Quick Stormwater Calculators

If you need to do some quick calculations and need to understand how stormwater is going to impact your project, you may want to check out these stormwater calculators.  


Predictive models and stormwater calculators on the EPA website


The UC Davis Stormulator


Green Values National Stormwater Calculator


Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

Of course you will want to have an engineer review your site and confirm your calculations.

US Government releases report detailing climate change impacts on water resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today released a report that assesses climate change risks and how these risks could impact water operations, hydropower, flood control, and fish and wildlife in the western United States. The report to Congress, prepared by Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, represents the first consistent and coordinated assessment of risks to future water supplies across eight major Reclamation river basins, including the Colorado, Rio Grande and Missouri river basins.
“Water is the lifeblood of our communities, rural and urban economies, and our environment,” said Secretary Salazar, “and small changes in water supplies or the timing of precipitation can have a big impact on all of us. This report provides the foundation for understanding the long-term impacts of climate change on Western water supplies and will help us identify and implement appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies for sustainable water resource management.”
The report, which responds to requirements under the SECURE Water Act of 2009, shows several increased risks to western United States water resources during the 21st century. Specific projections include:

• a temperature increase of 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit;

• a precipitation increase over the northwestern and north-central portions of the western United States and a decrease over the southwestern and south-central areas;

• a decrease for almost all of the April 1st snowpack, a standard benchmark measurement used to project river basin runoff; and

• an 8 to 20 percent decrease in average annual stream flow in several river basins, including the Colorado, the Rio Grande, and the San Joaquin.

The report notes that projected changes in temperature and precipitation are likely to impact the timing and quantity of stream flows in all western basins, which could impact water available to farms and cities, hydropower generation, fish and wildlife, and other uses such as recreation.
"Impacts to water are on the leading edge of global climate change, and these changes pose a significant challenge and risk to adequate water supplies, which are critical for the health, economy, and ecology of the United States," added Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor.Reclamation is already working with stakeholders across the West to achieve a sustainable water strategy to meet our nation's water needs. Through the WaterSMART Basin Studies Program, Reclamation is developing and evaluating options for meeting future water demands in river basins where water supply and demand imbalances exist or are projected.


Reclamation is also continuing to implement actions to mitigate and adapt to changing climate. For example, at Hoover Dam, new wide head range turbines are being installed that will allow more efficient power generation over a wider range of lake levels than existing turbines. In addition, through the WaterSMART program, Reclamation continues to work with water users across the West to implement conservation and recycling measures and promote the efficient use of finite water resources. The Department of the Interior has also established Landscape Conservation Cooperatives and Climate Science Centers to help assess vulnerabilities to the natural and cultural resources management by the Department, and spearhead activities to adapt to the stresses of climate change.
“The WaterSMART program provides a strong foundation for the Department’s efforts to improve water conservation and help water-resource managers make sound decisions about water use,” said Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, Anne Castle. “As climate change adds to the challenges we face in managing our water supply, meaningful engagement between the River Basin states and the Department of the Interior will continue to be essential.”
To develop the report, Reclamation used original research and a literature synthesis of existing peer-reviewed studies. Projections of future temperature and precipitation are based on multiple climate models and various projections of future greenhouse gas emissions, technological advancements, and global population estimates. Reclamation will develop future reports to Congress under the authorities of the SECURE Water Act that will build upon the level of information currently available and the rapidly developing science to address how changes in supply and demands will impact water management.
The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest wholesaler of water in the country, providing water to more than 31 million people and to one out of five Western farmers for irrigation of more than 10 million acres of farmland. Reclamation is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western United States with 58 power plants generating nearly a billion dollars in power revenues and producing enough electricity to serve 3.5 million homes.
The SECURE Water Act Report, with fact sheets highlighting climate challenges and impacts in the eight western river basins, is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/climate.
More information about Reclamation’s WaterSMART program is available at http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/.

TerreKleen Low Impact Development Protector

Putting in a rain garden?  Worried about sediment, trash, debris, or oils getting into and blinding your rain garden?  Perhaps you would consider installing our newest product, the TerreKleen LID Protector. 


The TerreKleen LID protector was designed in response to concerns of several of our large city clients who are installing rain gardens.  Their concerns include: cost, ease of maintenance, sediment, debris, and oils getting into their rain gardens, blinding the rain gardens and killing the plants.  In response to concerns about budget and lack of manpower, the TerreKleen LID protector was designed.


This small vault system was designed to capture sediment, trash, debris, and oils, and as a shallow vault, a central maintenance location makes makes $en$e and can easily be performed with a shovel.

TerreKleen LID Protector

Lengthen the life of your rain garden!  If you are interested in learning more about the TerreKleen LID protector, give us a call!

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.

I LOVE New York!!!

Last weekend I drove to Rochester, NY which was a trip that took about six hours to drive.  I don't usually travel that far, and I was unaware how beautiful the drive would be.  Of course I started my trip stuck in traffic and the traffic congestion continued until I got on to Route 17.  But it wasn't long before I was driving along and enjoying the countryside.  

