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Building Green: Repurposing Stormwater for Sustainable Development
The document discusses green infrastructure as a way to manage stormwater runoff in urban areas. It describes how impervious surfaces in cities prevent stormwater from being absorbed naturally, causing water pollution problems. Green infrastructure uses natural processes like infiltration, evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting to retain and clean stormwater onsite. Examples of green infrastructure practices given include rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting, downspout disconnection, green streets, green parking lots, and urban tree canopies. The document then describes green infrastructure projects implemented at Spelman College, such as pavement reduction, cistern installation, rain gardens, and xeriscaping.
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Building Green: Repurposing Stormwater for Sustainable Development
- 1. By Ruth WangiaByRuth Wangia Sustainable Spelman InternSustainable Spelman Intern An AUC Forum on Green InfrastructureAn AUC Forum on Green Infrastructure March 17March 17thth 20152015
- 2. In undevelopedareas runoff water is absorbed by soil & plants(Slowed down, and soaked in) Replenishes ground water sources Water cannot soak into the ground of impervious surfaces Storm water runoff causes water pollution in urban areas GI provides a functional cost effective solution to urban runoff Introduction
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- 4. Urban centershave engineered storm sewers that drain and discharge storm water Storm water carries, heavy metals, trash,& other pollutants to nearby water bodies In Atlanta some storm water is combined with sewers Degrades the quality of receiving waters Higher flows cause erosion Loss of habitat and aquatic life Increased flooding Water Pollution
- 6. Uses naturalprocess to manage storm water and create healthier urban spaces Management system that mimic natural processes to infiltrate storm water Evapotranspiration Repurpose storm water Retains water onsite reducing runoff Controls storm water Slows it down, spread it out and soaks it in Green Infrastructure
- 7. Examples of GI Rain gardens Bioswales Permeable pavements Rain water harvesting Downspout disconnection Green Streets Green parking Urban tree Canopy
- 8. Rain gardens Alsobio retention cells Are shallow, vegetated basins Collect and absorb runoff from sidewalks Mimics natural hydrology(infiltration & evapotranspiration)
- 9. Bio swales Shallowdepression Carries water during storms & snowmelts Removes silt and pollutants from surface runoff Mulched, vegetated or xeriscaped
- 10. Permeable pavements Pavedsurface that infiltrate and store water where it falls Cost effective where flooding or icing is a problem Can be constructed from pervious concrete, & porous asphalt
- 11. Rainwater Harvesting Collectsand stores rainwater for later use Mitigates runoff Attractive in arid regions Reduce the demand on limited water supplies
- 12. Downspout Disconnection Re-routing rooftop drainagepipes to drain rain water to permeable areas e.g. rain gardens Allows storm water to infiltrate the soil
- 13. Green Streets IntegrateGI elements into streets and alleys Stores, infiltrates and evapotranspirates storm water Permeable pavements, bio swales, small trees can be woven into a street design
- 14. Green Parking Incorporatethe GI elements into parking lot designs Rain gardens & bio swales can be in medians & along perimeter of parking lot Use of permeable pavements
- 15. Urban Tree Canopy Trees Reduce & slow storm water Intercepts precipitation in leaves and branches Mitigates urban heat islands Trees Atlanta
- 16. ~75% pervioussurface 24ft wide pavement replaced by 12 ft wide sidewalk Installed a 60,000 gallon cistern used for irrigation system Rain gardens as part of its Landscape Beautification Green Space at the oval Xeriscaped landscape between Bessie Strong and Reynolds Cottage Use of native plant species around Laura Spelman Spelman College
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- 24. Bioswale." -Wiktionary. Wikipedia.org, 05 Feb. 2015. Web. 9 Mar. 2015. "Green Infrastructure Practices." Clean Water Nashville Program:. Cleanwaternashville.org, n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2015. "Green Infrastructure." What Is Green Infrastructure? United States Environmental Protection Agency, 13 June 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2015. Kerry G. "How To Reduce Stormwater Runoff From Your Home or Business." HubPages. N.p., 17 July 2010. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. References