In the water industry, PFAS has become a common topic. PFAS is a categorization for a range of over four thousand substances with various physical and chemical properties. PFAS is the abbreviation for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances which are man-made chemicals that are difficult to break down due to the carbon and fluorine bond. These […]
Industrial vacuumation and jetting trucks are multi-functional vehicles used for cleaning underground infrastructure. By using both suction and high-pressure water, these trucks are ideal for non-invasive maintenance. There are many variations of these trucks, providing both vacuumation and jetting or only one. Vacuumation alone may not be sufficient for lodged debris so jetting is often […]
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the federal regulatory agency responsible for monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The agency serves the United States and the need to understand and prepare for natural hazards and the environment as a whole. NOAA predicts climate patterns for future seasons based on existing conditions. Conditions are measured […]
By: Jeff Urban, VP, Enterprise Account Management Stormwater is the natural water runoff after rain events. In rural areas, a large volume of the water from rain events absorbs directly into the earth allowing for natural processes like transpiration to occur. As cities and towns develop, more impervious surfaces are created, preventing stormwater from absorbing […]
By Jason Abert, VP Program Development & Partnerships Retention ponds installed on a property are an engineered stormwater control measure. While the small body of water on the edge of a property may seem insignificant, a non-functional retention pond can be a massive issue and potentially a liability for a property owner. Each retention pond […]
By: Jason Abert, VP Program Development & Partnerships As regulations and grants emerge centered around solar farms, understanding their impact on stormwater is crucial. Solar farms describe the photovoltaic (PV) technology of solar panels, also called cells, installed across fields. As opposed to traditional commercial solar panels, the land used for solar farms is repurposed […]
By Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients, heavy metals and chemicals into our water bodies. These pollutants can harm aquatic ecosystems and compromise water quality. Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs), also known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) provide effective and sustainable solutions to mitigate these issues. As rain […]
By Carlie Utesch, Marketing Coordinator Understanding Sewer Systems in the United States start with understanding underground water infrastructure vary across the United States. There are three types of underground sewers which include Sanitary Sewer System (SSS), Combined Sewer Systems (CSS) and Storm Sewer Systems, sometimes referred to as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) when […]
By Wade Stafford, Executive Vice President, Wastewater Services The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its intent to publish updated pollution control standards for the Meat and Poultry Product (MPP) industry. There are 7,000 registered meat and poultry production facilities across the continental United States [1]. Currently, the most updated pollution standards for this industry […]
By Jason Abert, Vice President Program Development & Partnerships Stormwater maintenance looks different on every property. Proper maintenance of a stormwater system includes regular checks or inspections for signs of system deficiencies or failure. Per region, stormwater systems vary, as does the maintenance required. In southern areas retention and detentions ponds are common systems meant […]
By Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Preventative maintenance is essential to the health of a stormwater system. Continually monitoring a system and visually inspecting assets prevents large, unexpected costs that come with stormwater system failure and rehabilitation. Wear and tear are common with stormwater assets especially through changing seasons; it is vital these small-scale problems […]
By Wade Stafford, Vice President, Wastewater Services Hog farming is integral to the global value chain, supplying food products to feed the public and skin for leather clothing, books, and accessories. It’s common for operators to keep swine in pens or fenced-off areas, but this practice increases the likelihood that animal waste will be carried […]
By Wade Stafford, Vice President, Wastewater Services Poultry producers have a profound impact, supplying food and fiber in the form of eggs, meat, and feathers to people worldwide. Keeping these animals in confined spaces is common, but this practice can harm the natural ecosystem and get you into regulatory trouble without due diligence. AQUALIS can […]
By Carlie Utesch, Marketing Coordinator Spring is almost here, although we did have record snowfall in parts of the country last week. This time of year brings warmer temperatures, meaning, it is time for property owners think about snowmelt and the impact on your stormwater systems. Stormwater systems can potentially face extensive damages if your […]
By Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer As the days get longer, the weather gets warmer and the spring season moves in to full-effect, rainfall will join the regular forecast throughout much of the United States. However, due to climate changes that include average temperatures rising and a continuing alteration of wind patterns and ocean currents […]