It seemed that every mile or so I was on an overpass driving over a river, stream or brook and for the first time I saw fly fishing - guys up to their chests in the water looking for their next big catch.  

After I had been driving for about three hours, I saw a sign near Binghampton that said "Entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed".  I had no idea the watershed was that big!

As the drive continued, I saw lots of farms, hay, cattle and even some wild life.  Everything was getting ready for Spring. 

By the time I got to Syracuse, I was asking myself  "are we there yet?"  The trip started to get really long.   After I passed Syracuse, I learned that I was in the Finger Lakes Wine Country - really cool!   Just another hour or so when I saw the sign announcing "Erie Canal"    YES!  Getting closer!

I felt very lucky that I have a friend that lives in Rochester and I had a day to check out the city.  What a great city!  We went for a nice walk and actually did get a chance to check out the canal.  It is mostly used for pleasure, rather than cargo these days and I was surprised to see that the canal was in draw-down during the winter.  As we walked along the canal, we started hearing fish jumping in the canal.  At a point, I could swear we saw a carp breaching in the water.  (The water was REALLY shallow).  What a nice city!  One disturbing point, my friend told me that during the summer, the beaches on Lake Ontario are often closed due to pollution.  

Lots of great restaurants in Rochester and it was a very manageable city as it was easy to get around.  I am looking forward to my next trip to Rochester!

 

New York State limits water intake at a number of industrial facilities

This article written by Ken Moran appeared in the New York Post April 7, 2010
Here is the link to the actual article : A move in the right direction

In a move that could save millions of fish and their eggs, New York State has curtailed water intake at a number of power plants and other industrial facilities.

The DEC's proposal calls for power plants and other facilities that use water for cooling purposes to recycle and reuse that water through a process known as "closed cycle cooling" technology. This will greatly reduce the amount of water withdrawn from New York's rivers or other water bodies such as Long Island Sound and minimize the amount of fish, fish eggs and larvae destroyed in the process.

The federal Clean Water Act and state regulations require that decisions on what type of cooling-water-intake system to employ at a specific facility be based on the best technology available for minimizing environmental impacts.

From Storms to Sewers - lecture/program about Long Island Sound

Last night I attended the "Storms to Sewers" program in Greenwich, CT at the Bruce Museum.  WOW!  There was really a great turn-out for this program.  I am guessing there were 100 or so people in attendance.  The whole presentation was extremely well presented by Leah Schmalz from Save the Sound/CT Fund for the Environment.  In a very short period of time, she clearly communicated all of the issues that affect The Sound.  The topics covered included: a look at the watershed, Long Island Sound Study, sources of pollution, oxygen levels in the Sound, low impact development, rain barrels, nutrient loading, trash control, the status of projects such as sewer separation and waste water treatment facility upgrades, and stormwater authorities, FUNDING and MORE.  It really was an excellent program and at the end, there were a lot of good questions from a very active and interested audience.

By the way, a quick websearch revealed a fact sheet (from 2005) put together by the EPA.  Click here for the link.

Long Island Sound Citizen's Summit sponsored by Save the Sound and CT Fund for the Environment is coming up on May 7th - we will be a vendor there.  Hope you can make it.

Stormwater - News of the weird

Just read this on slashdot - stormwater news of the weird - here is the link for Slashdot

"The LA Times reports that Orange County officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for replacing the grass on their lawn with wood chips and drought-tolerant plants, reducing their water usage from 299,221 gallons in 2007 to 58,348 gallons in 2009. The dispute began two years ago, when Quan and Angelina Ha tore out the grass in their front yard. In drought-plagued Southern California, the couple said, the lush grass had been soaking up tens of thousands of gallons of water — and hundreds of dollars — each year. 'We've got a newborn, so we want to start worrying about her future,' said Quan Ha, an information technology manager for Kelley Blue Book. But city officials told the Has they were violating several city laws that require that 40% of residential yards to be landscaped predominantly with live plants. Last summer, the couple tried to appease the city by building a fence around the yard and planting drought-tolerant greenery — lavender, rosemary, horsetail, and pittosporum, among others. But according to the city, their landscaping still did not comply with city standards. At the end of January, the Has received a letter saying they had been charged with a misdemeanor violation and must appear in court. The couple could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for their grass-free, eco-friendly landscaping scheme. 'It's just funny that we pay our taxes to the city and the city is now prosecuting us with our own money,' says Quan Ha."

Mysteries of the Great Lakes - IMAX movie at American Museum of Natural History

Yesterday I went to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and saw the IMAX movie "Mysteries of the Great Lakes".   Honestly, I had not spent a lot of time thinking about the Great Lakes but because of my interest in water, it was eye opening in many ways - not only seeing how big the Great Lakes are , but to be made aware of their natural beauty.  In focusing on water, it was most interesting to me to learn that The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world's fresh water supply and that it takes a drop of water 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario.  Looking at the map was helpful.  

