Are you planning to get into the landscaping business? If you are, then how much do you know about stormwater management within the context of landscaping? If your answers to these two questions are 'Yes' and 'No' respectively, you need to keep reading. Stormwater management guidelines are no longer best practice principles; they have also become mandates and design standards. You need to prove that you can design landscapes that meet stormwater management standards to win contracts from commercial building developers. However, with numerous rainwater management options available to landscapers, you must choose carefully. This post highlights options that will work best for a new landscaping business.
Permeable Pavements -- Almost all commercial buildings have pavement, especially for parking lots and walkways leading into the property. When stormwater runs off on a standard sidewalk, there is a possibility of flooding, property damage and pollution. However, permeable pavements solve the problem. Since they are similar in appearance to sidewalks, they can be easily incorporated on a developer's property. The only difference between standard pavements and permeable paving is the material used. In permeable pavements, porous stones are used instead of compact ones which are common in conventional paving. To prevent pooling and stagnation of stormwater, the porous rocks that make up permeable paving allow stormwater to slip through with ease. As the water slips into the soil, pollutants are trapped, thereby preventing contamination of nearby water sources.
Bio-Swales -- A standard feature in commercial parking lots are barriers that surround the car space. Parking lots with such designs allow rainwater to run off with ease which is why they have drainage channels. However, the channels are not the best solution to stormwater management. Instead of designing a parking lot with barriers, you can construct a bio-swale on one end of the parking lot. When it rains, stormwater will drain into the bio-swale and slowly infiltrate into the ground, just like it would in an area with natural vegetation. Bio-swales are cheap, fast to build and they can be customised depending on property development requirements.
Soil Amendments -- At a fraction of the cost of setting up a porous pavement or a bio-swale, you can help a developer on a budget to achieve stormwater management goals through soil amendments. The method involves the combination of wood mulch, coarse sand and compost in varying quantities to attain maximum stormwater absorption. The results of the rainwater management technique are best noticed post-shower. Notably, the approach is best applicable in areas with minor runoff.
If it isn't your specialty, reach out to a place that specialises in stormwater management engineering for more information.
