Page 14 - TN Public Works May-June Vol. 32 No.1

Transitioning from page 13

or green? For one reason, it’s easier to
remember; two, the terms are pretty
descriptive of the practice; and three, it’s
easier to remember. Three irrefutable
reasons! The excitement level within the
city’s departments and partner agencies
is building. Staff and administration are
fine-tuning draft ordinances, installation
guidelines and design examples. The State
of Tennessee has mandated these changes.
Whether you are whole-heartedly for
it, summarily against it, or just unsure,
Chattanooga’s mandated December 1,
2014 green infrastructure implementation
deadline, that once seemed so far away, is
now, looming just over the horizon.
The application of grey infrastructure
will not disappear. Its wholesale applica-
tion should and will. Existing grey storm-
water infrastructure systems such as pipe,
above ground detention and armored
swales served their purpose and will con-
tinue to do so to a lesser extent. Convey-
ance pipes collected erosive and polluted
urban stormwater runoff and then safely
conveyed it to a central stormwater deten-
tion pond. Ponds metered out the flood
wave in a controlled, yet elongated and

14 TPW May/June 2014