Innovative Stormwater Management at the Neighbourhood Scale

UBC's Master of Land and Water Systems program presents an educational video on Urban Stormwater Management at the neighbourhood scale. Parking lot and road designs are covered, as well as bioswales, detention ponds, constructed wetlands and associated issues with mosquitoes.
This series is useful for developers, students, real estate agents, homeowners, municipal/regional planners, managers and engineers.
Production made possible by The Learning Centre at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

[@andreaberryman5354]

The crack idea is excellent. When I moved from the Seattle area to Spokane, I was amazed to see all kinds of urban storm water gardens compared to coastal regions. We had a huge flash flood and several businesses absorbed much of it so less runoff hit the river.

[@jade.littlefish3905]

The nicest surprise when I see my local mall here in Albany New Zealand being used as a good example of a roadside swale!

[@Tomas-ch7bh]

I am a water resources engineer from Philadelphia and I very much appreciate stressing the importance of green engineering! Great Job Jenna Fischer!

[@mustlovedogs272]

I like two types of systems the most. One you went over here and that is the wetlands approach. The other is done primarily in Australia (I have never been there but have seen the videos) and they use large comercial size soakaways using crates specifically designed for that purpose.

[@MarieChristinePicard]

Thanks for this really helpful information!

[@1992danceboy]

What an informative video!

[@katiec6732]

I liked it good overview and variety also gave examples and images which is plus. Will be watching more of your videos

[@nekomancer9157]

one good reason why this doesnt get used more often is that the older cities were built and zoned/permitted based upon horse carriages. with the advent of mass transit systems we reduced the need for crowded living spaces leaving more room for green gutters. around here there isn't room but maybe with the proliferation of underground mass transit in cities and the reduction in the need for roads to service private motorised transport we can start doing away with 2way roads and increasing the space available to footpaths thereby making it possible to build these soaks.

[@dagonyevrag1611]

nice video, great overview

[@lildavey515]

that sure sounds like Pam from the Office....

[@dylanb3957]

The biggest challenge will be getting clients to want to pay for these. They only want the minimum requirements and maximum development

[@leedza]

You just put in the building codes. You can't develop unless you create the water management provision for the development. Includes environmental surveys and permits for solutions.

[@edumgr]

Great video and great examples. Thank you! I’d love to learn about stormwater pollution control maintenance best practices and how to develop a good maintenance plan :)

[@meaww7373]

Very informative.

[@koiiinu]

superb

[@loridisler6302]

I have a stream through my yard and during heavy rains my gardens flood. After walking down stream, I noticed the stream that leads into the retention pond behind Meijer, it is filled with 20+ years of sediment. Wouldn't it be wise to have that maintained? To keep the flow moving? Appreciate any feedback.

[@texasfossilguy]

Now they have porous concrete so these impervious surfaces are a thing of the past if people want it to be. Look at the concrete theyre using in New Orleans.

[@xtusvincit5230]

But porous surfaces have a useful life of about 15 years as opposed to 50+ years. Videos like this only tell you the upside but never the downside of the solutions they are promoting. Every solution has pros and cons.

[@thrillmonkey]

Also they need to be maintained so they aren’t clogged with sediment. And the ground beneath needs to have sufficient infiltration capabilities or else you need an underdrain to connect to the storm sewer.

[@allenjohnson7686]

They say a more modern way of stopping floods but its really just going back to when there were plants to help stop floods. if all rainwater off roofs was channelled into ponds how much over a year would never enter the drains. Flooding could be a thing of the past if they just stopped covering all green spaces, they need to take the stuff up and let the water back in the ground.

[@amanforyou9493]

👌👌👌👌

[@b_uppy]

Let's start a drinking game where we take a drink every time they have landscaping but fail to use curbcuts and landscaped bioswales (or could do better): 2:32, 3:28(ugly, ugly!), 3:56, 4:08 (ugly!), 4:45 (because of the depression, the pervious pavement will fill up with sediment and fail to drain.), 5:06, 6:15, 6:21, 6:33, 6:42, 6:55, 7:01, 7:19, 7:32 (truly horrible), 8:36, (paused for now) 6:08, 11:35 looks fabulous,

[@ericzou454]

Real

[@danburch9989]

2:43 We have been told that spilling oil & gas, no matter how small, seeps into the ground water with no mention of anaerobic decomposition. Which is it?

[@jonkraft7428]

Mosquitoes were briefly mentioned. What about other wildlife that may not necessarily be desirable? What is the experience with snakes, possums, racoons, coyotes, etc. moving into areas that had previously had traditional storm water removal? Urban and suburban residents may not necessarily want to encounter such wildlife in their backyards. How are the wild animals controlled?

[@texasfossilguy]

Possums are desirable. They eat a lot of bad pests. Nature isnt undesirable. It just needs pathways to avoid humans like wildlife passages under roads. There are things people can do to try to drive off animals, but itd be better to actually create a place they want to go elsewhere nearby instead of try to displace them completely. Thats my two cents. A lot of these designs are to create these spaces.

[@fa7610]

Can I use the material of the video? and how I can find more effective materials on this case Thanks

[@mlwsprogramubc7334]

Thank you for your interest! You are welcome to share the video content, just include attribution to UBC Master of Land and Water Systems program!

[@xiansheng3018]

I want to ask if the material of the video can be used

[@mlwsprogramubc7334]

Thank you for your interest! You are welcome to share the video content, just include attribution to UBC Master of Land and Water Systems program!

[@jojojellybellyful]

PAMMM

[@b_uppy]

Using healthy soil microbes with mulch and plants to sink water looks much better than the graveled areas show in the video. 2:32 is crappy. You need diverse plantings to get soil biota to remediate. That was an intellectually dishones representation on the part of the guy talking. A lot of those were ugly and who needs that? Quit assuming these places have to be ugly. Incorporate beauty!