Natural processes are implemented in green infrastructure concept to manage storm water in the same manner as is done by nature. The natural process of drainage is used in the green infrastructure, the one which was used, before the land was tampered with for development.
Why green infrastructure?
With the development of structures and buildings in a habitable area, the systems occurring naturally to handle storm water have been greatly disturbed. Roads were built, buildings came up and the soil was compacted by equipments used in construction. A result of these activities was that the amount and extent of soil that could allow storm water to drain was greatly reduced. Only about 2-3 percent of rain that fell on a particular area flowed in the surface area.
Since less amount of the rain water is absorbed by the soil many other problems has raised. The most important of all is the erosion which provides threat to the stream banks and the foundations of the buildings. However these kinds of the problems are saved by process of costly shoring. Problems like accumulation of accumulation of water on the electricity workings of the buildings and flooding of the roads have also come up.
Green Infrastructure concept has come into action to counter all these problems. Green infrastructure found its birth in USA, in mid nineties, to take care of the increasing problems of how to tackle storm water. The biggest source of water pollution in USA is the storm water or non-point source water.
The method adopted some 50 years back was to rapidly collect from water and take it to a distant place by a collection system. Today, this technology has been found obsolete and green infrastructure has taken its place.
Green infrastructure elements
The Green Infrastructures uses vegetation to manage storm water. The source of storm water is also scrutinized. The two elements is green infrastructure are ---downspout extensions and Rain gardens and bioswales.
The greatest source of storm water is rain falling on rooftops. Many rooftops presently have a storm water collection system with downspouts and gutters. However, in some cases, the downspouts connect to pipes that surface on a downgrade and storm water drains into adjacent properties. In some other cases, the collected storm water drains onto road ways and driveways.
But with the downspout system the collected rainwater is drained onto the nearest rain garden. It is the simplest and the cost effective way to deal with rainwater.
Rain-gardens and bioswales are placed lower in terms of height than the areas around them. The soil is treated in such a way that it allows the rain water to seep though many layers of both soil gravel. The rain-garden or bioswales captures rain water and then filters it thus reducing storm water running away and pollution.
These rain -gardens and bioswales are located closed to the structure that produces storm water . For vegetation, usually, native plants are used. The vegetation in a rain garden retains the soil's permeability. These are designed to capture all of a 1 inch rainfall.
A combination of far sightedness, foresight, combined efforts, long term planning are the Green infrastructure projects. This has been established as less expensive than conventional management of storm water. Green infrastructure is not just management of storm water, but lots more. It is the restoring the land development to a more natural state.
Why green infrastructure?
With the development of structures and buildings in a habitable area, the systems occurring naturally to handle storm water have been greatly disturbed. Roads were built, buildings came up and the soil was compacted by equipments used in construction. A result of these activities was that the amount and extent of soil that could allow storm water to drain was greatly reduced. Only about 2-3 percent of rain that fell on a particular area flowed in the surface area.
Since less amount of the rain water is absorbed by the soil many other problems has raised. The most important of all is the erosion which provides threat to the stream banks and the foundations of the buildings. However these kinds of the problems are saved by process of costly shoring. Problems like accumulation of accumulation of water on the electricity workings of the buildings and flooding of the roads have also come up.
Green Infrastructure concept has come into action to counter all these problems. Green infrastructure found its birth in USA, in mid nineties, to take care of the increasing problems of how to tackle storm water. The biggest source of water pollution in USA is the storm water or non-point source water.
The method adopted some 50 years back was to rapidly collect from water and take it to a distant place by a collection system. Today, this technology has been found obsolete and green infrastructure has taken its place.
Green infrastructure elements
The Green Infrastructures uses vegetation to manage storm water. The source of storm water is also scrutinized. The two elements is green infrastructure are ---downspout extensions and Rain gardens and bioswales.
The greatest source of storm water is rain falling on rooftops. Many rooftops presently have a storm water collection system with downspouts and gutters. However, in some cases, the downspouts connect to pipes that surface on a downgrade and storm water drains into adjacent properties. In some other cases, the collected storm water drains onto road ways and driveways.
But with the downspout system the collected rainwater is drained onto the nearest rain garden. It is the simplest and the cost effective way to deal with rainwater.
Rain-gardens and bioswales are placed lower in terms of height than the areas around them. The soil is treated in such a way that it allows the rain water to seep though many layers of both soil gravel. The rain-garden or bioswales captures rain water and then filters it thus reducing storm water running away and pollution.
These rain -gardens and bioswales are located closed to the structure that produces storm water . For vegetation, usually, native plants are used. The vegetation in a rain garden retains the soil's permeability. These are designed to capture all of a 1 inch rainfall.
A combination of far sightedness, foresight, combined efforts, long term planning are the Green infrastructure projects. This has been established as less expensive than conventional management of storm water. Green infrastructure is not just management of storm water, but lots more. It is the restoring the land development to a more natural state.
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