It's Project Feature Friday! The new Lakehaven Water and Sewer District’s headquarters in Federal Way, WA, includes a 40,000 SF administration building, vehicle storage, remodeled maintenance facilities, and upgraded infrastructure to support 20 years of growth. Construction was strategically phased in order to minimize impacts on site access and facility operations. Structurally, the new buildings were designed and constructed to the classification of a “critical facility,” given the importance of LWSD remaining operational at all times even in the event of an emergency or disaster. #LydigConstruction#CommunityBuilding
Photos by: Will Good
Cost and space savings shouldn’t come at the expense of efficiency and effectiveness. Our SWAT pros are experienced in designing stormwater systems to meet project and budget goals, without sacrificing performance. Discover the details in our newest case study: https://loom.ly/DgGI29k#StormWaterManagement#PumpSystems#StormwaterSolutions
#StormwaterManagement#NewYorkCity
"New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Tom Foley today joined with Brooklyn elected officials to announce that work is underway to install seven miles of porous pavement along area roadways to help better manage stormwater and reduce flooding and sewer overflows. DDC is managing the $32.6 million contract for DEP and construction is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2025.
“Climate change is bringing with it rainstorms that can overwhelm our sewers and cause flooding across the five boroughs, which is why we are investing in tools that will divert rainwater away from the sewer system, such as porous pavement,” said NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Brooklyn got hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Ophelia last September and this new porous pavement will help to ease pressure on the sewer system and protect residents during future storms.”
“We are delighted to work with our partners at DEP to bring seven miles of porous pavement to Brooklyn, and soon to other boroughs,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “Porous pavement is only one way DDC is implementing green infrastructure across the city to combat the effects of climate change and reduce flooding in our communities. This is the biggest porous pavement installation this City has seen and it will prevent millions of gallons of stormwater from overwhelming the sewer system annually. With this DDC design, we will implement porous pavement panels in precise areas, allowing for the absorption of stormwater, before they overwhelm catch basins. It will also save time and money, since porous pavement installations can prevent flooding without the need of going underground and expanding sewers.”
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Unlike traditional asphalt paved roadways, porous pavement allows stormwater to pass through and be absorbed naturally into the ground. This means less stormwater drains into the sewer system, which will help to prevent flooding, sewer backups into homes and businesses, and overflows into waterways.
Porous pavement is installed along the curb line of a street, where the stormwater typically drains towards a catch basin on the corner, and can withstand the weight of motor vehicles, including trucks. DEP has piloted the use of several different types of porous pavement for a number of years in different boroughs, but this is the first large-scale implementation. Porous pavement cannot be installed on every block due to other conflicts in the streets and sidewalks, such as sewer and water mains, and private infrastructure.
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Civil Engineer | Stormwater Expert | Industry Educator
NYC has now completed its first large-scale installation of precast porous concrete gutter panels. The 7-mile stretch in Brooklyn costs $32m and is part of the community's efforts to meet their stormwater mandates.
To learn more details on the project, visit the city's site: https://buff.ly/3Y4Chn2
Future projects are expected in other parts of Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens.
#stormwatermanagement#civilengineer
Overland Park, Kansas, has decided to take residential stormwater management to the next level. The city has opened a Stormwater Cost Share Program for owners to obtain reimbursement for eligible projects. Some examples of projects include rain gardens, buffers, permeable pavers, and more.
What is even better is how simple they made the application: a diagram of the property with locations, estimated cost, estimated timeline, and a brief summary.
Why can't more cities strip away the red-tape and make approval processes as simple as the project scope?
#stormwatermanagement#civilengineer
Much of the land classified as buildable, within the City of Bellingham and its Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), is located in extremely challenging areas to build.
Some of the land is in critical areas such as the Padden Creek watershed and steep slope areas, and much of it lacks the necessary capital facilities infrastructure, such as sewer and public utilities. Other areas also require expensive off-site road construction that may never be built as prerequisite conditions for any development.
We know we need to be building about 825 homes per year to meet the demand but without a sufficient supply of buildable land where will we build?
It’s time to reassess Bellingham’s existing UGAs and reconfigure the City’s urban growth boundaries to introduce new surrounding land that is proven to sustain responsible growth.
#UrbanGrowthAreas#LandUsePlanning#ComprehensivePlan#GrowthManagementAct#WashingtonState#HousingCrisis#HousingforBellingham
The saying goes, "a rising tide lifts all boats."
While this traditionally refers to the economics of a situation, we at CWA and CES believe it's an appropriate aphorism for municipalities and the local improvements created that benefit the entire community.
