Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Cincinnati still behind in storm water management alternatives

CHRISTINE ROBERTSON | COMMUNITY PRESS GUEST COLUMNIST

When we build systems that mimic the environment's natural process we are able to minimize the negative impact downstream from developed areas.

There are more cost-effective ways to manage storm water without flushing the polluted water and accumulated debris into underground piping systems running down to the nearest stream.

On Monday, Aug. 21, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) unveiled its newest addition to the region's fight for a cleaner environment.

Funded by a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant TANK was able to pave its newest "Park and Ride" (located off the Mount Zion exit of I-75) with porous concrete.

By excluding some of the particles found in traditional paving systems, small holes are left in the concrete allowing water to pass through and slowly seep into the underlying soil.

As the water trickles into the ground, it undergoes a natural filtration process thus mitigating the frequency of sewer overflows and urban runoff.

TANK's new park and ride is not the organization's first development to showcase porous concrete.

Roughly a year ago construction was completed on a porous park and ride on KY-17, and designs are currently in progress to integrate porous pavement on their administrative headquarters located in Fort Wright.

A couple steps south of TANK headquarters, we find the administrative headquarters of Sanitation District 1 encompassed by what they have deemed a "Storm Water Best Management Park."

Including such innovations as porous concrete, permeable pavement, rain gardens, a giant cistern, a constructed pond and wetland, and a beautiful green roof, the park has become the region's major educational source for storm water issues, frequented by school children and educators alike.

It has also become a major resource for BMP performance monitoring.

On the other side of the river good things are happening as well. OKI's Great Miami Runoff Reduction Project located in Colerain Township's Heritage Park was completed last May.

The park boasts a pull-off area with permeable pavement as well as several rain gardens which have become home to many species of bugs and butterflies.

OKI also plans to monitor the impact of the permeable surfaces on both water quantity and quality.

These projects are very exciting, yet at the same time it is sad that, to my knowledge, the list stops at three.

While Cincinnati seems to be making progress, we are way behind the rest of the country in terms of storm water management alternatives and green building design.

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