Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

L O CAL A C T I O N S.➤Prince George’s County, Maryland, has used bioretention practices in several revitalization,urban retrofit, and capital improvement projects designed to reduce urban runoffpollution entering waterways and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. In one stormwatermanagement project, the county added vegetation and settling ponds to an existingconcrete drainage system; planted vegetative buffers between a parking area and thestorm drain; and developed a constructed wetland to test the effectiveness of thesepractices in cleaning water runoff. The county has investigated, with the University ofMaryland, ways to reduce non-point-source pollution resulting from pedestrian trafficand grounds-maintenance and storage practices at the university. Both partnersexplored improved practices for stormwater management and wildlife habitat retention.The university agreed to implement recommendations from the study as part ofits normal maintenance operations.➤The city of Bellevue, Washington, has passed an ordinance tying stormwater bills tothe amount of impermeable surface on each property within its jurisdiction. Eachproperty in Bellevue is assessed in direct relation to its size and degree of development;fees from these assessments help fund water-quality protection. The city has establishedsix categories of development, each assigned a coefficient for bill calculationpurposes (wetland = 0.0, undeveloped = .25, light development = .40, moderate development= .50, heavy development = .75, very heavy development = 1.0). Any propertycan be downgraded one category if a water-detention area is constructed.➤The city of Portland, Oregon, Bureau of Environmental Services will build a new WaterPollution Control Laboratory to enable early detection of substances potentially harmfulto operations of the city’s wastewater treatment facility, and to reduce contaminantsentering the Willamette River. The laboratory site will feature a state-of-the-art experimentin stormwater treatment: the Water Demonstration Garden, a pool with wetlandplant life specially designed to clean stormwater naturally. The site will also feature abio-engineered riverbank to stabilize the area, and a greenway along the waterfront.➤The city of Vancouver, Washington, is addressing limited water resources and rapidurban growth through the Climate Friendly Plant Program. This plant identificationand marketing project, initiated by Vancouver’s two primary water utilities, aims toreduce outdoor water usage by encouraging wide planting of native and non-nativewater-conserving vegetation commonly sold at local nurseries. These plants are oftendisease-and pest-resistant, reducing chemical pesticide use and resulting water pollution.Local utilities and nurseries market the city program.➤The city of San Diego, California, offers a free Residential Water Survey Program in whichcity technicians audit a home’s indoor and outdoor water use and recommend specific conservationmethods. The survey includes installation of low-flow showerheads, Xeriscapeinformation, and a supply of native flower seeds. A typical household can reduce water consumptionby 13 percent. Over 10,000 residents have participated in the program to date.➤The city of Austin, Texas, has developed three major watershed-protection ordinancesto address urban runoff pollution of local waterways. Included in the ordinances aremeasures limiting impervious surfaces, encouraging buffer zones, limiting disturbancesof natural streams, implementing erosion controls, and promoting construction ofs e dimentation and filtration basins. Integrated pest management plans that reduceoutdoor chemical use are specifically required for projects in areas covered by thecity’s watershed ordinances, restrictive covenants, or zoning variances. Additionalo r d inances mandate protection of trees and natural areas, monitoring of water quality,and retrofits of pollution controls in areas identified as polluting.➤In another sustainable move, Austin has set a goal of reducing water consumption inmunicipal buildings by 30 percent. The city’s plumbing codes require efficient fixtures,and suggest conservation practices for cooling towers, Xeriscape practices for landscapes,and use of rainwater, reclaimed-water, and graywater systems. Staff reco m m e n d