Green infrastructure is an eco friendly medium of storing and managing the storm water by the process that was used earlier by nature. These processes has been used and maintained by the nature ever since it was created.
Why green infrastructure?
With the development of structures and buildings in a habitable area, the systems occurring naturally to handle storm water have been greatly disturbed. Roads were built, buildings came up and the soil was compacted by equipments used in construction. A result of these activities was that the amount and extent of soil that could allow storm water to drain was greatly reduced. Only about 2-3 percent of rain that fell on a particular area flowed in the surface area.
Since less amount of the rain water is absorbed by the soil many other problems has raised. The most important of all is the erosion which provides threat to the stream banks and the foundations of the buildings. However these kinds of the problems are saved by process of costly shoring. Problems like accumulation of accumulation of water on the electricity workings of the buildings and flooding of the roads have also come up.
To counter act these problems, green infrastructure concept has been put in practice. Green infrastructure was developed in mid nineties in USA to tackle the increasingly severe issues concerning storm water. Storm water also called non-point source water is the biggest source of water pollution in USA.
50 years back the rain water was collected and taken to faraway place through a network of pipes. In modern times Green Infrastructure has replaced this obsolete method.
Elements of Green infrastructure
To manage storm water, green infrastructure use vegetation. In addition, the storm water source itself is examined. The two green infrastructure elements are —downspout extensions and Rain gardens and bioswales.
The greatest source of storm water is rain falling on rooftops. Many rooftops presently have a storm water collection system with downspouts and gutters. However, in some cases, the downspouts connect to pipes that surface on a downgrade and storm water drains into adjacent properties. In some other cases, the collected storm water drains onto road ways and driveways.
But with the downspout system the collected rainwater is drained onto the nearest rain garden. It is the simplest and the cost effective way to deal with rainwater.
Rain-gardens and bioswales are lower in elevation than areas surrounding them. The soil is so engineered that it allows rain water to percolate through several soil and gravel layers. The rain-garden or bioswales captures rain water and even filters it reducing storm water runoff and pollution.
The rain gardens and bioswales are placed close to the structure that produces storm water. Native plants are used for vegetation. The vegetation in the rain garden retains the soil’s permeability. They are designed in such a way to capture 1 inch rainfall completely.
A lot of positive thinking, with productive planning and tremendous effort the idea of the green infrastructure projects have come into being. It has also been proved to be comparatively less expensive and simpler than the other methods of the environment conservation.
Find out more about Environmental Consulting Insurance here and how Beacon Hill Associates can help you.