By Jason Abert, Vice President, Service Delivery Where you are making your list and checking it twice, be sure to include your preventative stormwater maintenance ahead of winter weather as a priority on your to-do list. Preparing stormwater systems before the temperature shifts is essential because once the ground freezes and snow begins to fall, the frozen […]
By Jason Abert, Vice President, Service Delivery Rushing waters moving at a high velocity or cities completely underwater are images that may come to mind when you think of flooding. However, flooding occurs when water collects within typically dry areas. Flooding can be considered pooling in your parking lot or a small area on your […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Happy New Water Year October 1st, 2021 is the start of the 2022 water year! Nature and the environment provide the perfect time frame to predict time and cycles. Cyclical patterns reflected by nature occur in many aspects like the changing of seasons, lunar cycles, and even water movement. […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is one of North America’s most diverse estuaries comprised of over 2,000 plants, 600 fish, and 300 bird species, with 53 threatened or endangered species calling the brackish water home [1]. Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River Lagoon and the Indian River all fall within the […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Running water is one of the great forces that shape our natural landscapes. Its power is evident throughout intricate cave systems and world wonders like the Grand Canyon. However, there is a bleaker side when this erosive effect appears in less-than-ideal places such as stormwater systems. How Are Human […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President, Service Delivery Sinkholes are a serious stormwater runoff threat, with damages to commercial property and loss of life that can result. Even seemingly small sinkholes that are left unattended can become a serious safety matter. AQUALIS’ stormwater professionals anticipate sinkholes throughout the country as the number of storms and rainfall […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Next time you stop to smell the flowers, thank a pollinator. Pollinators are the reason for the show-stopping beauty and fragrance we associate with floral blooms. However, before systematic biotic pollination or the involvement of living organisms in the pollination process, flowering plants lacked the draws of our existing […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Lake Waterford, a Maryland lake found in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, is the spawning ground of the famous recreational fishing catch yellow perch. Every spring, mature yellow perch swim up the Magothy River to lay eggs in Lake Waterford, their generational nursery. This year, volunteers with the Magothy River […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator It is not a new phenomenon in the wastewater industry. Non-flushable wipes, clothing, diapers, plastic, rocks, wood, and all non-dispersible debris are all flushed into sanitary systems on a regular basis. However, Covid-19 has only exemplified the backups and blockages in underground sanitary infrastructure due to the increasing requirements of […]
by Wade Stafford, Vice President, Wastewater Services The life of a lift station is strenuous. Working to elevate wastewater is a daunting task on its own, but these systems must also operate within a highly corrosive environment, battle the presence of non-dispersible materials, and work continuously to maintain wastewater systems. Needless to say, these systems […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator “When you take a drink, swim or eat seafood, you share my concern for clean water” – Executive Director of North Carolina Coastal Federation, Todd Miller It is known that significant changes to our climate are currently underway, influencing local weather, precipitation levels, and the frequency of severe storms. Climate […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator Wastewater infrastructure is under constant stress and failures occur as buildup from non-flushable materials like PPE, wipes, grease, and waste all continue to accumulate over time. When grease and insoluble materials collect within sewer systems and lift stations, backflow is inevitable, and the risks to businesses and properties are costly. […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Every year, World Water Day is celebrated March 22 to appreciate the essential element of life: water. Since the first World Water Day in 1993, the United Nations has used this day to raise awareness that 2.2 billion people are living without access to clean water. Water is required […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator Stormwater regulations are never stagnant for long, and with the recent transition to a new white house administration, changes are already in motion to existing water legislation. On Jan. 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the fifth iteration of the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) to strike industrial stormwater discharge regulations […]
by Kara Sabatino, Director of Marketing More than 70% of the continental United States is currently covered in snow. Communities that have never experienced severe winter storms face unprecedented challenges that come with extreme cold and snow conditions. Streets cannot be plowed, water lines are freezing, and power outages are prevalent. Prioritizing the health and […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator There are many complexities tied with stormwater vegetation management that may lead to confusion. From nuisance weeds to vegetation used to promote hydrology and pollutant removal, where do stormwater professionals draw the line? There have been countless articles released in the recent decade highlighting the benefits of having plant life […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator Looks can be deceiving. With winter finally here, plants leaves are turn from a vibrant green to yellow, orange, red and brown before eventually falling and leaving the branches bare. While this may make it look as though the plants are dying, this is merely one phase in the complex […]
