Mark Padula, P.E.’s Post

Stormwater management services can reduce flooding risk by controlling stormwater runoff quantity and providing flood elevation certificates. Techniques like detention basins, retention ponds, and green infrastructure such as rain gardens and permeable pavement achieve this. For more information about our stormwater management, visit https://lnkd.in/e6hveZSR. #civilengineer #landdevelopment #landsurveying #stormwatermanagement

If your city, town, county or state has experienced any flooding in the past, you may have heard a term that you are not familiar with: CSO, or Combined Sewer Overflow. What is a CSO? This CORE #Blog demystifies the term: https://hubs.li/Q02sK5tH0 #CSO #sewage #sedimentcontrol #waterquality #environmentalcompliance #stormwater #stormwatercontrol #erosioncontrol #stormwatermanagement

Did you know that the construction, operation and maintenance of a municipal storm water system (MS4) can involve significant expense, especially when regulatory requirements (stormwater Phase I or Phase II), flooding concerns, water quality issues (including total maximum daily loads or TMDLs) and population growth are factored in. The below is a great document to assists and understand the alternatives available to fund your stormwater program. Did you know the most stable source of funding is generally the stormwater utility? Did you know there are various funding alternatives both rate structures and the basic steps in forming a stormwater utility. Scan the QR code to learn MORE! Still have questions, contact me or one of our R/M experts today! #ruekertmielke #funding #stormwater #funding #stormwaterutility #engineering #municipalities #revenuegeneration

As rainfall increases around our towns and cities - innovative, robust and sustainable flood defence solutions become essential. Leca® lightweight aggregate (LWA) has been widely used across the UK to create highly effective and proven long term water detention systems. We have an online calculator tool, which demonstrates the effectiveness of Leca® LWA in flood prevention. #flooddefence #watermanagement #sustainable #geotechnicalengineering #floodprevention #aggregate #lightweight

The Oxbow Road neighborhood in the Town of Lexington had a history of severe periodic flooding during rain events. This residential area is made up of Oxbow Road, Constitution Road, and Freemont Street, and is bordered by Route 128/95. This major highway system contributes substantial stormwater runoff into the municipal drainage system with a discharge to Kiln Brook. Seeking a long-term solution, the Town of Lexington hired Environmental Partners, An Apex Company (EP) to solve their challenges of extreme localized flooding. Creating a multi-layered approach, EP provided high level stormwater management to address the drainage issues and implemented both gray and green infrastructure interventions. The design of Phase 1 improvements included daylighting approximately 175 linear feet of existing drainage pipe, wetland restoration, and increasing the size of upstream drainage structures within Constitution Road. Final wetland plantings and site restoration of Phase 1 will conclude this Spring to make way for Phase 2 flood mitigation construction. This includes installation of a 36-inch relief drain to improve hydraulic capacity of the drainage system and improvements to the inlet drainage piping and headwall. #ApexCompanies #EnvironmentalPartners #AnApexCompany #Stormwater #GreenInfrastructure #TownOfLexington

Title: The Crucial Role of Wet Well Capacity in Optimizing Stormwater Drainage System Pump Operations In stormwater drainage systems, the wet well capacity plays a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless operation of pumps. A wet well, essentially a reservoir that temporarily holds incoming stormwater, serves as the heart of the system. Its significance lies in its ability to mitigate the impact of variable inflow rates during storm events. Optimal wet well capacity is essential for preventing pump overloads and minimizing the risk of system failure. During heavy rainfall, an inadequate wet well may cause pumps to cycle rapidly, leading to premature wear and increased energy consumption. Conversely, an oversized wet well may result in inefficient pump utilization and decreased system performance. Proper wet well sizing allows for gradual pump activation, reducing the stress on equipment and extending its lifespan. Additionally, it helps control the flow rates entering the pump, preventing cavitation and ensuring a steady and controlled discharge. Engineers must carefully consider factors such as catchment size, precipitation patterns, and system requirements to design a stormwater drainage system with an appropriately sized wet well. In conclusion, the wet well capacity is a critical parameter in maintaining the efficiency and longevity of pumps within a stormwater drainage system. A well-designed wet well ensures the system can adapt to varying conditions, providing reliable and effective flood control in urban environments. #drainagesolutions #civilengineering #pumpsolutions

Over the past two decades, storm-related disasters have become more severe, leading to unprecedented pressure on infrastructure. Brian King has shared his insights on the evolving challenges of stormwater management in a recent article featured in Municipal Sewer & Water. In this article, Brian outlines strategies to adapt stormwater systems to reduce flood risks and enhance capacity. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gbm8VTTE #WaterManagement #StormwaterSolutions #InfrastructureInnovation

“Closing the ‘FLOOD GAP’”   What is a “flood gap” and why in water management is closing it deemed so important?    Accepting interannual variabilities (e.g., wet-year, dry-year) in hydrology, we typically both govern and operationally manage our water resources on a yearly basis.  Abstractions (withdrawals) and accretions (inputs) are monitored using this convenient timestep.   An annual water budget will reflect this hydrologic balance.  Unlike water budgets for natural systems, however, man’s water systems have limitations and, more often than not, these constraints can be extremely illustrative and insightful.   For while the water budget of a natural system will assume that all incident precipitation/meltwater represents an “input” to the system, man’s system will only consider that water capable of STORAGE (e.g., reservoir carryover, instream flow, infiltrated catchment water) as being the residual annual input.    In other words, man’s system only recognizes water that it can STORE, any excess is automatically labeled SURPLUS or EXCESS water that, when breaching any confining embankments (e.g., levees) becomes immediately branded as simply FLOOD water; water that has ostensibly, no beneficial use.   From a water management perspective, FLOOD water typically has but one purpose, rapid evacuation and displacement to downstream areas, ideally to a large waterbody like an ocean.       Closing the “flood gap” involves converting an increasingly larger portion of the annual FLOOD volume to STORAGE, effectively, improving our efficiency, proficiency, and obligation in putting as much water to ultimate beneficial use.   By so doing, water regulators and purveying agencies need not necessarily impose the levels of water conservation, demand management, and water curtailments they often prescribe, without first determining how much of the currently (and historically) wasted FLOOD water can be used.    While conceptually simplistic, it is surprising to see how many water jurisdictions experience both FLOODING and curtailments of STORED water supplies in the same WY, sometimes only a few months apart and yet little effort, if any, is invested in trying to “close that FLOOD GAP” … Photo: Florence during the 1966 River Arno flood.

Flooding in areas like OMR is often attributed to a combination of rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, and encroachment on natural water bodies, such as the Pallikaranai marshland. Could it be because of 1. Urbanization and Poor Drainage: OMR has seen rapid development, but the stormwater drainage system has not expanded proportionally. This results in waterlogging during heavy rains, as water cannot drain efficiently. 2. Encroachment on Pallikaranai Marshland: The Pallikaranai marshland, a critical natural flood control system, has been encroached upon for development. As a result, its capacity to absorb excess rainwater has significantly reduced, leading to flooding in nearby areas. 3. Poor Waste Management: Garbage dumping and construction debris in the marsh have further degraded its ability to function as a wetland. 4. Inadequate Infrastructure: Many areas in OMR lack proper stormwater drains or have poorly maintained ones, leading to overflow and water stagnation. would love to hear your thoughts on this and discuss potential insights to help address these challenges. Let’s connect to explore how we can contribute to more effective flood prevention and mitigation.

Do you want to save money and protect your city from flooding? Stormwater management is the key to achieving both goals. 🗝️ Learn how to manage stormwater effectively and make your city a better place to live. Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Q8vEtT