Low Impact Development Manual for Michigan - OSEH - University ...

Case Study: Stormwater Capture with an
Underground Cistern
Fairmount Square, Grand Rapids, MI
All of the stormwater that falls onto Fairmount Square is handled onsite
rather than at the municipal storm sewer. This four-acre site consists of a
building, a new four-bay commercial building, and 37 town homes.
Several different LID techniques are used to manage all stormwater onsite,
including rainwater capture, porous pavement, and rain gardens. The stormwater
from the roofs of two buildings on Cherry Street in Fairmount Square
is captured in an underground cistern and used to water the formal gardens
and parking lot landscape. The cistern holds 30,000 gallons of water (up to
two weeks of rainfall) and is 10’ x 15’ x 15’9” in size. A pump inside the
cistern pumps rainwater to the formal garden area at the entrance to the
Inner City Christian Federation building. The estimated savings using this
cistern instead of standard irrigation is 1,340.3 cubic feet of water per year.
Maintenance activities and associated costs are minimal, as the cistern only
requires periodic pump maintenance, which is contracted out as needed.
Underground cistern tank
Source: Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, & Huber, Inc.
Case Study Site Considerations
Project Type Underground cistern
Estimated Total
Project Cost
Maintenance
Responsibility
Project Contact
$40,269
Contracted out as needed
Deb Sypien, Rockford Construction Company 616-285-8100
Rick Pulaski, Nederveld Inc. 616-575-5190
LID Manual for Michigan – Chapter 7 Page 148