by Kara Sabatino, Director of Marketing Every second, the NYC Climate Clock strikes another second down, stormwater systems face greater and greater threats. One threat is the 100-year storm. A 100-year storm is a massive storm that historically had a 1% chance of occurring every year. However, this name may not be as suiting as […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator 2020 has left businesses unprepared. As COVID-19 made its way across the globe, companies took significant losses from production line disruptions, store closings, and stay-at-home orders. Now that states and stores are beginning to re-open, costs continue to accrue. Safety requirements such as PPE, hand sanitizer, plexiglass barriers, face shields, […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator When you think of water pollution, images of sea life swimming through plastic or agriculture fertilizer runoff likely come to mind. While this physical, more observable, and increasingly pressing form of water pollution tends to be the focus of environmental activism, there is another less talked about the threat to […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator June marked the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with multiple named storms in 2020, this season is expected to be an active season with impacts to the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, predicts an above-average 2020 hurricane season, occurring June 1st through November 30th […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer For the last few years Colorado Springs has been dealing with a lawsuit from the EPA for violating their stormwater discharge permit in multiple developments. Due to this neglect, waterways have eroded their banks and created harsh cliffs in the process. There have been high pollutant rates, including large […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President of Service Delivery In honor of National Pollinator Week, it seemed fitting to share our latest pollinator install in Chicago, Illinois. This install is especially fascinating as it is a rooftop garden and is double in size of our typical garden installs. With the assistance of AQUALIS Environmental Interns, this […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President of Service Delivery What’s the buzz? It is National Pollinator Week, June 22 – 28! One of our favorite topics at AQUALIS is pollination. Through our Root for Nature programs, we seek to improve the environment through stormwater management and beyond! Increased development not only impacts our stormwater, but we […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator Stormwater Spotlight: How to Manage Your Meltwater in Washington As warmer weather comes, it is important to prepare for an influx in stormwater coming from melting snow and ice. This stormwater can have immense impacts on stormwater systems because of the unique source and the landscape of Washington state. The […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer Texas Stormwater Scorecards Rain is what the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center (ETC) defined as one of their state’s greatest resources, and in 2017 they decided to try a new system of evaluating municipalities and their relationship with precipitation. They established the Texas Stormwater Scorecard report, evaluating local […]
by Jim Leamy, Senior Manager of Quality Assurance It’s that time of year again when days are getting longer, temperatures are getting higher, and the first flowers start to make their reappearance. This is a great opportunity to start anew, spring-clean ones’ home, and clean your stormwater facilities. The winter months are often a time […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President of Service Delivery Have you ever wondered whether your stormwater control measures (SCMs) could benefit more from landscaping, or if you need to invest in professional stormwater maintenance? The outcome of a project for landscapers and stormwater maintenance crews may look similar, but the goals for each project are quite […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator While the U.N. and U.S. Census Bureau disagree on when the human population will reach eight billion, there is no argument that our population is growing, and fast. As total global populace grows, so do urban populations through natural growth and immigration into cities. In fact, over 50% of the […]
by Erin Grenz, Chief Development Officer The Puget Sound is the pride and joy of the State of Washington, expanding over 100 miles in an intricate system of waterways leading to the Pacific Ocean. Over 10,000 years ago, the beginnings of this waterway were dug by large glaciers slowly carving up the land under which […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President of Service Delivery The design and functionality of a parking lot incorporate more than asphalt and parking spaces. Parking lots are engineered to endure the weight and traffic from vehicles entering and exiting, and both minor and major runoff volumes from large rainstorm events. The parking lot of your business […]
by Anna Espenhahn, Marketing Coordinator We are known as the blue planet for good reason: 75% of the surface of the earth is covered by water. However, that does not mean that we have an endless supply of drinkable freshwater. In fact, nearly 99% of the water on earth is not potable by humans or […]
