Green Infrastructure in the City of Toledo

January 2015

Angola Road Storm Sewer Improvement

Location: Angola RoadAngola Road from Reynolds Road to Wenz Road

Description:This project includes the installation of approximately 7,678 feet of storm sewer pipe and bio-swales

Green Infrastructure ComponentsMost bio-swales are placed near catch basins so under drains can be connected to them and the catch basins can act as an overflow aid to the bio-swale design.The bio-swales have 9 different types of plants that provide the function that bio-swales need and also improve the look of the right-of-way. The plants selected are hardy enough to withstand large amounts of water and long dry periods.

Angola Road Storm Sewer Improvement

Angola Road Storm Sewer Improvement

Benefits

Reduces the amount of water entering the drainage systemReduced size of piped system

Cost ComparisonPipe vs. Bio-Swale

Original pipe sizes specified for design:60” RCP (3801.2 L.F.) $862,872.4048” RCP (943.7 L.F.) $116,075.10 Total $978,947.50

Pipe size reduction with use of Bio-swales:36” RCP (3801.2 L.F.) $250,458.8030” RCP (943.7 L.F.) $ 52,675.00 Total $303,133.80

Total cost of Bio-swale system employed: $215,482.42Cost of project with reduced pipe sizes and bio-swales: $518,616.22Difference of construction cost using bio-swale design: $460,331.2850% difference in construction cost was realized by using a bio-swale system

Challenges

Contractor fulfilling the maintenance that is requiredOngoing maintenance

Conrad and Hartwell Drainage Improvement

Location: Conrad Avenue and Hartwell Avenue

Conrad Avenue and Hartwell Avenue between Darrow and Kopernik

Description:Addressed nuisance storm water in a dense residential neighborhoodUncurbed road now drains to bio retention where it is filtered on its way to an under drain

Existing Conditions

Ponding waterNo storm system in place

Dense Residential Neighborhood Design worked around existing conditionsFrontage is to small for a rain gardenThe under drain was routed around the drip line of this tree

To prevent severing its rootsTo avoid root clogging of under drain

Under DrainNo Geotextile was usedSmall angular rock was used as the filtering layer between the native soil and the under drainThe entire 24” wide trench was filled with the self filtering rock

Final Solution

Excavated excess soil to lower the lawn areaInstall infiltration soil, under drains, and plantings

FilteringThe light brown soil (shown clinging to the pulled up crab grass roots) is a soil mix: 70% sand for infiltration and 30% compost for plants needsThe darker “mud” on top of the light brown soil is what is being filtered out from the runoffFiltered water makes its way to a perforated under drain and exits the neighborhood without adding the burden of additional peak-flow to existing storm infrastructure

Before and After

Before

After

Benefits

Less puddles and mud in street side parking areaLess ice on sidewalks and aprons Filtering of storm water

Challenges

Acceptance by residentsOngoing maintenance

Dexter Alley

Problem: The 110-year-old brick sanitary sewer was collapsing. Existing alley was typical inverted crown design

Dexter Alley

Problem: Storm catch basins were connected to sanitary sewer

Needs:A long history of sewer repairs necessitated full replacement of the sanitary sewerStorm catch basins draining to the sanitary sewer called for the sewers to be separated

Limitations:Narrow right-of-way and deep sewer meant that full width pavement replacement was requiredThe garages were built so close to the alley that the existing slope had to be maintained to insure positive drainageThe alley sloped to the east and the storm sewer in that location was too small to handle all of the storm drainage

The SolutionA presentation by the Ohio Concrete Association to the City of Toledo in 2008 focused on pervious pavement and mentioned Chicago’s “Green Alley” ProgramDiscussions with Chicago’s DOT and other engineers who had experience with pervious concrete helped to finalize a workable designComputer software provided by Ohio Concrete Association used to size drainage bed below pervious concrete

Construction

3/30/10 – Constructing drainage bed before concrete

is placed.

Construction

4/7/10 – Pervious concrete poured in center alley. Contractor was Smith Paving (Norwalk, Ohio) and

mix came from Nissen’s Concrete.

It Really Works!

Lessons Learned

Contractor should be trained and certified in placement of pervious pavementTemperature and accessibility are factorsMaintenance

Other Alleys Completed in City of ToledoAs part of the Wheeling-New York TWI project, pervious concrete were used in 8 alley segments in an area bounded by Albany, Ontario, Pontiac, and Erie

“Greenhouse Row”Green Infrastructure Retrofit of a Major

Roadway in the City of Toledo

Location: Reynolds RoadState Route 20, Reynolds Road between the Ohio Turnpike and Glendale Avenue 0.8 linear mile – all business frontageCommercial Area

Watershed: Swan CreekExisting storm sewer pipes drain directly to Swan Creek or indirectly to Swan Creek via Heilman Ditch

The ProjectMulti-year corridor improvement project with focus on improving a major entry point to the City and demonstrating alternative storm management practicesFirst of it’s kind in the areaSlowing, filtering, and reducing water runoff into Swan CreekUtilizes ornamental grasses and perennial plants selected for hardiness, salt-tolerance, and adaptability to roadside conditions Numerous alternative storm water management components

Benefits

EnvironmentEconomic DevelopmentBeautificationImproved Storm Drainage

(left most of existing Infrastructure in place)

Benefits EnvironmentGoals

Demonstrate BMPsMinimize Impervious AreasEmploy pervious or semi-pervious coverPromote Infiltration of Runoff (filter strips and sand filters)

Results Treats 145,000 gallons per “first flush” event of ¾” rain

• 388,000 sq ft of roadway, about 80% of which drains to green infrastructure

Sizing BMP’s to treat first flush will treat 90% of annual rainfall90% of average 33” of rain per year = 6 million gallons of runoff 388,000 sq ft of roadway, about 80% of which drains to green infrastructure

Before and After

Before

After

Before and After

Before

After

Features Used

Curb CutsUnder drainsPermeable PavementRemoval of excess pavement (37,500 sq ft)Engineered SoilUnder drainsSalt tolerant perennialsSurface grading Retrofit existing infrastructure

Lessons Learned

Some landscape maintenance of these areas is necessary – there are no landscapes that are maintenance free. Work can be minimized by selecting appropriate plants, planting in tight uniform masses, and selecting maintenance periods carefully.

Reynolds Road Bio-Swales Phase III

Location: Reynolds RoadReynolds Road from Brownstone Drive to Airport Highway

Description Installation of road side bio-swales each side of Swan Creek with installation of metered curb drain.

Overcoming Shallow Drainage Profiles on Reynolds Road

Installation of metered curb with gutter replacement

river rock outlet.

Shallow Bio-swales during heavy rain event.

Existing roadway runoff was directly piped into Swan Creek.New bio-swales distributes, meters, and filters water before outlet into Swan Creek.Notice water storage.Swales are dry 24 hours later..

Benefits

Reduces the amount of water entering the drainage systemMeters and distributes volume of waterFilters roadway runoff prior to outfall into Swan Creek

Challenges

Overcoming flat topographyWorking around existing utilities

The “Maumee River: Best Management Practices at Cullen Park”

Great Lakes near shore areas are a valuable ecological and economic resource. They provide drinking water for municipalities and critical habitat for numerous species of birds, fish, and other aquatic life.

These resources are under increasing pressure from a variety of sources that contribute to the degradation of water quality.

Coming Soon

Stone verge installed as first step of BMP Project.

Project will use green infrastructure in the form of vernal ponds, sand filters, porous pavement edges, and bio-retention techniques to manage storm runoff and improve water quality.