January 30, 2024
Green Infrastructure: A Sustainable Response to Stormwater Management
Low-Impact Development and Green Infrastructure
In recent years the concept of Low-Impact Development (LID), coupled with the use of green infrastructure, has emerged as an effective approach to tackle the pressing issue of surface water pollution.
LID is a design strategy aimed at mimicking the natural water cycle that gets disrupted by urban development. As our cities and towns expand with new buildings, roads, and airport runways, it’s vital to mitigate the impact that those newly impervious surfaces can have on the natural ecosystem.
LID employs green infrastructure systems, such as green roofs, vegetated swales, and biofilters, designed to reduce runoff and improve water quality by removing target pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS), nutrients and hydrocarbons.
How BioPod delivers on green infrastructure goals
One such biofilter is Oldcastle Infrastructure’s BioPod™. Verified as a leading green infrastructure technology by NJCAT and used to satisfy urban sustainability goals and pollutant removal regulations, this biofilter is a proven LID solution, designed to remove a variety of pollutants including large solids, finer sediments, nutrients from fertilizers and metals from vehicle brake pads.
What makes BioPod stand out is its ability to support different types of trees and shrubs, thereby enabling the re-establishment of natural environments within urban settings, while simultaneously filtering stormwater runoff.
The BioPod’s unique advantages include its rapid deployment and compact footprint: as a nationwide stormwater solutions provider, Oldcastle Infrastructure produces BioPod systems at locations right across the country, significantly reducing lead times in comparison to other products.
The core of the BioPod is the StormMix, an engineered media optimized for high flow rates, which lessens the area needed for effective stormwater management.
One notable implementation of BioPod was at Medford Airport in Oregon, where its application reduced the land required for stormwater management by an impressive 70% when compared to a traditional bioswale.
For property owners, design engineers and construction contractors, adopting green LID solutions like the BioPod doesn’t mean compromising on project timelines or efficiency. Oldcastle Infrastructure is at the forefront of redefining construction norms, championing the swift and cost-effective production of stormwater management systems that not only comply with sustainable construction practices but actively protect our natural water resources.
The BioPod, with its blend of environmental sensitivity and practical utility, is indicative of the forward-thinking solutions necessary to safeguard our water resources for future generations. Its success in various projects, as at Medford Airport, serves as a testament to its efficacy and adaptability.
As we continue to explore and innovate in the realm of stormwater management, green infrastructure solutions will help pave the way for a more sustainable and harmonious coexistence with our natural world.
Next
- Visit the BioPod product page
- Read about how BioPod helped deliver sustainable biofiltration for a new commercial development
- Sign up for our Online Design Tool to design advanced biofiltration systems quickly and easily online
