by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator “When you take a drink, swim or eat seafood, you share my concern for clean water” – Executive Director of North Carolina Coastal Federation, Todd Miller It is known that significant changes to our climate are currently underway, influencing local weather, precipitation levels, and the frequency of severe storms. Climate […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator Wastewater infrastructure is under constant stress and failures occur as buildup from non-flushable materials like PPE, wipes, grease, and waste all continue to accumulate over time. When grease and insoluble materials collect within sewer systems and lift stations, backflow is inevitable, and the risks to businesses and properties are costly. […]
Every year, World Water Day is celebrated March 22 to appreciate the essential element of life: water. Since the first World Water Day in 1993, the United Nations has used this day to raise awareness that 2.2 billion people are living without access to clean water. Water is required for drinking, sanitation, agriculture, power production […]
Stormwater regulations are never stagnant for long, and with the recent transition to a new white house administration, changes are already in motion to existing water legislation. On Jan. 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the fifth iteration of the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) to strike industrial stormwater discharge regulations effective March 1, 2021, and […]
More than 70% of the continental United States is currently covered in snow. Communities that have never experienced severe winter storms face unprecedented challenges that come with extreme cold and snow conditions. Streets cannot be plowed, water lines are freezing, and power outages are prevalent. Prioritizing the health and safety of all in the community […]
There are many complexities tied with stormwater vegetation management that may lead to confusion. From nuisance weeds to vegetation used to promote hydrology and pollutant removal, where do stormwater professionals draw the line? There have been countless articles released in the recent decade highlighting the benefits of having plant life in stormwater systems. However, proper […]
Looks can be deceiving. With winter finally here, plants leaves are turn from a vibrant green to yellow, orange, red and brown before eventually falling and leaving the branches bare. While this may make it look as though the plants are dying, this is merely one phase in the complex cycle that keeps nature thriving […]
Every second, the NYC Climate Clock strikes another second down, stormwater systems face greater and greater threats. One threat is the 100-year storm. A 100-year storm is a massive storm that historically had a 1% chance of occurring every year. However, this name may not be as suiting as it once was. As the atmosphere […]
2020 has left businesses unprepared. As COVID-19 made its way across the globe, companies took significant losses from production line disruptions, store closings, and stay-at-home orders. Now that states and stores are beginning to re-open, costs continue to accrue. Safety requirements such as PPE, hand sanitizer, plexiglass barriers, face shields, masks, and gloves continue to […]
When you think of water pollution, images of sea life swimming through plastic or agriculture fertilizer runoff likely come to mind. While this physical, more observable, and increasingly pressing form of water pollution tends to be the focus of environmental activism, there is another less talked about the threat to our waterways: thermal pollution. Thermal […]
June marked the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with multiple named storms in 2020, this season is expected to be an active season with impacts to the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, predicts an above-average 2020 hurricane season, occurring June 1st through November 30th [1]. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center […]
For the last few years Colorado Springs has been dealing with a lawsuit from the EPA for violating their stormwater discharge permit in multiple developments. Due to this neglect, waterways have eroded their banks and created harsh cliffs in the process. There have been high pollutant rates, including large amounts of debris and trash filling […]
In honor of National Pollinator Week, it seemed fitting to share our latest pollinator install in Chicago, Illinois. This install is especially fascinating as it is a rooftop garden and is double in size of our typical garden installs. With the assistance of AQUALIS Environmental Interns, this project took on a life of its own […]
What’s the buzz? It is National Pollinator Week, June 22 – 28! One of our favorite topics at AQUALIS is pollination. Through our Root for Nature programs, we seek to improve the environment through stormwater management and beyond! Increased development not only impacts our stormwater, but we are seeing drastic decreases in pollinators around the […]
Stormwater Spotlight: How to Manage Your Meltwater in Washington As warmer weather comes, it is important to prepare for an influx in stormwater coming from melting snow and ice. This stormwater can have immense impacts on stormwater systems because of the unique source and the landscape of Washington state. The Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains […]
Texas Stormwater Scorecards Rain is what the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center (ETC) defined as one of their state’s greatest resources, and in 2017 they decided to try a new system of evaluating municipalities and their relationship with precipitation. They established the Texas Stormwater Scorecard report, evaluating local government’s stormwater management policies. These reports […]
It’s that time of year again when days are getting longer, temperatures are getting higher, and the first flowers start to make their reappearance. This is a great opportunity to start anew, spring-clean ones’ home, and clean your stormwater facilities. The winter months are often a time when stormwater systems are neglected and left to […]