I was also most interested in the focus on wildlife that survives on life in the Great Lakes - including Eagles, Caribou and Sturgeon.  The segments on Sturgeon were amazing as they had been tracking this species' population for the past 20 years and had been tracking/studying a specific female sturgeon for the past 20 years.  Amazingly, the one scientist could identify her simply from the markings on her head.  At her most recent capture/release event her age was 120 years old!  Through their research they learned how to look at the scales or fins (can't remember which one) and, like reading rings in a tree trunk, scientists learned how to read the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes.  

Sturgeon of the Great Lakes had thrived by the millions for millions of years but had significantly declined in numbers due to over-fishing and pollution.   During the film, several pictures were shown from long ago ( maybe 100 years ago?) where the subjects of the pictures were proud of their businesses and lives and could display their most recent abundant catch of sturgeon.  From a 2010 perspective, it was hard to get beyond the waste and destruction, the man-hours and work dedicated to improving the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes and  reviving the sturgeon population.   It seems there are still 42 "hot spots" - where lake quality is highly degraded due to pollution coming from industrial waste and waste water treatment plants.  Hopefully clean-up in the lake can continue and we can learn to make better environmental choices.

This was a great movie and I encourage you all to see it.  Here are the showtimes for the IMAX showings at the New York Museum of Natural History.  You might want to check out some of the exhibits including the  Silk Road Exhibit.  One word of advice for the Silk Road, enjoy the journey, but don't get caught up in stamping your "passport".

Gearing up for EarthDay, 2010 - Looking to showcase our stormwater technologies

April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary for EarthDay.  We want to do something extra special to celebrate this milestone anniversary and are looking to be part of a festival or meeting where we can educate people about the importance of improving storm water runoff, protecting our rivers, lakes and streams and showcase the latest technologies in stormwater.  Half of what we can do is educational, and for the civil engineers in the crowd, they might see something they really like.  If you are in the NY / CT area and holding an Earthday event,  we might be the right team to participate in your event!  Please contact us if you think we would be a good fit!  Click here for our website so you can see what kind of work we do.  Our phone and contact info is on the top right of our homepage.   We would love to hear from you!

Here is the link to the CT DEP list of Earthday goings-on
Here is a link to the EPA list of EarthDay goings-on and tips to help the earth


We hope to see you at EarthDay!

Sustainable Strategies for Stormwater Planning and Design Workshop and Tradeshow

We hope you will meet us next week at the Sustainable Strategies for Stormwater Planning and Design Workshop and Tradeshow.

This workshop is sponsored by the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District / Dept of Planning and New York City Soil and Water Conservation District.

Meet us:
December 2, 2009
Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY
Cost $95.00
Educational Credits: 5.25
Register is Lisa Vasilakos from Westchester Dept of Planning: 914-995-3780

Stop by and see us!

10 compelling reasons to consider TerreKlean Hydrodynamic Separator / Water Quality Treatment Vault

We are scheduled to participate in numerous stormwater trade shows coming up in October and are excited to be showcasing one of the newest products in our line, the TerreKlean Hydrodynamic Separator / Water Quality Treatment Vault.

The summer was spent meeting with and demonstrating this system to local civil engineering firms and these is a lot about this system that appeals to our clients:

1. NJCAT and NYS DEC approved (and more)
2. HS-25 load rated
3. Easy installation
4. Easy clean out and no confined space entry needed
5. Acts as oil/water separator
6. Can be used in line
7. Lines can tie in at the 6, 9 or 12 o'clock position
8. No external bypass - all water is treated
9. Can be used as the last catch basin in your line
10. No scour or re-suspension of collected material
    

Inclined plate technology maximizes the sedimentation surface area
in a minimal footprint.

We also have the ability to do some customization to meet your project's needs.

And that is not all! So, if you are looking to improve water quality with a
water quality treatment vault / hydrodynamic separator,
contact us, this may be an ideal option for your project.

Croton Reservoir

We went yesterday to the Croton Reservoir - what a great place to see.

I took some amazing pictures on the most beautiful day in the summer.

I also checked out Croton Point Park - GREAT!!!

Kudos to team Westchester County Parks!!! Thank you!

Some incentive to fix that leaky faucet

It certainly seems that in the future, the smart money will be on using resources efficiently. Recently, we volunteered our time to help give tours down at the local waste water treatment plant. The purpose of the plant is to treat ALL of the water that comes from our homes and office buildings (kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, etc.); not water from storm drains. The waste water treatment plant budget requires chemicals, electricity and manpower that will treat ALL of the water that is pumped to the plant. So how much does that leaky faucet cost? Click here for a nifty tool from the American Water Works Association that will tell you how to calculate the annual volume of water that is lost by a leaking faucet. Those small leaks really add up!

PS - The tool just calculates the annual volume of water lost, it does not account for the other resources that are also wasted such as: treatment chemicals, manpower and the energy required for effective water treatment. YIKES!

Rain Barrels on Sale at Aquarion in CT

How cool is this? Collect rain water from your roof in a barrel and use the water for your lawn this summer! Aquarion is selling rain barrels at a discount through May 31st. Pick-up in Trumbull on June 6, 2009. Click on this link for the full details.