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Use natural infiltration
Many project teams are reluctant to attempt this credit because conventionally engineered solutions don’t always meet LEED requirements. Don’t be deterred. The best and easiest way to improve the quality of stormwater is to let water permeate the ground through increased landscaping and reduced impervious areas. As long as your soil type has a good infiltration rate, letting stormwater seep into the ground will treat 100% of the pollutants associated with the stormwater runoff. Let natural infiltration do as much of the work possible before using more expensive mechanical methods. In urban sites, infiltration options can be very limited and a rainwater cistern or green roof might be the best approach for credit compliance.
Pollution Prevention
This credit deals with...
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9 Comments
BMP Criteria.
Hello,
Part of our stormwater management strategies is to collect and treat stormwater. The treated water will then be used for flushing and irrigation purposes. The Stormwater collection and treatment scheme has been designed in accordance to the International Plumbing Code (IPCInternational Plumbing Code), which is commonly used in the region (Middle East). H
My questions are:
1) Is it an issue if the IPC does not specifically refer to the 80% of TSSTotal suspended solids (TSS) are particles that are too small or light to be removed from stormwater via gravity settling. Suspended solid concentrations are typically removed via filtration. removal criterion ?
2) Should I submit calculations showing what will theTSS (in ppmParts per million.) be following the filtration process ?
Thanks,
George, reducing the quantity of stormwater through collection and use is a common and effective strategy for achieving this credit. I don't think you need to pay close attention to documenting how the collected water will be filtered for this credit, but any water that is not collected will need this documentation.
Annual Rainfall Volume Calculation
The civil engineer on my project is having trouble finding a source for exactly how the annual rainfall volume is supposed to be calculated. Can anyone point me (us) to an example or resource that will clarify this? The reference guide mentions it, but doesn't actually spell out how it is to be calculated.
Jeremy, have you checked out our tips above under Bird's Eye View, Checklists, Resources, and Doc Toolkit? Since your question is fairly broad, I would point you there to begin with. Let us know if you have further questions.
Tristan,
I have the same question as Jeremy, but I'm not sure where to find the sources you mentioned - Bird's Eye View, Checklists, Resources, Doc Toolkit...could please post links to them?
Thank you!
Marcio,
The sources Tristan mentioned are at the top of this page. Scroll up to see them.
Scope - Project Site or Campus
We are pursuing this credit for a new building on an existing corporate campus, Initial review came back and said we had to demonstrate treatment for entire campus flows, not just project site flows. Has anyone else had this interpretation?
The LEED application guide for campuses states that:
"A master planning approach to storm water management and overall impervious surface
management that is campus-wide or based on the local watershed is preferred over stormwater
management planning limited to one project site at a time."
I can't speak to whether reviewers are always asking for this, but it does seem to be a clear policy preference for LEED.
Tristan - Thanks for the insight. I did find a case where Harvard was able to get this credit via an alternative compliance path, demonstrating that while they did not meet the strict interpretation of the criteria for the entire campus, they achieve the improvements in each of the desired areas:
- reducing impervious cover,
- increasing on-site infiltration,
- eliminating sources of contaminants, and
- removing pollutants from stormwater
Here's the link to their credit submittal:
http://green.harvard.edu/theresource/leed-submit/nc/documents/10_Akron_S...
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