As areas get urbanized, the challenges associated with stormwater runoff and its impact on water quality become increasingly apparent. Stormwater runoff occurs when rainwater flows over impermeable surfaces made from concrete and asphalt like roads, driveways and rooftops. The water picks up pollutants along the way, which if not managed properly, can lead to water pollution, erosion and flooding.
Effective stormwater management aims to mitigate these negative impacts, ensuring that water quality is preserved, and communities remain resilient to extreme weather events. And the responsibility to manage water falls on the shoulders of every member of the community. Here are some ways professionals and members of the community can approach stormwater management.
Replace impervious surfaces with permeable or porous pavements
Consider specifying permeable or porous paving materials for gardens, walkways and sideways that allow water to seep into the ground. Grasspave2 and Gravelpave2 by Invisible Structures are innovative porous pavers with a unique ring-on grid design.
This design lends the product to have 92 percent void spaces that can infiltrate larger volumes of water into the ground. Because these porous paving solutions have an excellent compressive strength of 2,295,000 psf, they can also support heavier loads, making them suitable for a variety of applications, including driveways, parking lots and even emergency vehicle access areas.
Vegetated rain gardens prevent runoff
Design small rain gardens on your client’s property by selecting native plants that absorb water and prevent runoff. Porous pavers with larger void spaces such as Grasspave2 supports vegetation growth. Invisible Structures also offers Hydrogrow, a soil amendment solution engineered to help grass grow in sand-based root zone. For water efficient landscaping, choose plants that require less water and use mulch to retain moisture in the soil.
Rainwater harvesting systems
Encourage your clients to install rainwater harvesting systems, especially in new construction projects. Often, these systems can be situated underground, complemented by porous paving. For instance, Rainstore3, a modular and stackable system, serves as an underground retention and detention system that can work in tandem with Grasspave2 or Gravelpave2. This harvesting system allows for the temporary storage of water, releasing it gradually to prevent overwhelming drainage systems during heavy rainfall. By managing the flow of stormwater, a rainwater harvesting system helps reduce the risk of flooding and minimizes the impact on downstream areas.
Proper waste disposal to mitigate polluting water resources
In addition to integrating stormwater management solutions such as porous pavers and rainwater harvesting systems at a grassroots level, educating your clients is crucial. Inform them about the importance of simple efforts such as scooping and disposing of pet waste to prevent harmful bacteria from entering waterways. Even disposal of hazardous household chemicals at designated collection sites is important to prevent contamination of stormwater.
We’re in this together
By incorporating Invisible Structures’ innovative products into stormwater management strategies, we are taking a significant step towards building resilient, eco-friendly communities. These solutions not only address the challenges posed by stormwater runoff but also provide a pathway to sustainable urban development.
Consider stormwater solutions by Invisible Structures for your next project. Reach out today for a quote.