Rutgers University

Robert Flaherty, Kathleen Kang, Michael Rashkovsky, and Jericho Silang

Poster Number

C-15Developing a Small Business in Response to a Stormwater Utility for the New Jersey Meadowlands

Problem DefinitionCommercial development in the New Jersey Meadowlands District has transformed 10,000 acres of tidal wetlands into commercial landscape.1 As a result, major sections of the district are in constant distress from regular flood events which result from low elevation, excessive urbanization, and disruption of natural hydrology.

Flood events reduce business hours, halt the transportation of goods, and greatly hinder area employees. Stormwater passes through the urban landscape and carries highly concentrated pollutants into the natural bodies of water. Local residents must endure severe flooding of their homes, resulting in significant personal distress and danger to public health.2

Purpose and ObjectiveThe goal of this project is to develop a business model for consulting property owners within the stormwater utility district. Successful consultation must result in a reduction of stormwater runoff, proportionally lower stormwater utility fees, decreased pollution, and the cessation of flood events. The team selected two sites: "Carol Place" and "Grand Street" of Moonachie Township. “Carol Place” designs focus on flood control and pollutant reduction, while “Grand Street” designs focus on flood control in a tidal system.3 The Design Team operating as a small business designed stormwater management plans for these sites to demonstrate the ability to tackle the basic flooding issue, while accounting for the people, prosperity and planet in the area as well.

Conclusions 

Flood events at both sites are a result of extensive and poorly graded impervious surfaces, a lack of sufficient stormwater facilities, negligence of existing infrastucture, an absence of on-site pumping systems, and a general vulnerability to tidal surges from nearby rivers. The existing infrastructure includes catch basins, tidal gates, drainage ditches, and stormwater pipes, but for the most part these devices are broken or otherwise incapacitated.

Data & Findings Flooding is caused by clogged catch basins/tidal gates, poorly grade and mostly impervious lots, lack of pumping systems and tidal issues. The failure of existing infrastructure compounds the incapability of the area to handle even small storm events.2 Selected BMPs were designed for the New Jersey water quality storm (1.25 inches over 2-hours), which includes 90% of New Jersey's annual storm events. New Jersey's two, ten, and one-hundred year storms were considered in the design process. These figures are presented for both design sites in Table 1.

Based on these data, it is recommended that Green Roofs, Rainwater Cisterns, and Hydrodynamic Separation Systems are used at these sites. Their uses and effects are described in Figure 1 and 2.

Green roofs or vegetated roofs are exceedingly functional in mitigating stormwater runoff from roofs.

Hydrodynamic separation systems are effective in removing debris from runoff flows before they exit into a receiving body of water. It is extremely helpful in preventing drainage system failure by preventing debris build up.

Cisterns operate by capturing a predetermined volume of rooftop runoff. The collected water is usually clean, and safe for reuse in common tasks such as on-site irrigation, boiler feed water, toilet flushing etc.

Site 2 - Grand Street

Storm Event Length (hours) Rainfall (inches)

Without Cisterns With CisternsPeak Flow Time (hours)

Peak Flow Rate (cfs)

Peak Flow Time (hours)

Peak Flow Rate (cfs)

Water Quality Storm 2 1.25 1.41 0.37 0* 0*

2-year 24 3.3 12.36 0.44 15.97 0.03

10-year 24 5.1 12.36 0.68 12.6 0.54

Site 1 - Carol Place

      Without Green Roof With Green Roof

Storm Event Length (hours) Rainfall (inches)Peak Flow Time (hours)

Peak Flow Rate (cfs)

Peak Flow Time (hours)

Peak Flow Rate (cfs)

Water Quality Storm 2 1.25 1.49 9.92 3.37 0.022-year 24 3.3 12.49 12.58 17.39 0.5510-year 24 5.1 12.49 19.59 15.19 1.65

•Entire volume of roof runoff can be captured by the five 3,500 gallon cisterns

Table 1: Numerical data describing effect on green roofs and cisterns on peak flow times and rate for water quality storm, 2 and 10 year storm

References1.Proposal for P3 Award Project, EPA Grant Number: SU833552. 2006 Developing a Small Business in Response to a Stormwater Utility for the New Jersey Meadowlands.2.Obropta, CC, P Kallin, B Ravit, K Buckley, C Strickland, E Giuliano, ME Cronk. 2006. "Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study." Rutgers University: New Brunswick.3. Agnoli, Nicholas. "Hackensack Meadowlands Flood Management Plan." 04 Oct. 2005. New Jersey Meadowlands Commision. 28 Mar. 2008. http://rerc.rutgers.edu/.4. Earth Pledge. Green Roofs: Ecological Design, Construction. Schiffer Pub, 20055. Huber, W.C., Cannon, L., et. al. 2006. "BMP Modeling Concepts and Simulation." United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development.6. Contech Stormwater Solutions 2008. < http://www.contechcpi.com/stormwater/products/hydrodynamic_separation/vortsentry/73>

Proposed Phase II StrategyThe proposed design in Moonachie along with the business plan will demonstrate to the greater community that proper design of BMPs can have a positive effect on the environment and the lives of the residents in that environment. The business plan will be a demonstration project for the community to see how a Stormwater Utility will maintain and improve stormwater quality and infrastructure of the region. The utility will not be an omnipotent institution that charges the land owners in the region whatever it pleases, but the land owners will have some control over the fee from the ability to improve their property from a stormwater management prospective. This will lower their fee, but also provide incentive for land owners to improve their property on their own.

ScopeThis project will approach sustainability on three fronts, the protection of property and health (people), the protection of industry (prosperity), and the protection of wetlands (planet). Once flooding issues are addressed, the damage to property as well as the interruption of the daily transit can be erased. Thus, the quality of daily life and the prosperity of business will be augmented. The solution to flooding issues can address the environmental sensistivity of the wetland ecology as well. Water quality can be controlled and the stress of stormwater quantity and quality can be alleviated. designs.

Education of the public in regards to stormwater management issues will also spread widely. It will infrom the residents of the importance of reducing flooding, and environmental stress on their home wetlands. It is a tool through which members of the community can actively contribute to solutions by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) in accordance with the stormwater utility.

Figure 1: Described purpose of suggested BMP technology4,5,6

Figure 2: Hyrdrograph data on effects of BMPs on inflows and runoff for water quality storm, 2 and 10 year storm