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MAKING A DIFFERENCE With the storms and heat of summer upon us, now is an excellent time to consider how you can effectively manage storm water and reduce water consumption! Uncontrolled storm water runoff from construction sites significantly impacts rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries. Impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofing systems, not only increase the volume, but also the rate of runoff. With typical construction, roughly 30 tons of sediment is eroded PER ACRE into nearby waterways, according to Wisconsin’s Department of Resources. Construction sediment runoff can cause:
Sustainable site planning and management not only reduces the volume of runoff, but also the rate, and in doing so allows water to filtrate on site. Look into incorporating eco-sensitive practices such as:
Stormwater Hotspots refer to areas where site usage generates higher concentrations of pollutants in excess of those typically found in stormwater. Gas stations and convenience store parking lots are two examples of common stormwater hotspots. Bioretention islands - shallow, landscaped depressions designed to collect and filter runoff, incorporate pollutant removal mechanisms found in natural forested ecosystems, and can effectively filter hotspot runoff. Cul-de-sacs, often designed with a radius of 40 feet or more, create huge areas of impervious pavement. Incorporating “T” turnarounds, loop roads, or reducing the radius to 30 feet and adding an island… could reduce the square footage of impervious area dramatically.
In addition, savings in development and construction costs could be realized as well with asphalt costing $.50 - $1.00 per square foot in materials alone. Visit these sites for additional information on these and other storm water management practices. http://www.stormwatercenter.net/ |
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