Research Highlights

People-Power Research: Ideas for Earth Day

Research Highlights presents many innovative National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) research projects that directly involve homeowners and other stakeholders in real-world applications. In connection with Earth Day 2009, we offer a sampling of these technologies to illustrate how individuals and communities can benefit from their application. 

Stormwater Runoff

Storm water runoff is a perennial problem for heavily urbanized areas. When surplus storm water sweeps over impervious surfaces, instead of filtering naturally into the ground, it damages landscapes and carries pollutants directly into nearby streams and even into entire watersheds.  Researchers have shown that rooftops and driveways alone make up 50-72 percent of total impervious surfaces in residential neighborhoods. Heavy rainwater pouring off these surfaces may contain lawn chemicals, animal wastes, trace metals from vehicles, and other pollutants. Here are a few NRMRL research projects designed to enhance nature’s own recycling and filtration systems through community participation.  

• Rain Barrels: Rain barrels or cisterns are familiar techniques, with scientifically demonstrated effectiveness, that allow homeowners to capture storm water runoff and permit its slow infiltration into ground surfaces. Stored rainwater can also be recycled for watering lawns and gardens, and trees during dry spells. Rain barrels are inexpensive, easy to install and to maintain, and in spite of their simplicity, can have a significant impact on both water quality and quantity. More information on creating a rain barrel system.

• Rain Gardens: Rain gardens are planted depressions, often at low points in the landscape, designed to capture rainwater runoff and release it slowly to the subsoil, eventually contributing to groundwater recharge. Native plants are best for rain gardens because they rarely require fertilizer and are tolerant of local climate and soils. Wildflowers, sedges, ferns, shrubs and small trees are ideal for rain gardens. NRMRL researchers continue to study the ability of rain gardens to remove other pollutants besides the heavy metals and phosphorus which they are now known to remove. More planting suggestions.

• Swales: Swales are engineered ditches of varying lengths designed to provide green, low-cost drainage options, typically along property boundaries that have a natural grade. NRMRL test swales are about 150 feet long and several feet wide, with a 1-to-5 percent grade. Since swales provide stable routing for heavy rainfall runoff, some communities are requiring developers to incorporate swales into new residential construction as a more eco-friendly alternative to extensive curbs and gutter installations. More information about swales design and location.

• Green Roofs: Green roofs are vegetative covers applied to building roofs to slow or totally absorb rainfall runoff during storms. The goal is to replace the absorptive capacity of the land on which the building stands.  Plantings of about 4-6 inches deep are applied over waterproof roofs of wood, metal or concrete. Plant size and selection depend on local climate and depth of the growing medium. Early research on this increasingly popular technology indicates that rainfalls of up to one inch can be completely absorbed by green-roof plantings. They are also helpful in reducing roof-top temperatures and, thus, energy costs.  For an interesting discussion of green roof history and advantages. 

• Porous Pavements: Another approach to rainfall runoff is to make urban surfaces more permeable.  Porous pavements that reduce runoff and filter some pollutants are especially attractive to developers because of their potential to reduce the need for storm sewers, curbings, retention ponds and other controls to meet runoff regulations for new construction. Pervious concrete mixes water and cement to a thick paste that coats aggregate particles without sand.  This mixture drains about five gallons per square foot per minute, allowing rainwater to seep slowly into the ground.  Porous asphalt has a similar structure. Both types are laid over gravels that act as a storage reservoir.  Interlocking concrete paving stone, for low-impact areas, is made of standard concrete pavers backfilled with crushed stones to allow runoff to infiltrate. Ongoing NRMRL testing for high-traffic areas like parking lots is analyzing runoff quality and quantity while evaluating the use of permeable textile filters underlying the stone layers.  Try this Research Highlights web page for more information. 

Brownfields

Brownfields—so named to distinguish them from suburban greenfields—are abandoned community properties whose redevelopment may be hampered by the presence of hazardous substances, hidden legal costs and other barriers. To help individuals and communities effectively transform brownfields into attractive and viable properties, NRMRL researchers developed an interactive decision tool called SMARTe.  This free internet-based program allows users to input local information in order to analyze problems of land use, ecological risk, financing, sustainability and other issues. SMARTe is used worldwide and is available at the SMARTe web site.

The Sustainable Community

Combining many individual and community do-it-yourself ideas, the town of Stella, Missouri, a three-hour drive from Kansas City, agreed to become a living laboratory to test its sustainability over the next decade.  Determined to turn around a history of economic decay and declining quality of life, Stella adopted a NRMRL-guided master plan that attempts to meet community objectives while keeping environmental, social and economic systems intact. Environmental actions include stream and wetlands restoration, rain gardens and water recycling programs, and creation of a forested green belt around the community. Social actions center on expanded park and riverside activities, creation of streetscapes for foot traffic rather than auto traffic, and clustered housing with common green spaces.  Economic action is directed toward providing local goods, services and activities using local labor and resources, and a new town center building with library, post office, town hall, emergency shelter and café. A farmer’s market to strengthen ties with local farmers is another economic activity with social benefits adopted by residents. Stella’s story is online.
 
Earth Day is an excellent time to review these cooperative approaches, at both the homeowner and the community level, to understand the human potential for enhancing nature’s own restorative systems to create a more attractive and sustainable urban environment.

Contact

Jane Ice, NRMRL Office of Public Affairs (513) 569-7311

Hot off the Presses—NRMRL Publications

Journals

Geron, C. D. (2009)  “Carbonaceous aerosol over a Pinus taeda forest in Central North Carolina, USA.”  Atmospheric Environment. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 43(4):959-969.

Hagler, G.,  R. W. Baldauf, E. D. Thoma, T. Long, R. Snow, J. Kinsey, L. Oudejans, and B. K. Gullett.  (2009)  “Ultrafine particles near a major roadway in Raleigh, North Carolina: downwind attenuation and correlation with traffic-related pollutants.” Atmospheric Environment. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 43(6):1229-1234. 

Kaplan, P. O., J. Decarolis, and S. Thornloe.  (2009)  “Is It Better to Burn or Bury Waste for Clean Electricity Generation?”  Environmental Science & Technology. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 43(6):1711-1717.

Rastogi, A., S. R. Al-Abed, and D. D. Dionysiou.  (2009)  “Effect Of Inorganic, Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Chelating Agents on Fe(II) Mediated Advanced Oxidation of Chlorophenols.” Water Research. IWA Publishing, London, Uk, 43(3):684-694.

US EPA Published Reports

US EPA  (2009)  Research Triangle Institute. “Test/QA Plan for Mold-Resistant Gypsum Board Testing.” EPA/600/R-08/122.

US EPA  (2009) Sikdar, S. K. and D. J. Murray. “Final Report of NATO/SPS Pilot Study on Clean Products and Processes (Phase I and II).” EPA/600/R-09/018.

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