I am wondering if we can leave the sections below blank on the Stormwater Inspection Checklist due to only having large open turf/landscape areas and no retention ponds (we have ponds, but these are all sealed aside from a drain at the bottom with plastic filters to stormwater drains):
1.) Detention/Retention Management (SITE-SPECIFIC)
2.) Infiltration Facilities Managements (SITE-SPECIFIC)
3.) Filtration Practices (SITE-SPECIFIC)
Basically, I was going to put N/A in the sections above.
The roof rainwater drains into the ponds to fill them, but not for filtration purposes.
I have always avoided this credit, however, I thought i would take a stab at it. Hopefully, my lack of knowledge and background about stormwater won't prevent me from understanding what is required.
Michael DeVuono
Regional Stormwater LeaderArcadis North America
LEEDuser Expert
187 thumbs up
May 15, 2013 - 3:52 pm
I am having a hard time envisioning your stormwater "pond." If it is an underground system, where any problems may not be immediatley apparent, that is all the more reason to perform, at minimum, a visual inspection of the system after larger storms.
Michelle Bracewell-Musson
Owner, LEED APGreen Expectations Sustainability Solutions
119 thumbs up
May 15, 2013 - 4:29 pm
Hello Michael,
There are about eight ponds that all feed into each other (like the Great Lakes between Canada and U.S. and the St. Lawrence Seaway). The water does not actually drain off of the site, they keep their levels even based on how much/little rainfall we receive. If there is not enough, the irrigation is turned on manually. If there is too much, we hope there isn't an overflow (we have an on-site person that watches it). The ponds evaporate 1-2"/day depending on the weather. In the rainy season, the rainwater from the roofs (4 buildings) filters through stones and grassy sections and flows into the ponds, therfore, no need to turn the irrigation lines on to raise the pond levels. Unfortunately, the rainwater comes when we don't really need it (wet season). The ponds all have a drainage system and the plastic filters between the ponds are cleaned as needed (bi-annually). Maybe these ponds are irrelevant because the water never actually leaves the site to go to the stormwater drains off-site? Basically, all of the rainwater stays on site, and we add water for irrigation and raising the pond levels. I do not have a "plan" that shows or proves this, just an older Landscaper that explained how it works. No way to prove this.
The ponds all have cement bottoms that are sealed aside from the drianage pipes between them.
Anyway, I am either way on or way off track here. I think it is a good concept though!
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Michelle
Michael DeVuono
Regional Stormwater LeaderArcadis North America
LEEDuser Expert
187 thumbs up
May 16, 2013 - 8:11 am
I think I get the gist of it. I would not leave everything blank, summarize what you just told me. Add a little bit about maintenence of the stone filter (cleaning sediment, trash, etc)....you clean the filters bi-annually, you inspect after every significant rainfall...