Filtering stormwater, the way it’s done now

Maple Ridge News - Filtering stormwater, the way it’s done now By Phil Melnychuk

Drop by drop, the effect cars, roads and roofs have on Maple Ridge streams is declining.

Thanks to the 2006 Watercourse Protection Bylaw, the amount of storm water that used to rush into creeks and streams, scouring out fish habitat and dumping pollutants, is dropping as builders get used to the new rules that control rainwater.
Two recent townhouse developments about to get final approval, one on 237th Street, the other on 240th Street, both use natural biofiltration techniques to capture the runoff, cleanse it of most contaminants, then slowly release it back into nature’s system.
Such measures are part of all new developments, said Chuck Goddard, the district’s manager of development and environmental services.















GO HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE: http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/mapleridgenews/news/93439744.html

Permeable pavers are eco-friendly

Permeable paving systems are a highly valuable asset, and in recent years they have gained popularity because of tightening storm water regulations and consumer environmental concerns. Water-permeable paving surfaces have many applications, from a drivable surface across a lawn area in which grass is allowed to grow through them, to a driveway or parking area through which water can pass without running off. These systems are both eco-friendly and exceed Environmental Protection Agency stormwater requirements.

In commercial applications, it is possible that the retention ponds now required to handle surface water can be minimized because of the advantages of permeable pavers. This represents a substantial savings in land utilization while providing a highly desirable appearance, an extended useful life with reduced maintenance costs.

This is an excerpt from a column in the Wausau Daily Herald. Go Here for Full Story: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100501/WDH04/5010394/1619

Focus on Geosynthetics: New York Federation's Spring Conference

 (via geosynthetica.net) - From 16-19 May 2010, the Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations will hold its conference and trade show. The event, which will operate under the theme "Strive for Sustainability," will be one of this year's best opportunities for geosynthetic containment discussions. Among the more than 90 technical sessions, two sessions may be of particular interest to geosynthetics professionals: "New Horizons in Geosynthetics" and "Let the Sun Shine Down: Solar Landfill Caps."

GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.geosynthetica.net/news/article/2010/Federation_WasteConference_042310.aspx

Geosynthetics at Work: Beyond Blankets and Mats

CHECK OUT CELL-TEK ON THE COVER OF THIS MONTH'S EROSION CONTROL MAGAZINE!!! http://www.erosioncontrol.com/

Geosynthetics are amazing materials. They drain, contain and filter. They separate as well as hold together. They work underground and underwater, on mountainsides and on rooftops. According to the International Geosynthetics Society, the words geotextiles and geomembraneswere coined only about 30 years ago, at the first International Conference on Geotextiles, in Paris. Since then, we have added geogrids, geonets, geosynthetic clay liners, geofoam, and geocomposites. These materials are made of polypropylene, polyester, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLPDE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to name a few. All are flexible and durable.

Geotextiles are one of the largest groups of geosynthetics. Their fibers are either woven, knitted, needle-punched, or matted together into fabrics. They’re porous to varying degrees and are used for separation, reinforcement, filtration, and drainage. Geomembranes are another large group of geosynthetics. These are relatively thin, impervious sheets of polymers. They’re often used for linings and covers to contain liquids or vapors in landfills, reservoirs, and canals.

Geogrids are stretched sheets of polymers that form open grids. Uniaxial geogrids stretch in one direction and have rectangular apertures. Biaxial geogrids stretch in both directions and have virtually square apertures. They can be filled with soil, aggregate, or concrete and almost always are used for reinforcement and to improve load-bearing capacity.

PHOTO: CAPITOL GREEN ROOFS

Article by: Janet Arid. Go Here for Full Story: http://www.erosioncontrol.com/may-2010/geosynthetics-slope-stabilization-1.aspx

Baltimore's green success stories

April 22, 2010 - by Donna M. Owens - http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/

Happy Earth Day! To celebrate, we bring you a sampling of green success stories: local residents and businesses, nonprofits and municipal agencies, all of whom are trying to make the Baltimore area a little greener, a bit more livable.

What: Northwest Honda
Where: Owings Mills
Earth Philosophy: A car dealership with an eco-friendly vibe

If you coax him, you might get Ed Dreiband to climb a narrow ladder, open a steel hatch and stand on the roof of his dealership. From this vantage point 25 feet above busy Reisterstown Road, Dreiband can survey 29,000 square feet of roof — and its 57,000 living, growing plants.
The green roof is the centerpiece of Northwest Honda’s eco-friendly auto facility, which opened in 2006. Its features include insulated glass panels, automatic sensors that control lights, and carwash bays that recycle upward of 3,000 gallons of water daily. “The roof is beautiful, especially in May when everything’s blooming,” Dreiband says of the tiny, drought-tolerant plants (most are a hardy species known as sedum). Green roofs can help reduce, filter and cool stormwater runoff. That in turn can protect sewer systems and watersheds. The roof makes Dreiband happy. “I have kids and grandkids, and I am thinking of them. We have one earth, and we all have to share it.”

GO HERE FOR FULL STORY: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/blog/2010/04/post_46.html

A Beautiful Way To Improve Your Environment

(NAPSI)-When some people find something that's as easy on the eye as it's easy on the environment and the wallet, they just walk all over it. And that's a good thing when it's a pavement that's an improvement.
A pavement that meets those requirements is permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICPs). These look like popular concrete paving stones but have a small space between them. This space is filled with small stones that allow runoff to filter down and into the soil, reducing stormwater runoff and pollution. In snowy weather, they can reduce icy buildup. The melting snow just drains into the spaces between the pavers so it doesn't have a chance to refreeze into ice.
  The pavers are available in many shapes, sizes, textures and colors for various uses. A light, reflective color, for instance, can reduce the "heat island" effect created by ordinary asphalt pavements. The paving stones are strong and durable because they're made the same way as concrete paving stones are. This durability means homeowners can enjoy their beauty for a lifetime.
  Other easy low-cost and no-cost landscaping tips to protect the environment include:
• Plant trees to act as wind blockers or to shade you from the worst of the sun.
• Plant climbing vines on arbors to help lower cooling costs in the summer.
• Cut down on grass acreage. The less grass you have, the less you have to water.
• Choose native plants that are well adapted to your environment and will require less care.
• Mulch: Mulching saves water and makes it easier to weed.

Homeowners, design professionals and contractors can learn more from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and find ICPI-certified installers at www.icpi.org or by calling (703) 657-6900.

Homeowners plant a ‘greenroof' for aesthetics and cooling

Is there vegetation spilling out over the edge of a roof near you? Are you thinking the property owner hasn’t gotten around to cleaning out his gutters? Perhaps it means that house is sporting a deliberately planted surface that makes a cool statement, both figuratively and literally.

Several high-profile buildings such as Atlanta City Hall and the Woodruff Arts Center have planted roofs, and they’re starting to show up on homes as well. These planted roofs are called "greenroofs."
Not “green roof,” but “greenroof,” a term becoming commonly accepted as a way to differentiate the planted roof from a roof made of green-colored building materials.
Some may want a greenroof just because it dresses up an exposed roof area, but a greenroof also serves two important environmental functions: It helps to slow down stormwater runoff and it provides an insulating effect, helping to reduce cooling bills.

Taken From an Article By C. W. Cameron For the AJC. Go Here for full story: http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/homeowners-plant-a-greenroof-420091.html
Photo by Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com

FOR INFORMATION ON CELL-TEK'S GREENROOF-TEK SYSTEM GO HERE: http://www.celltekdirect.com/new/system5.html