The Stormwater Blog 

VIDEO POST
This short video explains how rainwater harvesting is a logical and feasible approach to managing stormwater runoff using example usage for a typical commercial office building.

Irrigation is the most common application for harvested water. Treatment requirements are lower, which makes the harvesting system simpler, and the demand can quickly drain the cistern to make room for the next storm event. However, relying solely on irrigation for net-annual runoff reduction is rarely enough. In most locations, there is significant rainfall and irrigation is unnecessary. To get meaningful runoff reduction on a net annual basis, engineers will need to find additional applications beyond irrigation.

With LID, not all solutions are created equal. There is a hierarchy in the regulations for what is the preferred technology. So it’s not so much is it approved or not approved… there are certain preferred technologies that must be considered first, and if that doesn’t work, you consider the next option in preference. This is a huge difference in conventional stormwater regulations, which says technologies must be approved by state of local jurisdictions – and then everything is on a level playing field. 

Water is necessary for economic growth, a healthy environment and vibrant communities for future generations. With gridlock in Washington and broken budgets at all levels of government, it may not seem like the right time to make broad changes in water management policy. But change is happening and the catalyst for that change is stormwater management policy and Low Impact Development (LID).