Page 19 - May June 2016 Vol 34 No1
P. 19
and institute the new green infrastructure or retrofitting them for extended water Even trees and existing detention ponds
requirements. These techniques have been quality benefits; and Water Quality Pro- could get credit.
used successfully for many years in other gram staff will reach out to homeown- When the new regulations went into
parts of the United States, and the City of ers and/or homeowners’ associations, effect in 2014, the City developed a new
Nashville has installed over 200 of them, encouraging them to engage in future and innovative credit and incentive
on a voluntary basis, for a few years. Even routine maintenance. program, which was based on the extent
the National Homebuilders Association • RainSmart – The City has initiated a that a new, or redeveloped, site mimics the
has lauded the techniques for the econom- residential rebate program on education required natural functioning landscape.
ic and other benefits. about the installation of rain barrels and The targeted practices are bioretention
raingardens, shallow depressions/land- (engineered rain gardens), porous/perme-
Innovation scape features that reduce stormwater able pavement, green roofs, grassy swales
runoff. Homeowners agree to long-term or ditches, and storage and reuse.
The City of Chattanooga has made giant maintenance. A Qualified Landscaper If new developments cannot meet the
steps in innovative project development training class to educate private compa- City’s requirements of treating the first inch
in the last few years. Not the least of these nies on the RainSmart program require- of rainfall, there are Credits and Incentives
was being recognized as a Silver Program ments was held. The City Water Quality to aid in meeting the standards: 1) paying
Award winner from the Water Environ- Program staff, working with willing an in-lieu of fee so the City can develop
ment Federation for its National Munici- homeowners, have installed three rain practices targeting needed areas; 2) putting
pal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure gardens and conducted two workshops, money into off-site development, and 3)
Awards program. to date. Coupons: if the owner lacks the required
• Credits and Incentives – In 2009, the infiltration volume on site, he/she can buy
New efforts for Chattanooga’s Water City instituted a Credit and Incentive coupons in the amount of the water quality
Quality Program: package that would reduce water quality volume; or if the new development exceeds
• SWEEP (Storm Water Enhancement & fees for non-residential properties that requirements, the owner can acquire cou-
address water quality and water quantity pons for later use or sale. These coupons
Education Pilot Program) initiative – on site, encouraging maintenance and can be sold or traded in an open market.
The City has many residential deten- retrofitting of existing practices. Any The City Public Works Water Quality
tion ponds that have been neglected; existing green infrastructure practices Program has made innovative efforts to ad-
the Water Quality Program has targeted would receive up to 75 percent reduction dress our “fires,” but no matter how far we
South Chickamauga watersheds where of their water quality fee and new retrofit advance from burning rivers, we are always
a selection criteria will be applied to the plans would receive up to 85 percent. trying to meet the needs of our customers.
residential stormwater facilities. The City
will do one-time maintenance, bringing
up the qualifying facilities to city code
View online at tnpublicworks.com 19
requirements. These techniques have been quality benefits; and Water Quality Pro- could get credit.
used successfully for many years in other gram staff will reach out to homeown- When the new regulations went into
parts of the United States, and the City of ers and/or homeowners’ associations, effect in 2014, the City developed a new
Nashville has installed over 200 of them, encouraging them to engage in future and innovative credit and incentive
on a voluntary basis, for a few years. Even routine maintenance. program, which was based on the extent
the National Homebuilders Association • RainSmart – The City has initiated a that a new, or redeveloped, site mimics the
has lauded the techniques for the econom- residential rebate program on education required natural functioning landscape.
ic and other benefits. about the installation of rain barrels and The targeted practices are bioretention
raingardens, shallow depressions/land- (engineered rain gardens), porous/perme-
Innovation scape features that reduce stormwater able pavement, green roofs, grassy swales
runoff. Homeowners agree to long-term or ditches, and storage and reuse.
The City of Chattanooga has made giant maintenance. A Qualified Landscaper If new developments cannot meet the
steps in innovative project development training class to educate private compa- City’s requirements of treating the first inch
in the last few years. Not the least of these nies on the RainSmart program require- of rainfall, there are Credits and Incentives
was being recognized as a Silver Program ments was held. The City Water Quality to aid in meeting the standards: 1) paying
Award winner from the Water Environ- Program staff, working with willing an in-lieu of fee so the City can develop
ment Federation for its National Munici- homeowners, have installed three rain practices targeting needed areas; 2) putting
pal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure gardens and conducted two workshops, money into off-site development, and 3)
Awards program. to date. Coupons: if the owner lacks the required
• Credits and Incentives – In 2009, the infiltration volume on site, he/she can buy
New efforts for Chattanooga’s Water City instituted a Credit and Incentive coupons in the amount of the water quality
Quality Program: package that would reduce water quality volume; or if the new development exceeds
• SWEEP (Storm Water Enhancement & fees for non-residential properties that requirements, the owner can acquire cou-
address water quality and water quantity pons for later use or sale. These coupons
Education Pilot Program) initiative – on site, encouraging maintenance and can be sold or traded in an open market.
The City has many residential deten- retrofitting of existing practices. Any The City Public Works Water Quality
tion ponds that have been neglected; existing green infrastructure practices Program has made innovative efforts to ad-
the Water Quality Program has targeted would receive up to 75 percent reduction dress our “fires,” but no matter how far we
South Chickamauga watersheds where of their water quality fee and new retrofit advance from burning rivers, we are always
a selection criteria will be applied to the plans would receive up to 85 percent. trying to meet the needs of our customers.
residential stormwater facilities. The City
will do one-time maintenance, bringing
up the qualifying facilities to city code
View online at tnpublicworks.com 19
