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Where. Does The. Water GO?. When the rain comes. …it lands on paved streets, rooftops and parking lots. These are impervious surfaces that water cannot soak into. Instead of soaking into the ground, the water runs-off the pavement.
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Where Does The Water GO?
These are impervious surfaces that water cannot soak into. Instead of soaking into the ground, the water runs-off the pavement.
With more developments, there are more impervious surfaces. How does this affect runoff? Not much field left!
This chart shows how the amount of stormwaterincreases dramatically with more development. This can be because of more impervious surfaces. * cfs = cubic feet /second, a measure of stream flow
? Where does this water go
In most neighborhoods, the water goes into storm sewers. Where to next?
The storm sewers quickly move the water into a detention basin.
The purpose of a detention basin is to reduce downstream flooding.
Detention basins are designed to hold storm water for 24 – 48 hours, and then…
… release the stormwater to the stream it would have gone into before the development was build.
What can be the result of more water in the stream after a storm?
More water in the stream can result in flooding where none existed before!
Besides more stormwater runoff, there are other problems caused by traditional storm detention basins.
1. Traditional designs result in basins that provide very little aesthetic value to the community. Don’t know what “aesthetic” means? Right click it!
2b. Mown grasses develop shallow root systems which can lead to erosion in high velocity flows. 2c. Mown grass has little ability to filter storm water. Why do you think this is so?
Another problem with traditional basin design is the concrete low flow channel. This is called a low flow channel.
3. Because they are shallow, concrete low flow channels heat runoff and quickly transport it through a basin, without filtering it.
4. A traditional detention basin puts more water in the stream, so stream bank erosion is a common result, which alters or decreases stream habitat.
5. As water runs over impervious surfaces, it picks up various pollutants, including a) oil and grease from cars…
5c) fecal matter from pet waste and malfunctioning septic tanks …&…
5d) heavy metals from tires, shingles, paints, and metal surfaces.
But there are new methods to help alleviate some of these traditional stormwater problems.
A naturalized stormwater detentionbasin has more environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits.
A naturalized stormwater detention basin is attractively landscaped, using native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
In what ways are naturalized basins better than traditional basins?
Wildflower and tall grass meadow plants have deeper root systems.
Stormwater is slowed down and filtered by these deep-rooted plants.
This reduces flooding and keeps pollutants out of the stream.
Naturalized basins tend to have vegetation that requires only annual mowing. This decreases maintenance costs.
A natural low flow channel helps to remove pollutants from stormwater and is more aesthetic.
Native plants increase water quality by trapping sediment and many pollutants found in runoff.
There are other methods to enhance existing stormwater basins which can further improve water quality.
Removing concrete low flow channels helps to decrease water temperatures and allows for more infiltration.
Altering outlet structures so that runoff is held in the basin longer allows for pollutants and sediments to settle out into the basin,
What can you do to help stormwater leave your neighborhood safely?
Gardening organically, and reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers will lessen chemical pollutants in stormwater and local streams.
Planting trees and shrubs along streamside property helps prevent erosion, increase stormwater quality and reduce flooding.
How would reducing lawn areas by planting native trees, flowers and shrubs reduce stormwater runoff?
This will allow more stormwater to infiltrate into the ground. This also saves maintenance time and money.
With a little care and conscious thought, we won’t have to worry about the answer to this question: Where Does The Water GO?