check the latest it here:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.stormwater0126,0,991418.story
When plastics do not get removed by stormwater management facilities they ultimately end up in the oceans. This video explores what happens then. The message is: it is too late.
Municipal Sewer and Water Magazine has published an article on maintaining stormwater management that includes some pics provided by us. Check it out here: http://www.mswmag.com/editorial/view/2245/STORM-Keeping-Them-Clean. The article was written by our friends at BMPClean.org.
Sustainable Stormwater Management 