Stormwater harvesting: A sustainable idea
A Sustainable Idea that Truly Holds Water: Orange County Public Works’ Successful Stormwater Harvesting Project
When Orange County was asked to take part in a stormwater harvesting demonstration project, it readily agreed. Stormwater harvesting involves collecting, storing and treating of stormwater, that can then be used as recycled water. The goal of the project was to demonstrate the volume reduction of potable or drinking water and water quality benefit of the stormwater system.
Having stormwater of sufficient quality for reuse applications is important, and from an environmental standpoint, it reduces the amount of pollutants that leave the site and eases pressure on the entire stormwater system. It also means that with just a little more treatment, the stormwater can be used for washing clothes and flushing toilets. For residents, this reduces potable or drinking water demand.
“The ultimate goal is to prevent stormwater from going to waste,” asserted Chris Bogdan, president of Environmental Conservations Solutions Florida. “There are several benefits to being able to use stormwater instead of having to use potable water, including for sewer-cleaning or spray trucks, equipment washing and tower water cooling.”
An underground stormwater harvesting and exfiltration system (Pipe-R Reservoir System) was installed at Orange County Public Works. Stormwater runoff was collected from the building roof and stored in a reservoir to use in the County’s spray trucks instead of potable water. A real-time, cloud-based intelligent setup was used to actively monitor and manage the system for approximately 12 months.
After approximately a year of monitoring, the team realized positive results. Specifically, the system was able to prevent nearly all stormwater runoff (150,000 gallons) from leaving the site, significantly increase groundwater recharge (130,000 gallons), and off-set potable water usage for the County (7,000 gallons).
Additionally, the team collected water quality samples from three locations within the system, and the overall water quality was good and of acceptable quality to be used for the intended harvesting application.