by Jim Leamy, Senior Manager of Quality Assurance When Lewis and Clark embarked on their intrepid mission to affirm the sovereignty of the United States, one of their primary goals was to find a waterway from the US to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River, which today separates Washington and Oregon, defined that western passage. […]
by Jim Leamy, Senior Manger of Quality Assurance It has been made dramatically and tragically clear in recent years that our stormwater infrastructure along the Gulf Coast is in need of considerable upgrades. Stormwater control measure (SCM) inspections are becoming more widely accepted for business owners and property managers in eastern Texas and Louisiana as […]
by Jim Leamy, Senior Manager of Quality Assurance It’s been decades since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed in 1972, and the varied cities and states of the Mid-Atlantic US have taken many green initiatives to keep their water and environment clean. The Chesapeake Bay, the body of water these states, including Delaware, Maryland, […]
by Jason Abert, Vice President of Service Delivery Did you know that oftentimes the ponds you see on the side of the road, beside a grocery store, next to a school, or behind a house serve far more purpose than just being a nice, aesthetically pleasing water feature? These wet detention ponds are more than […]
Did you know that for your business to be compliant with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stormwater management guidelines, it must follow a standard set of laws and regulations outlined in the Clean Water Act (CWA)? The CWA is responsible for managing discharge of pollutants that may end up in the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), […]
Restoration + Recovery celebrated National Pollinator Week in a big way this year. In an effort to combat the recent decline of pollinators, such as bees, monarch butterflies, birds and bats, R+R launched its Root For Nature campaign by working with clients throughout the United States and Puerto Rico to create pollinator gardens in stormwater […]
The Southeast US is going through a major growth spurt, and the growing pains the area is going through are exacerbated by the drastic increase in intense seasonal storms. This is creating major stormwater runoff and infiltration challenges as cities create impermeable surfaces and as six of the ten largest states in terms of prevalence […]
Knowledge of how Stormwater SCMs work is crucial to have to recognize when one of your structures may be failing. Two very important disciplines within stormwater management are drainage and filtration. Filterra units combine drainage and filtration into a single aesthetically pleasing structure.
Stormwater in Los Angeles County has been neglected for a long time.
One of life’s best little pleasures is the soft melody of rain falling on a tin roof. Backdropped by a blue grey sky, the drops steadily pitter and patter on the roof’s surface, cascading down to splash on the ground. The droplets may then join together and trickle across an impermeable surface, be it a […]
In our modern day and age, the product quality and availability of a business isn’t all that’s going to cut it for consumers. The digital age has developed the consumer-business relationship into more than a faceless stream of products and services; consumers are consistently caring more and paying attention to the practices of the business […]
Getting a notice of violation (NOV) is never a fun experience. Having a violation found during a stormwater inspection means having to shift your focus from your business and spend time, energy, and money on becoming compliant with the relevant stormwater ordinance. You’ll also likely be hit with a hefty fine for being found non-compliant. […]
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the Restoration + Recovery office. Hurricane Florence brought on high wind speeds, torrential rainfall, and hurricane runoff that caused flooding in many parts of the Carolinas. This environmental disaster has left much of the coastline still reeling, with citizens displaced and their properties’ fate still up in […]
How far back into history does the first stormwater management system go? Our civilization has been implementing systems using low-impact development principles for hundreds of years. With some of these original techniques still in use today,1 one can wonder how there’s any room for new technologies in the industry.
Brace yourselves. We are on the cusp of another fire season, and its year-to-year intensity is only increasing. Like many environmental issues, the increase in wildland fires has no quick fix. It depends not just on firefighters and foresters, but whole communities to take part in preventative and reactive actions.
The Technology Assessment Protocol – Ecology (TAPE) Program is the Washington State Department of Ecology’s process for evaluating and approving emerging stormwater treatment Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs). New stormwater treatment SCMs that are not in the current Stormwater Manual or have not been approved by TAPE must first be approved by Ecology’s TAPE Program, an […]
Rural stormwater management plans are growing in popularity. The proper development and maintenance of BMPs is important even in areas away from intense development, as runoff can still negatively affect water quality and surrounding environments. There are physical and regulatory differences to managing stormwater in rural vs. urban areas, and knowing how localities can use […]
A healthy stormwater system should be able to handle the most torrential of downpours with aplomb. These heavy downpours can dramatically swell the affected watershed; how do properties without the broad real estate for detention ponds keep from contributing to floods? Underground vaults.
