Lake Tahoe Low Impact Development

High-capacity Storm Water Runoff Chambers

The Challenge:

Storm water runoff from parking lots at the Homewood Mountain Resort on Lake Tahoe drained into the lake directly across the street, resulting in large plumes of pollution. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency required retrofitting the parking lots with a storm water BPM to rectify the situation.

The Solution:

The BPM was originally designed with a competing plastic chamber system, but the resort chose to switch to a StormChamber system due to the significant savings in installing cost and time. Due to its larger size, about 45% fewer StormChambers were required. Its patented side portal feed also eliminated the header pipe manifold system of the original plastic chamber system. This also resulted in significantly less excavation, stone, backfill, compaction, grading and filter fabric.

Water Quality

The Result:

After monitoring the outflow from the StormChamber system for approximately two and one half years, no discharges to the lake were observed. All of the runoff infiltrated into the subsurface soils. The runoff did eventually reach the lake, but as the ground water base flow, similar to reconstruction conditions. As a base flow, the Total Suspended Solids (TSS), nutrients and other pollutants were removed by the bio-mat that formed on the stone and soil underlying the StormChamber similar to the function of a septic drain field. Thermal loadings to the lake from black asphalt in summer were also eliminated. The installation was so successful that additional StormChamber Systems have since been installed in the two other parking lots of the resort.

The StormChamber installation was significantly less expensive, installed in significantly less time, and resulted in a significant reduction in pollution to Lake Tahoe …a win-win situation for the owner and the environment.

Testimonial

  • “Because we have installed several StormChamber systems, a lot of engineers have asked for advice on competing plastic chambers. We have always recommended the StormChambers. They far exceed the competition on cost and ease and speed of installation.”

    Dean Clark General Manager, SECO, LLC, Chelton, WA

  • “Much less expensive and much quicker and easier to install than the 64″ pipe originally speced for the project.”

    Joe Szabo Owner, J&R underground contractors, Milan, MI

  • “Significantly faster and easier to install than pipe. Significantly less staging room needed and a lot fewer trucks to receive and unload.” (The equivalent of 213 LF of pipe nest on one pallet, 1,913 LF on one truck.)

    Bob Dawson Owner, Dawson Company, Woodbridge, VA

  • “We have installed several StormChamber systems because we find them to be a lot less expensive and quicker to install than the competing systems and we can install them in two layers on very confined sites.”

    Ed Shaw Shaw Construction, Reno, NV

  • “We were surprised by the ease of use of the system and greatly appreciated support provided. We are already looking forward to building our next StormChamber project!”

    Erik Gervais PE, Constructions GFL, Brossard, QC

  • The Loudon One project in Ashburn, VA

    “I also like that it can be cleaned by air vacuuming via inspection /cleanout ports instead of using water. Anytime you have to clean something with water, then you have to have a truck that collects the water and the sediments in it. Depending on where you can dump that, it can get much more costly as opposed to going out with a vacuum truck.”

    Steve Pandish Director of Water Resources for the engineering firm of William H. Gordon Associates in Chantilly, Virginia

  • HUGO SIMS METAL RECYCLING FACILITY IN THE BRONX, NY

    “The choice of StormChambers met the design requirements for strength in such a way that the chambers could be stacked three deep with 30 feet of cover, if needed. Strong enough to sustain the impact of 18-wheelers loaded with steel. They also were 30 percent more cost-effective than other options.”

    Dr. Paul Mankiewicz hydrologist and consultant to the City of New York on storm water and related issues and executive director of the not-for-profit Gaia Institute in the Bronx, NY

  • Double-stacked system in Tukwilla, WA

    “It was easy. There were no difficulties once the owner decided on the StormChamber system. The project is holding up to heavy traffic, pump tracks, and cranes.”

    Tom Radice Abbot Construction

  • Charles-Lemoyne Hospital, Greenfield Park, Quebec

    "We were amazed by the simplicity of this system and have appreciated the support from the Soleno team during the entire project. We are already looking forward to designing another project using the StormChamber!"

    Érik Gervais, P. Eng Const. GFL, Brossard, Quebec
Request A Quote / More Information
In order for us to serve you better, it's preferable that you call us. If you prefer to submit information online, please click the button and complete the form.
If you have questions and would like to speak with a StormChamber representative directly, please call 888-825-4716.
Request A Quote
Find A Rep
Looking for a rep in your area? Please give us a call.
If you have questions and would like to speak with a StormChamber representative directly, please call 888-825-4716.
Find A Rep