Have you ever wondered whether your stormwater control measures (SCMs) could benefit more from landscaping, or if you need to invest in professional stormwater maintenance? The outcome of a project for landscapers and stormwater maintenance crews may look similar, but the goals for each project are quite different. Landscapers aim to enhance the design of […]
While the U.N. and U.S. Census Bureau disagree on when the human population will reach eight billion, there is no argument that our population is growing, and fast. As total global populace grows, so do urban populations through natural growth and immigration into cities. In fact, over 50% of the world’s inhabitants live in cities. […]
The Puget Sound is the pride and joy of the State of Washington, expanding over 100 miles in an intricate system of waterways leading to the Pacific Ocean. Over 10,000 years ago, the beginnings of this waterway were dug by large glaciers slowly carving up the land under which they moved across. These dugouts filled […]
The design and functionality of a parking lot incorporates more than asphalt and parking spaces. Parking lots are engineered to endure the weight and traffic from vehicles entering and exiting, and both minor and major runoff volumes from large rainstorm events. The parking lot of your business is often the first vantage point potential customers […]
We are known as the blue planet for good reason: 75% of the surface of the earth is covered by water. However, that does not mean that we have an endless supply of drinkable freshwater. In fact, nearly 99% of the water on earth is not potable by humans or other freshwater-dependent plants and animals […]
When Lewis and Clark embarked on their intrepid mission to affirm the sovereignty of the United States, one of their primary goals was to find a waterway from the US to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River, which today separates Washington and Oregon, defined that western passage. The climate that drives the river left a […]
It has been made dramatically and tragically clear in recent years that our stormwater infrastructure along the Gulf Coast is in need of considerable upgrades. Stormwater control measure (SCM) inspections are becoming more widely accepted for business owners and property managers in eastern Texas and Louisiana as the one-hundred-year flood becomes more frequent. Warm ocean […]
It’s been decades since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed in 1972, and the varied cities and states of the Mid-Atlantic US have taken many green initiatives to keep their water and environment clean. The Chesapeake Bay, the body of water these states, including Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the […]
Did you know that oftentimes the ponds you see on the side of the road, beside a grocery store, next to a school, or behind a house serve far more purpose than just being a nice, aesthetically pleasing water feature? These wet detention ponds are more than meet the eye; they’re a powerful tool for […]
Did you know that for your business to be compliant with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stormwater management guidelines, it must follow a standard set of laws and regulations outlined in the Clean Water Act (CWA)? The CWA is responsible for managing discharge of pollutants that may end up in the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), […]
Restoration + Recovery celebrated National Pollinator Week in a big way this year. In an effort to combat the recent decline of pollinators, such as bees, monarch butterflies, birds and bats, R+R launched its Root For Nature campaign by working with clients throughout the United States and Puerto Rico to create pollinator gardens in stormwater […]
The Southeast US is going through a major growth spurt, and the growing pains the area is going through are exacerbated by the drastic increase in intense seasonal storms. This is creating major stormwater runoff and infiltration challenges as cities create impermeable surfaces and as six of the ten largest states in terms of prevalence […]
Knowledge of how Stormwater SCMs work is crucial to have to recognize when one of your structures may be failing. Two very important disciplines within stormwater management are drainage and filtration. Filterra units combine drainage and filtration into a single aesthetically pleasing structure.
Stormwater in Los Angeles County has been neglected for a long time.
One of life’s best little pleasures is the soft melody of rain falling on a tin roof. Backdropped by a blue grey sky, the drops steadily pitter and patter on the roof’s surface, cascading down to splash on the ground. The droplets may then join together and trickle across an impermeable surface, be it a […]
In our modern day and age, the product quality and availability of a business isn’t all that’s going to cut it for consumers. The digital age has developed the consumer-business relationship into more than a faceless stream of products and services; consumers are consistently caring more and paying attention to the practices of the business […]
Getting a notice of violation (NOV) is never a fun experience. Having a violation found during a stormwater inspection means having to shift your focus from your business and spend time, energy, and money on becoming compliant with the relevant stormwater ordinance. You’ll also likely be hit with a hefty fine for being found non-compliant. […]
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the Restoration + Recovery office. Hurricane Florence brought on high wind speeds, torrential rainfall, and hurricane runoff that caused flooding in many parts of the Carolinas. This environmental disaster has left much of the coastline still reeling, with citizens displaced and their properties’ fate still up in […]
How far back into history does the first stormwater management system go? Our civilization has been implementing systems using low-impact development principles for hundreds of years. With some of these original techniques still in use today,1 one can wonder how there’s any room for new technologies in the industry.
Brace yourselves. We are on the cusp of another fire season, and its year-to-year intensity is only increasing. Like many environmental issues, the increase in wildland fires has no quick fix. It depends not just on firefighters and foresters, but whole communities to take part in preventative and reactive actions.
