Stormwater update Stormwater seems to be a hot topic these days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has responded by initiating many new products and initiatives, which are highlighted here along with upcoming plans.
INSIDERS VIEW | Cathy Bazn-Arias, Ph.D., P.E. Public-Private PartnershipsWeb Exclusive Last night, as I sat in my rain-drenched Corolla advancing a foot to two feet a minute during rush hour, pending the advancement of a local road/bridge rehabilitation crew, the thought crept up once again: "There's gotta be a better way to address infrastructure needs!" COMMENT | Shanon Fauerbach, P.E. Managing erosion, sediment, and stormwater Think you know everything there is to know about the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program? What about developing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) correctly? Think again. PERSPECTIVE | Alfred R. Pagan, P.E. Asking for a retainer and getting paid A seasoned engineer recounts an expensive lesson he was forced to learn when both he and his business were young. More CENews.com columns
How to choose better stormwater BMPs Which best management practices (BMPs) are most effective? How does one BMP compare to another in controlling specific pollutants? Today, the science of stormwater management has advanced to the point where it can at least begin to answer some of these questions and, ultimately, help us choose better BMPs. Lifecycle of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required as a means to minimize the ecological and economic impacts associated with sediment and other pollutants entering our nation's waterways. But before you can prepare a SWPPP, you have to know what one is, how it works, and how it should be implemented. Controlling runoff beautifully The rising star of runoff control is pervious concrete. Water flows through it, not over it. Stormwater percolates into the ground beneath, recharging the natural water table instead of running off and causing erosion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated porous pavement as a best management practice for stormwater runoff. Project Case Study: Smart site design Rapid prototyping helps identify the most cost-effective layout solution for land development. Project Case Study: High-speed engineeringWeb Exclusive The dual challenge of engineering a NASCAR speedway is creating a surface that allows racecars to travel at high speeds while preventing them from hurtling into space. At Tennessee's Bristol Motor Speedway, that task was exacerbated by the need for cross-sections that encourage drivers to race side by side. In addition, the track redesign had to be built within the confines of the existing seating arrangement without negatively affecting sight lines from any part of the track. Project Case Study: Wall-top securityWeb Exclusive Pre-Engineered, code-compliant post foundation integrates fence at the face of retaining walls. More CENews.com feature articles