One example is highlighted in the following The Sun Times News article that covers how "at the City of Chelsea, Michigan City Council meeting on August 19, 2024, the Council approved the bid award for the highly anticipated “Big Dig” project, which marks the beginning of construction for the Main Street Park. The project primarily focuses on replacing and upgrading the storm sewer system in preparation for the park’s development, ensuring that the site is ready to receive future structures."
Follow this link to read the full article:
https://lnkd.in/ds2vRm-8#planning#Michigan#local#improvement#citycouncil#citypark#mainstreet
Ever thought about how your city handles those massive downpours?
When it rains, it pours—literally. And with climate change making storms more intense, urban areas are under more pressure than ever to manage stormwater. But how prepared is your city to deal with the next big storm?
Think about the last time your street turned into a mini river after a heavy rain. Frustrating, right? Flooded roads, soggy basements, and closed businesses can turn life upside down. No one wants to face that chaos.
Here's where geotechnical and civil engineering step in to save the day. Engineers use smart designs and tech to create stormwater management systems that keep cities dry. These include everything from underground storage tanks to green roofs.
Take the example of New York City. They’ve adopted green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements. These methods help absorb rainwater and reduce runoff, making the city more resilient to heavy rains.
Another great example is Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Known for its innovative approach, the city has constructed water plazas that act as parks during dry weather but can store excess rainwater during storms. This dual-purpose design is a win-win for urban areas.
By investing in these advancements, cities can better handle the challenges posed by extreme weather. This not only protects property and infrastructure but also enhances the overall quality of urban life.
So, next time it rains cats and dogs, think about all the hard work that goes into keeping those floodwaters at bay. Is your city making the right moves to stay ahead of the storm?
#UrbanPlanning#GeotechnicalEngineering#FloodControl#SustainableCities#StormwaterManagement
#StormwaterManagement#ParkingLots#HamptonRoads
"Parking lots cover a lot of land in Hampton Roads.
By replacing soil and greenery that once served natural purposes, the expanses of pavement can take a toll on the local environment.
But regional officials say they’re starting to see parking lots as an opportunity for resilience – a way to repurpose developed land to simultaneously benefit the environment.
Many existing lots were built decades ago, before the region started experiencing the high amounts of rainfall and sea level rise that now often overwhelm local stormwater systems, said Ben McFarlane, chief resilience officer with the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
“We probably wouldn't build those parking lots the same way now if we were building them from scratch today,” he said.
The commission has been looking into what today’s best practices should be for parking lots to manage flooding, stem pollution and improve the overall look and feel of urban spaces.
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Cities are tackling the issue in many different forms, from fully converting lots to green spaces, to slowly incorporating green elements into spaces still used for parking.
A project in Hampton Roads is focused on the latter.
The local planning commission is now working to transform its own parking lot in Chesapeake. It’s currently a standard, asphalt-covered parking lot with about 50 spaces and shrubbery on medians that are surrounded by curbs.
“Our parking lot is designed like most where in the past, where the idea is to really just get that stormwater runoff out of the way instead of retaining it as a resource,” said Jill Sunderland, a commission senior water resources planner.
She said the commission’s uniquely positioned to serve as an example in the region.
“We have locally elected officials, local government staff, state agencies, nonprofits, all types of folks who come here. So it's a great location to really demonstrate how we can incorporate some of these sustainable, green, resilient practices.”
The new parking lot design will focus on absorbing water. Asphalt will be largely replaced with porous concrete or permeable pavers that allow water to seep underground instead of running off into storm drains.
“If we can reduce the amount of rainwater that's getting into those pipes to begin with, that lessens the strain on the system,” McFarlane said.
The water will be directed to a new bioretention basin in the center of the parking lot, full of native plants that help absorb and filter water.
Sunderland said they also hope to include some electric vehicle chargers.
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Civil Engineer | Stormwater Expert | Industry Educator
Great little article out of southeastern Virginia.
The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (Chesapeake, Hampton Road, Norfolk, and Newport News region) recently studied 33 major parking lots.
Not only did they find examples with 1,000s more parking spaces than zoning requires, but they are recognizing the impacts all this impervious surface has on the environment.
Therefore, they are proposing starting to take this project by starting with their own parking lot in Chesapeake. They redesigned the parking lot to combine porous concrete / permeable pavers and bioretention to capture and treat the stormwater.
#stormwatermanagement#civilengineer
Executive Director | Real Estate and Construction Expert | Business Development Leader | 19 Years of Growth and Innovation through Strategic Planning and Dynamic Problem-Solving.
Turned out great! Lydig Construction