Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance
What are Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) Systems?
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) is a series of bioretention step-pools designed atop a porous stone media bed, to convey, control and treat stormwater runoff while protecting site soils from erosion. Runoff entering the RSC will immediately control flows to purposely lose energy and slowdown in the pools, allowing for infiltration into the media bed and essential pollutant treatment processes to occur. Most of the runoff will leave the RSC as exfiltration into groundwater through filtered subsurface seep, or via evapotranspiration.
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Applications
RSCs were originally used as retrofits for failing channels, swales, and pipe outfalls. As they have become more prolific, their design has been adapted to include a wide variety of applications. RSCs are adaptable to space constraints and can be installed in the footprint of roadway medians or ditches to provide conveyance and treatment needs. Unlike other bioretention systems, RSCs fit easily into steep slope conditions. This type of green infrastructure is generally considered low maintenance, and requires less maintenance as the system matures, making it both a long– term sustainable and cost-effective solution.
First implemented predominantly on the East Coast, our Engineering Services Division (ESD) (Formerly SSE) was the first firm to offer RSC services in the Midwest. We develop customized solutions to effectively convey large flows, manage storm volumes and treat stormwater pollutants. By analyzing site characteristics our engineers design a system that is compliant, innovative and cost-effective.
Maintaining Green Infrastructure
Benefits of RSC
- RSCs can function similarly to stable headwater streams
- Treatment of stormwater to remove pollutants and increase quality
- Infiltration and slowing of stormwater to prevent and limit future erosion
- Provides peak flow mitigation
- Reduces downstream flooding and/or BMP retention needs
- Improves the habitat with biodiversity
Properly Managing Stormwater
AQUALIS provides RSC development, implementation and restoration beginning with a thorough site assessment to analyze existing conditions. Utilizing hydrologic calculations, our Engineering Services Division can best understand the water flow and movement before and after implementation. Working directly with local regulators, AQUALIS will ensure your project complies with local and federal regulations while securing funding. Following best practices, regular inspections and testing and developing a long-term Operations and maintenance agreement ensures your RSC project properly manages stormwater for years to come.
Additional Green Infrastructure
An alternative stormwater control measure that closely emulates a naturally occurring wetland therefore improving our water bodies.
A vegetated channeled depression or trench that captures and infiltrates stormwater runoff before it enters a stormwater drainage system.
A type of bioretention that is best suited for smaller sites to treat stormwater runoff.
Zones located along river banks that provide important habitats for wildlife, limit erosion and help to mitigate flooding events.
An alternative to traditional asphalt or concrete, permeable or porous pavement materials are designed to allow water flow around them into a stone media, or through the pavement.
An alternative to traditional roofs, green roofs incorporate areas traditionally underutilized for stormwater management, through capture, storage and evapotranspiration of stormwater.
The design and use of plants native to the site location as a long-term sustainable solution to manage rainwater and stormwater runoff.
Applied to improve soil performance, increase water absorption to allow vegetation to develop a desirable deep and healthy root system, and mycorrhizal network development.
Media filtration systems used to treat stormwater runoff and improve water quality.
An operation and maintenance plan details the necessary training, management, budgeting and maintenance requirements to successfully operate GSI, vegetation and stormwater systems.
Implementing Green Infrastructure- Milwaukee, Wisc.
The stormwater runoff from the newly acquired maintenance building drained to the combined sewer without properly treating the stormwater runoff prior to discharging to Lake Michigan. Removing the discharge from the combined sewer and draining it directly to Lake Michigan aids to reduction in combined sewer overflows. Treating the stormwater also improves water quality in the lake.
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