A news article written by Molly Peterson for the Southern California radio station 89.3 KPCC website sheds some light as to the sheer importance of efficient stormwater BMP (Best Management Practices), at least for a state that’s been ravaged by a severe drought in the past few months:
“A week after it was proposed, a nearly $700 million package of drought relief measures passed the state legislature Thursday and is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown. A huge chunk of the money in the bill is earmarked for new projects to capture and store water from storms like those hitting California now.
So it’s worth pointing out what Southern California has done and has yet to do when it comes to managing stormwater.”
Why It Matters
In many cases, the importance of a reliable water supply is ignored until it reaches a critical low and people start to feel its impact. Natural disasters like floods and droughts both serve as wake-up calls, which remind local communities that unless stormwater is properly led or conveyed and processed for reuse, the risk of flooding, erosion, and serious water shortage remains high. This is why systems like StormChamber by HydroLogic Solutions exist in the first place.
Urban Water Pollution
The problem is that you cannot simply gather stormwater and reuse it, especially when it just passed through the canopy of an urban jungle before you can collect it. The Natural Resources Defense Council has it that by the time stormwater gets to rivers and natural waterways, it already contains substances like metals, toxins, bacteria, ammonia, and pesticides. Therefore, stormwater management is vital for the fight against pollution.
Benefits of Stormwater BMP
With such BMP solutions like StormChamber however, cities and establishments looking to reuse stormwater will enjoy a two-fold benefit. Aside from water conservation when it comes to cleaning, irrigation, and facilities maintenance, the now-reusable water will also be cleansed using natural filters that improve its hydrologic balance, making it safer for the environment.
Considerations
If you are considering getting a stormwater system, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The same article also mentions that:
“Regional stormwater systems must meet certain federal Clean Water Act standards to operate. “Both permits create extremely strong opportunities to encourage stormwater capture to increase water supplies,” says Noah Garrison, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council.”
Don’t let the problem of dirty or insufficient water supply burden your community – take a cue from California and start investing in a reliable storm water BMP system. The water you save from a rainstorm today could very well save you from a drought someday.
(Source: Drought boosts interest in stormwater capture and reuse in LA, 89.3 KPCC, Feb. 28, 2014)
