Site Development and Retrofit Methods to Reduce Stormwater Costs

Managing the water that falls on the land is a complex issue, and has evolved beyond just installing pipes to carry away runoff from a very small area.

In recent years, stormwater management has received renewed attention from municipalities, regulators, developers, and environmental protection advocates. The stormwater paradigm has shifted, so that communities not only view stormwater as a force of nature that requires careful management but as a resource.

Stormwater impact fees are poised to become a common vehicle for municipalities to address the cost of mitigating impacts of pollutants such as fertilizers, chemicals, oils, and pesticides on waterways due to discharge of stormwater to their stormwater systems (MS4’s). Site retrofits for existing landscapes, and Low Impact Development (LID) techniques for new development can reduce these fees and protect water quality through infiltration, filtering, storage and evaporation, and mimicking site-specific hydrology. 

Reducing impervious surfaces, replacing pipes with grassed swales, green roofs, rain gardens, trees, pervious surface alternatives, and bioretention are some of the cost effective and attractive ways to benefit the bottom line, and the environment.