When Opportunity Knocks...Will You Be Ready?

Green Roofs:

Vegetative roofs augment other natural storm water systems by removing pollutants and reducing run off.  They are designed to control run off from high-intensity storms by intercepting and retaining water until the rainfall peak has passed safely allowing for controlled conveyance of water away from the building.

Bio-Swales:

Bio-swales reduce the amount of suspended solids, phosphorus, nitrogen, metals, and hydrocarbons that gets discharged into our water ways. They consist of a swale drainage course with gently sloped sides and filled with vegetation, compost and/or riprap. The water's flow path, along with a wide and shallow ditch, is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale, which aids the trapping of pollutants and silt.

Infiltration Basins:

Properly designed infiltration basins act like wetlands where through infiltration, evaporation and transpiration the water is processed before it is discharged into the water system. Infiltration facilities store runoff until it gradually exfiltrates through the soil and eventually into the water table.  This practice has high pollutant removal efficiency and can also help recharge groundwater, thus helping to maintain low flows in stream systems.

In the near future these sustainable water filters will be mandated in most municipalities due to the reduced quality of our ground water systems and increased pollution of our water resources.  If everyone utilized these filter measures there would be no need for things like the MMSD deep tunnel system.

Hydro Labs:

Fresh water is becoming an even more precious commodity. As such, it shouldn't be wasted and what is being used needs to be recorded accurately. The Badger Meter Hydro Lab is the industry leading lab for the development of water measurement devices. It is the only one of its kind with no foreseen future labs to match its quality or purpose. Water stored in a 100,000 gallon reservoir is pumped through a series of piping to test the accuracy and durability of the Badger Meter water meters contributing to the preservation of this precious commodity.

Badger Meter is just one of over 120 water technology companies in the seven (7) county Southeast Wisconsin region. It should be noted that despite the worst economic recession in the United States in over 70 years, Badger Meter posted record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008. Ryan Connor, a water industry analyst at Boenning & Scattergood, Inc, an Investment firm in Pennsylvania stated recently that “water is becoming an increasingly scarce and valuable commodity, which positions companies that meter, price, and ultimately conserve it in a growth market.” “We think that water is increasing in value all the time and as that occurs, there is a series of companies that will benefit and Badger Meter is squarely in the middle of that.”

Waterparks:

Indoor Waterparks were a recreation venue conceived in Wisconsin as a means of providing year round recreational aquatic opportunities and creating new family oriented destinations in Wisconsin. Indoor Waterparks in particular provide exciting water-based venues for all ages. Themed resorts offer the warmth and enjoyable activities centered around pools, rides and slides. Much of the pool water is recycled and filtered, which makes good use of the commodity. Future graywater technology use by waterparks will further recycle and respect this wonderful resource the Great Lakes are known for. Waterparks come in many sizes with formulas designed to cater to hotel guests as well as weekend visitors. Pool types range from those for the very young with zero entry to splash and wave pools for the bravest of adolescents and lazy rivers for parents and grandparents.  Energy cost reduction strategies are examples of how a water council and university scientists can work together to solve real-world problems.

Spas:

Local Wisconsin hotel and condo projects are taking advantage of the soothing effects of the spa; incorporating them into their offerings for their guests. Perhaps the more sedate and adult version of a waterpark experience, the spa intends to create a relaxing atmosphere to rejuvenate through the use of water. The spa experience requires balance to create a private and comfortable environment to pamper guests and have them transported away from their everyday cares.

Graywater:

Graywater is defined in the International Plumbing Code as "wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry sinks.” Waterparks are a venue where a greater emphasis on the re-use of water may prove to be an opportunity to have a "greener" and more economical operation. The use of this discharged water as graywater for landscape irrigation for example, helps reduce wastewater volumes. Spas discharge water more frequently and such graywater approaches may be applicable to these facilities as well.

Manufacturing Facilities:

Water is just one of the elements that make a manufacturing facility hum. In order to plan an efficient manufacturing facility the designer must be in lockstep with the plant manager to understand the process and the product. Competition is fierce. Products need to be designed properly and manufactured in an efficient manner. Like any other design exercise the design team must be coordinated to meet the goals of the client; manufacturing is no exception whether it is manufacturing the meter that measures the water used or the exhaust fan that exhausts the water vapor.

Articles and Resources:

• National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas  
• Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff  
• Low-Impact Development (LID)  
• EPA Smart Growth
• Watershed Based Wetlands and Water Resource Protection  
• Economic Benefits of Runoff Controls 
• EPA ORD NRMRL Urban Watershed Management Branch, Edison, NJ 
• Management Measures for Urban Areas 
• Model Ordinances to Protect Local Resources 
• National Conference on Urban Stormwater: Enhancing Programs at the Local Level 
• Nonpoint Pointer No. 7 - Managing Urban Runoff 
• Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual 
• Techniques for Tracking, Evaluating and Reporting the Implementation of Nonpoint Source Control Measures 
• Urban Documents 

Related Links:

• Milwaukee 7 Water Council 
• Portland's Stormwater Management Manual  
• The Storm Water Managers Resource Center
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency 
• Low Impact Development Center 
• Applied Ecological Services 
• US Geological Survey 
• Hydroponic Bog Garden (Water Recycling) 
• Solar Aquatic Facility - Weston, Mass