The town of Bluffton, SC recently announced that it has begun inspections of all stormwater drainage and treatment systems in a program that will impact both neighborhood and commercial developments. The inspection program is in place to ensure that the Town of Bluffton meets the requirements of the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General […]
Let’s be real: Summer in the Pacific Northwest is not the time that its denizens are most vigilant about maintaining their stormwater facilities. It’s as dry as a bone and folks are doing everything they can to distract themselves from the looming winter rains.
In the summer, it seems like someone in a residential neighborhood is washing their car every day. Giant buckets of water are mixed with car soap and the car is scrubbed clean. Cleaning the car is not the problem, the problem is what happens after the wash is complete. After they finish washing their cars, […]
There are many factors that put pressure on water resources which effects the options and requirements for water management. Population growth is a main factor, creating demands for more water and producing additional wastewater and pollution. The increase can have significant negative impacts on local and regional water resources.
Legal Basis of the Clean Water Act:
The Restoration and Recovery team recently attended the North Carolina State University Wet Pond and Wetland Design Update in RTP. As presented by university and state government employees, the course structured these design strategies within the framework of the recent drafts of Minimum Design Criteria (MDC) Rules for SCMs. As it stands, MDC rules are […]
Vegetation establishment is an important component of many stormwater control measures (SCM). Grasses, trees, shrubs, and other herbaceous plants help provide structural stability, conrol erosion, and naturally remove pollutants from rainwater runoff. However, if proper maintenance is not performed, undesirable vegetation will invade vegetated areas of the SCMs. If these undesirables go untreated, they can […]
Anyone walking along a degraded urban stream may see signs of the effects of urban development: heavily eroded stream banks, trash in overhanging tree branches, discarded tires, or remnants of stormwater conveyance infrastructure. It is obvious that intense alterations to the landscape and water network occur when land is developed. The most immediate consequences include […]
Headwater streams provide many ecologic and water quality benefits. In a natural setting, these small drainage tributaries filter rainwater, recharge groundwater, and dissipate water velocity while transporting sediment from upland elevations downstream to larger water bodies. It is not surprising that people tend to populate upland areas where flooding may be mitigated by hard surface […]
There are many preventative measures that can be taken into account for a site-specific stormwater management plan, but even well-maintained and regularly inspected systems can be prone to nuisance issues. Some problems are elusive and could go undetected for a period of time while others are more blatant and are visible to the untrained eye.
Winter can often be very taxing on stormwater facilities for a variety of reasons. First, these systems are often neglected during the winter months which can result in damages, as well as sediment, trash and debris accumulation.
Regardless of where your property is located, there are key strategies for proper management of your stormwater system (BMP) year-round. Continuous attention to the system, specifically in the form of inspection and maintenance, is critical in maintaining compliance, preventing failure, and ensuring water quality and quantity standards per design. Monthly, or even more frequent, stormwater […]
To clarify, LID is not something you place on top of your trashcan to keep out unwanted canines. Since the buzz word, or phrase I should say, has come up in a few of our previous blog posts, I thought it would be worth a brief survey. Low-Impact Development (LID) is a design and planning […]
A new development underway, Chatham Park, is the local buzz amongst residents of the Triangle area. The 7,100 acre project is located just west of Jordan Lake and the closest town is Pittsboro. According to the Planned Development District Master Plan, Chatham Park is envisioned as having five villages. Creeks and stream valleys will serve […]
I am in my second year on the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) Water Resources Advisory Committee. So far it has been a great experience, and it has opened my eyes to a whole new side of water! For our clients, I primarily focus on managing stormwater within specific property lines. Once the water […]
On January 7, 2015, Water Environment Federation released an article, Year in Review: 2014 Under the Stormwater Lens, which summarized the trending topics relative to Stormwater in 2014. The top three Stormwater Report News Trends of 2014, based on Google Analytics, were the following:
A couple weeks ago the R&R Durham team completed an OSHA course entitled “Working Safely in Confined Spaces + Lockout/Tagout Procedures.” The course was held at one of the city of Durham’s municipal buildings, and other participants included folks from the construction and stormwater industry, equipment operators, and general contractors. A confined space is defined […]
I recently participated in the NC Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance Certification Update with Dr.
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