Reducing the amount of runoff that goes into local streams and rivers is a great way to preserve natural habitats.
When it rains, impervious surfaces, like pavement and rooftops, prevent rainwater from being soaked up by the ground. This excess water is called stormwater runoff, and it tends to have a detrimental effect on natural habitats. You’ve probably watched a piece of discarded trash as it drifts down a small river of stormwater. Stormwater tends to gather up trash and pollutants and wash them into natural habitats where it can have a detrimental effect on the aquatic life. So, what can community members do to reduce or manage stormwater runoff? Here are a few tips.
Build a Retention Pond
If you are a business owner or otherwise own a large plot of land, it may be wise to have a retention pond built. In fact, some zoning regulations require it. A retention pond works by gathering the excess stormwater that cannot be absorbed into the ground. Rather than letting all this water wash into natural habitats unchecked, a retention pond stores the water, releasing it slowly and filtering it for pollution as it does so. This not only keeps contaminated water from entering natural habitats, it also keeps local streams and rivers from overflowing with all the excess stormwater. If you already have a retention pond, we can perform a pond retrofit to make sure it is functioning properly.
Install a Bioswale
If you don’t have room for a retention pond, a bioswale is the next best thing. Bioswales are small enough to fit alongside a walkway or nestle among your landscaping. An apartment building with a parking lot may not have room for a retention pond, but odds are there is enough room for a bioswale! The stormwater that washes off the parking lot and sidewalks gets channeled into the bioswale, where it is filtered, partially absorbed by the ground, and sent to local streams after it’s been cleaned of pollutants.
Use Environmentally-Friendly Stormwater Management
Did you know that you can use environmentally-friendly storm drain options when constructing a new structure? Here at Reliable Contracting, we were one of the first construction companies in Maryland to use the Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Design, or RSCD. This is a stormwater runoff system made of a shallow earthen bowl and water-absorbing plants. Not only does it look much more attractive than the average storm drain, but it also filters and absorbs water before sending it to local streams, rather than having a corrugated pipe or concrete trough deliver polluted water directly to local water sources. The result is a more attractive storm water drain, nearby streams and rivers that won’t overflow as often, and happy aquatic life!
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Reliable Contracting Company serves the following and surrounding counties: Annapolis, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Howard, Prince George, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington D.C.