Sunday, February 22, 2009

PROJECT OUTLINE

PROJECT
This analytical report will look at a site in Kamloops (still to be determined) and figure out the type of bioswale needed to remove pollutants introduced into storm water due to aging roofs, the construction and maintenance costs of the swale, and the impact the bioswale will have on the environment in comparison to a conventional storm water removal system.

METHOD
Research Strategy

Interviews
Engineering Firms
· Derek Kronebusch (Dayton & Knight Ltd.) – interested
· Scott Bilbrough (Dayton & Knight Ltd.) – possibly interested
· Ashley (Urban Systems) – no reply
Academic Resources
· Library books – TRU, Kamloops Library, Vancouver Library
· Library magazines – TRU, Kamloops Library, Vancouver Library
· Engineering journals- resources received from Derek Kronebusch
Non-Academic Resources
· Internet – last resort

A More In Depth Research Approach
1) Understand how bioswales work and what they do.

2) Research the different types of bioswales and choose the best one for my chosen site and pollutant removal.

3) Compare different types of plants, soils etc. that can be used in the bioswale. Compare hyperaccumulator plants with regularly used plants, their cost and efficiency of pollutant obsorption.

4) Read engineer's journals for design components and ideas.

5) Look at varous cities design manuals to learn the best way to design a bioswale for my site.

6) Find articles describing the types and amounts of pollutants being given off by roofs. Comparison of age vs pollutants given off.

7) Determine if a bioswale is better than using a conventional curb and gutter. Cost comparison, efficiency comparison, maintenance, life expectancy, impact on the environment.

8) Is the cost and maintenance of a bioswale in comparison to a conventional curb and gutter worth the payoff of removing the contaminants from aging roofs? How much contaminants are removed from enterng into out streams etc. by using a bioswale?

SPECIAL PROLEMS
1) What types of plants will be able to sustain life in Kamloops?

2) What types of materials can be used in addition to or in place of the materials already being used in bioswales and lattices to filter the storm water as much as possible?

3) How effective are bioswales at removing pollutants? Show comparison of successful projects in comparison to conventional storm water removal.

4) Which type of bioswale will be needed in Kamloops, dry, grass, or wet?

5) Will a bioswale create a place for mosquito to reproduce?

6) How can we prevent a place for mosquitoes to flourish?

7) Will the bioswale/lattice freeze in Kamloops?

6 comments:

  1. Here is a website that has a bunch of groundwater mapping info i think you might find usefull.

    http://204.244.79.12/mapguide2009/kamloops2/kamloops_frameset.php

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  2. Awesome, I am sure that will be very useful to me once I decide where my site is. It will allow me to determine where the polluntants from the roof will end up if not filtered out of the water. It will also give me an idea of the environment that the pollutants will impact.
    Thanks.
    I hope the book I referred to you was helpful, if you got a chance to look at it.

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  3. I just stumbled across a few books that sound like they may be of use to you. they may not be as technical or focused as you might like, but they may be worth looking at.
    here is a link to the online store:

    http://www.grannysstore.com/Do-It-Yourself/Water_Collection_Systems.htm

    and thanks for suggesting the Geobase, im finding some useful articles.

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  4. Sweet, I will take a look at those. Since you seem to be finding stuff that interests me I thought I should let your know right away that my porject is taking a slight turn. I am still doing bioswales but I will be looking into runoff from parking lot drainage. So keep and eye open for me :).

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  5. Hi Jill
    You should check out this site http://www.epa.gov/ and it got storm water treatment on it.

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  6. Thanks for the tip Patrick, found tons of stuff on it!

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