It is time for smart water

I was listening to WNPR radio show "Fresh Air" this morning and heard Terri Gross' interview of Charles Fishman the author of a new book called The Big Thirst, The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water.  I had to agree with Mr. Fishman's point of view that the golden age of water  (defined as: cheap, abundant and safe water)  is coming to an end here in the US and that it is time to get creative on ways to save and re-use this limited natural resource as well as take a fresh look at ways to maximize our water resources for the future.  


Especially interesting to me were several examples of US cities and industry who have focused on stretching their water resources:


1- City of Las Vegas, NV - Homeowners are incentivized to remove their turf lawns to the tune of $40,000/acre because it is cheaper to pay the homeowner to remove their lawn and re-plant using xeriscaping (native plants that use minimal water resources)  than it is to capture and treat for re-use water that would be used for lawn watering in a city that was built in a dessert.


2- Orlando, FL - 25 years ago, Orlando, Florida mandated a that gray water systems be installed in new construction.  Orlando uses almost as much gray water as potable water, but have not had to pay to treat the gray water that is used for lawn watering and car washing.


3- IBM Corporation - Vermont.  Over the past 10 years, IBM evaluated their factory building and costs associated with heating/air conditioning systems.  After careful study, they re-plumbed their building to maximize the efficiency of their manufacturing process by coordinating the needs of the building and manufacturing processes with change in water temperatures as the water flows through the building.  The money they have saved by re-plumbing their building adds to their ability for their products to be competitive. 


It is time to take a fresh look at how we do things so that we can maximize our water resources.

Current stormwater projects and applications

Was thinking back over the past year and about the projects that we have worked on and what is ahead.  Just thought this was interesting to consider what types of projects we work on, their diversity and why our clients choose our systems.  These were just a few that came to mind.


TerreKleen - hydrodynamic separator
Probably one of the most unique projects we worked on was for a condo complex in New York.  This client needed a hydrodynamic separator to be installed in their existing parking structure.  Since there was no room for a crane, we built the whole unit from marine grade aluminum and put it in place.  Since this condo complex was located in an urban area, they really were concerned about losing parking availability.  Our unit fit in nicely into their parking garage and at the most, they only lost 1 parking spot.  (I believe if one drove a very small car they could still fit in the spot)
TerreKleen offers a lot of flexibility.  We design to meet the goals of your project (you do not need to design your project to meet the goals of the TerreKleen)


TerreBox - stormwater detention / rain harvesting system
One project that we are currently working on is for a University.  They are going to be re-developing part of their campus and in going for LEED Gold, they are planning the installation of a geo-thermal heating system as well as and capturing all roof runoff for re-use.  The TerreBox is a natural solution in this application.  

1. TerreBox is a modular system, so the client can easily design the storage they need.  
2. As a system that installs quickly and is HS-25 load rated, TerreBox is well suited for a site where large infrastructure/major buildings are going up.
3. Work on the rest of the site will be able to continue with minimal interruption.  
4. TerreBox offers a patented water-tight seal.  This will prevent the roof runoff from contaminating the geo-thermal system.

TerreArch - stormwater infiltration - patented stormwater arch system

A major portion of projects we see need infiltration.  Another school project that we are working on is re-developing their parking lots.  Part of their plans include the installation of two infiltration bays.  Our systems will fit well in this application because:

1. Our systems arrive on-site as HS-25 load rated.  They are not dependent on work crews to achieve the HS-25 load rating.  They are built to easily handle the bus, truck, car traffic at a busy school facility.
2. TerreArch arrives just in time - there is no need for storage, staging, re-staging and there are no small parts to put together, break or lose.
3. TerreArch installs quickly - the contractor can install, backfill and cover up to 50,000 cubic feet of stormwater storage in one day.  Work on the rest of the site can continue with minimal interruption.
4. Available as 26" or 48" arches, it is easy to design and install these systems.

How to price underground stormwater storage - plastic pipe vs. concrete TerreArch

Concrete underground stormwater storage system,TerreArch, offers advantages to the job and site and is often less expensive than installation of plastic pipe.

Below is a general guide and things to consider when costing out your underground stormwater storage project. 

*The costs for any project should be evaluated independently.

1. What are the material costs?

Get pricing
TerreArch - we'll look at your drawings and provide you with a price for TerreArch
Plastic Pipe - get a price for all required materials: plastic pipe, fittings and manholes

2. What are the costs to prepare the site for installation?
TerreArch: Get a price to dig the pit and to lay the sub-base 
(*Note: we often see that the footprint for TerreArch is LESS than needed for plastic pipe.  You may realize a cost savings by digging a smaller pit and eliminating unnecessary structures)
Pipe: Get a price to dig the pit and lay the sub-base (because of the non-structural nature of plastic pipe, you may need extra sub-base)
What are the costs for TerreArch and what are the costs for plastic pipe?

3. Delivery:
TerreArch - Arrives just in time and installs immediately (no unloading or storage space needed)
Plastic Pipe - Delivered on site - must be unloaded and stored
How much additional time will unloading and storage of plastic pipe cost your job?

4. Installation:
TerreArch - A company representative is on site for every installation.  Each TerreArch piece typically installs (pick to set) in about 7 minutes.  This means a crew of 2 or 3 can install, backfill and cover up to 50,000 cubic feet of storage in just one day!
Plastic Pipe - Multiple crew members are needed to get pipe from storage, re-stage and set up on site.  It is important that the pipe be laid in strict accordance with manufacturer's instructions.   Your team needs to assemble pipe layout and attach with cumbersome fittings then secured by hand with stone from the 6 to 9 o'clock positions.  
Plastic fittings can be lost or broken.  Remember, your plastic pipe stormwater storage is only as good as your weakest connection.
How much additional time will assembling and securing plastic pipe by hand, in strict accordance with manufacturer's instructions, cost your job?

5. Completing Installation:
TerreArch - Get a price for bulldozing stone over the top - upon completion, site is easily accessible to all cars and heavy equipment.
Plastic Pipe - Crew members must now complete securing the pipe in-place by hand in strict accordance with manufacturer's instructions before site can be accessed by cars and heavy equipment.
How many days will it take X # of crew members to complete securing plastic pipe in place by hand and laying stone around pipe and above to the proper height?   How much does that add to the cost of your job?

6. Post-construction and Structural Integrity:
TerreArch - arrives on site as a structural piece with an HS-25 rating.  Installation of TerreArch eliminates the opportunity for creep and post-construction subsidence issues.
Plastic Pipe- is not structural.  Even when manufacturer's instructions are strictly followed, plastic pipe can and has failed and it can also easily creep.

7. Post construction inspection:
TerreArch - offers easy access ports for inspection - anytime.
Plastic pipe- no access ports - post construction inspection is difficult at best

8. One last consideration:
It is important to install TerreArch or plastic pipe on a clean bed of stone.  If you can't complete the installation of your underground stormwater storage system in one day, it rains and the stone gets dirty, the base stone needs to be cleaned and re-laid. 
Can you afford not to consider TerreArch?

Do the math!  Pull your costs together.  Let us look at your project and submit our quote.  This quick exercise has saved many projects and contractors thousands of dollars and the structural integrity of concrete provided long term peace of mind.