The Technology Assessment Protocol – Ecology (TAPE) Program is the Washington State Department of Ecology’s process for evaluating and approving emerging stormwater treatment Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs). New stormwater treatment SCMs that are not in the current Stormwater Manual or have not been approved by TAPE must first be approved by Ecology’s TAPE Program, an […]
Rural stormwater management plans are growing in popularity. The proper development and maintenance of BMPs is important even in areas away from intense development, as runoff can still negatively affect water quality and surrounding environments. There are physical and regulatory differences to managing stormwater in rural vs. urban areas, and knowing how localities can use […]
A healthy stormwater system should be able to handle the most torrential of downpours with aplomb. These heavy downpours can dramatically swell the affected watershed; how do properties without the broad real estate for detention ponds keep from contributing to floods? Underground vaults.
The town of Bluffton, SC recently announced that it has begun inspections of all stormwater drainage and treatment systems in a program that will impact both neighborhood and commercial developments. The inspection program is in place to ensure that the Town of Bluffton meets the requirements of the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General […]
Let’s be real: Summer in the Pacific Northwest is not the time that its denizens are most vigilant about maintaining their stormwater facilities. It’s as dry as a bone and folks are doing everything they can to distract themselves from the looming winter rains.
In the summer, it seems like someone in a residential neighborhood is washing their car every day. Giant buckets of water are mixed with car soap and the car is scrubbed clean. Cleaning the car is not the problem, the problem is what happens after the wash is complete. After they finish washing their cars, […]
There are many factors that put pressure on water resources which effects the options and requirements for water management. Population growth is a main factor, creating demands for more water and producing additional wastewater and pollution. The increase can have significant negative impacts on local and regional water resources.
Legal Basis of the Clean Water Act:
The Restoration and Recovery team recently attended the North Carolina State University Wet Pond and Wetland Design Update in RTP. As presented by university and state government employees, the course structured these design strategies within the framework of the recent drafts of Minimum Design Criteria (MDC) Rules for SCMs. As it stands, MDC rules are […]
Vegetation establishment is an important component of many stormwater control measures (SCM). Grasses, trees, shrubs, and other herbaceous plants help provide structural stability, conrol erosion, and naturally remove pollutants from rainwater runoff. However, if proper maintenance is not performed, undesirable vegetation will invade vegetated areas of the SCMs. If these undesirables go untreated, they can […]
Anyone walking along a degraded urban stream may see signs of the effects of urban development: heavily eroded stream banks, trash in overhanging tree branches, discarded tires, or remnants of stormwater conveyance infrastructure. It is obvious that intense alterations to the landscape and water network occur when land is developed. The most immediate consequences include […]
Headwater streams provide many ecologic and water quality benefits. In a natural setting, these small drainage tributaries filter rainwater, recharge groundwater, and dissipate water velocity while transporting sediment from upland elevations downstream to larger water bodies. It is not surprising that people tend to populate upland areas where flooding may be mitigated by hard surface […]
There are many preventative measures that can be taken into account for a site-specific stormwater management plan, but even well-maintained and regularly inspected systems can be prone to nuisance issues. Some problems are elusive and could go undetected for a period of time while others are more blatant and are visible to the untrained eye.
Winter can often be very taxing on stormwater facilities for a variety of reasons. First, these systems are often neglected during the winter months which can result in damages, as well as sediment, trash and debris accumulation.
Regardless of where your property is located, there are key strategies for proper management of your stormwater system (BMP) year-round. Continuous attention to the system, specifically in the form of inspection and maintenance, is critical in maintaining compliance, preventing failure, and ensuring water quality and quantity standards per design. Monthly, or even more frequent, stormwater […]
To clarify, LID is not something you place on top of your trashcan to keep out unwanted canines. Since the buzz word, or phrase I should say, has come up in a few of our previous blog posts, I thought it would be worth a brief survey. Low-Impact Development (LID) is a design and planning […]
A new development underway, Chatham Park, is the local buzz amongst residents of the Triangle area. The 7,100 acre project is located just west of Jordan Lake and the closest town is Pittsboro. According to the Planned Development District Master Plan, Chatham Park is envisioned as having five villages. Creeks and stream valleys will serve […]
I am in my second year on the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) Water Resources Advisory Committee. So far it has been a great experience, and it has opened my eyes to a whole new side of water! For our clients, I primarily focus on managing stormwater within specific property lines. Once the water […]
On January 7, 2015, Water Environment Federation released an article, Year in Review: 2014 Under the Stormwater Lens, which summarized the trending topics relative to Stormwater in 2014. The top three Stormwater Report News Trends of 2014, based on Google Analytics, were the following:
A couple weeks ago the R&R Durham team completed an OSHA course entitled “Working Safely in Confined Spaces + Lockout/Tagout Procedures.” The course was held at one of the city of Durham’s municipal buildings, and other participants included folks from the construction and stormwater industry, equipment operators, and general contractors. A confined space is defined […]
I recently participated in the NC Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance Certification Update with Dr.
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