Triple Bottom Line Stormwater Management for Development Projects

As designers, engineers, and regulators, we all play a role in environmental stewardship. Today's stormwater management systems face growing challenges. Whether private or public, systems need to process more runoff than ever before. Thus, we must look to new and innovative ideas. This is where the idea of a “triple bottom line” comes into play. Stormwater management can be much more than a cost headache and a nuisance.

Therefore, designers are responsible to do more than maximizing real estate. We can design cost-effective solutions that provide environmental benefits and improve the community. These designs incorporate decentralized green infrastructure techniques. By incorporating a decentralized approach, stormwater designs can achieve a hybrid functionality that combines the benefits of green and gray stormwater management. This combination results in benefits ranging from runoff, noise, and air pollution reduction to creating new habitats, increasing recreation, and investing in social capital. This combination of benefits ultimately builds to achieve an increased sense of community that improvement in improved mental and physical health, and overall well-being for the individuals in the area.

The presentation looks at the theory of the triple bottom line when based on stormwater management. From the concept to the techniques, participants will gain a holistic view of stormwater management. The presentation includes a look at key practices including permeable surfaces, vegetated filters, soil media, tree cells, and space-efficient subsurface storage. From reducing the footprint to improving aesthetics, these technologies are a vital piece to the larger puzzle. Through their joint implementation, projects can achieve the "triple bottom line".