Today, more municipalities are adopting a zero run of policy for residential development to reduce the potential for downhill flooding from over development and help to replenish the watershed. We at Cipriano Landscape Design understand the need to help improve the quality of water before it enters the ground and, subsequently, the watershed.
Bill Moore Certified New Jersey Landscape Architect and head of our landscape architecture department and I have created a unique rain garden design which meets municipal storm water containment specifications and provide a natural interaction between soil, vegetation and water in order to reduce pollutants such as gas, oil, bacteria-pet waste, road salt, litter, pesticides and fertilizer before entering the ground.
Development and impervious areas reduce the natural capacity of soil and vegetation to absorb rainfall, and Traditional storm water collection for residential properties incorporates 1,000-gallon concrete seepage pits. All impervious areas such as roof, driveway, patios and swimming pools are added up and then, depending on the municipal standards, are contained with the prescribed seepage pits. Seepage pit are design to reduce flooding and erosion but do little to control the quality of water that re-enters the watershed. Improving the quality of water which enters the watershed has major environmental benefits.
A rain garden is a specially landscaped shallow depression that captures and filters polluted storm-water runoff. It provides storage of the bio-filtered storm water until it permeates the ground and enters the water supply. Plants with deep infiltrating root systems are specifically used in a rain garden design because they must tolerate harsh environments — drought to flooding conditions. The organic or mulch layer protects the soil from eroding and provides an environment for microorganisms which degrade pollutants.
When designing the unique rain garden system currently being installed in Mahwah, Bill Moore, New Jersey Certified Landscape Architect and I worked closely with the municipal engineer and the project engineer to formulate comprehensive approach. Up hill Runoff from the Ramapo Mountain and pool patio runoff will be piped into certified rain gardens and recharge the watershed with clean bio-filtered water. This sustainable solution also cost 10 to 15 percent less than the traditional seepage pit system which makes it attractive to homebuilders, site work companies, landscape contractors and homeowners.
Adopting sustainable solutions for today’s environmental issues will result in a shift in attitude that can pass health and wellness along to future generations. Throughout the Spring months, we will be submitting rain garden designs submitted to Allendale, Englewood, Saddle River, Franklin Lakes and Kinnelon as part of ongoing projects. These designs will be available free of charge to all in Summer 2009.
Tags: New Jersey Landscape Architect, New Jersey Landscape Design, new jersey landscaping, New Jersey Natural Stone Masonry, New Jersey Rain Gardens, New Jersey swimming pools, nj custom swimming pools, NJ landscape Architect, NJ landscape Architects, nj landscaping, NJ swimming pools
Mr. Moore and Mr. Cipriano,
I am the Editor of the NJASLA monthly newsletter and am preparing an article based upon your blog on rain gardens. In this blog you memtion that your municipally approved designs will be available free of charge, soon.
I am requesting that you allow NJASLA to provide these designs through our Newsletter and website when they become available. Of course, all links or .pdf would fully credit you both as the authors of these designs and include a link to your website.
I also invite you to prepare an educational session on the topic for our annual meeting to be held January 30 through February 1, 2010.
Please respond to my email above. We are preparing guidelines for potential speakers to meet continuing education requirements. If you are interested in making a presentation,I’ll send them to you as you prepare for the session.
By the way, you have a very impressive website! We could use some tips from webpeople.
Best Wishes
Nick