Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
The City of Vancouver is leading the way in constructing Green Rainwater Infrastructure (GRI) in Vancouver as a means of transforming how we view rainwater. GRI uses a suite of technologies such as bioswales, rainwater tree trenches and infiltration trenches that help mimic the natural hydrological cycle by capturing and treating rainfall runoff close it where it lands and diverting large amounts of water from the sewer system. The primary objective of GRI systems is to retain rainwater runoff from hard surfaces, and return that water to groundwater recharge or evapotranspiration instead. The Rain City Strategy has set an ambitious target of retaining 48 mm of rainfall runoff over a 24-hour period. We monitored the performance of 13 GRI assets at 6 locations, consisting of bioswales, infiltration trenches and rainwater tree trenches. This presentation will show the results of this monitoring program and if the GRI performance objectives are being met. Through monitoring soil moisture, water level and flow, we evaluated the hydrologic performance and the ability of GRI assets to maintain plant health. We present the lessons learned from performance monitoring and how this type of monitoring informs design and future maintenance.
Session Title
Green Infrastructure
Conference Track
SSE10: Contaminants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-83
Start Date
26-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Rainwater--British Columbia--Vancouver; Water harvesting--British Columbia--Vancouver; Water conservation--British Columbia--Vancouver
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Vancouver (B.C.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Green rainwater infrastructure in the real world: City of Vancouver performance results
The City of Vancouver is leading the way in constructing Green Rainwater Infrastructure (GRI) in Vancouver as a means of transforming how we view rainwater. GRI uses a suite of technologies such as bioswales, rainwater tree trenches and infiltration trenches that help mimic the natural hydrological cycle by capturing and treating rainfall runoff close it where it lands and diverting large amounts of water from the sewer system. The primary objective of GRI systems is to retain rainwater runoff from hard surfaces, and return that water to groundwater recharge or evapotranspiration instead. The Rain City Strategy has set an ambitious target of retaining 48 mm of rainfall runoff over a 24-hour period. We monitored the performance of 13 GRI assets at 6 locations, consisting of bioswales, infiltration trenches and rainwater tree trenches. This presentation will show the results of this monitoring program and if the GRI performance objectives are being met. Through monitoring soil moisture, water level and flow, we evaluated the hydrologic performance and the ability of GRI assets to maintain plant health. We present the lessons learned from performance monitoring and how this type of monitoring informs design and future maintenance.
