The Stormwater Report

Although downtown Houston, Texas, sits only about 15 m (50 ft) above sea level, enough room exists underground to build a massive tunnel system for stormwater conveyance, according to the preliminary results of a Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) inquiry. The conveyance system would span about 16 km (10 mi) and consist of tunnels […]

Since the program launched in 2016, more than 500 U.S. professionals have now received credentials as graduates of the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP). NGICP provides entry-level workers with the skills to construct, inspect, and maintain green stormwater infrastructure according to international best-practice standards. The program, developed by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, […]

In coastal Hampton, Va., city planners are considering an innovative financing strategy to support new green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects. This aims to turn the tide against the severe weather and rising sea levels that have led to increased flooding. The city hopes that by issuing “environmental impact bonds” (EIBs) to investors who seek financial, […]

To help lower monthly stormwater fees and the capacity for runoff generation at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C., the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington (D.C.) has partnered with the D.C./Maryland chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC; Bethesda, Md.) to build more than $1.5 million of green stormwater infrastructure on the property. In 2013, DC […]

Last October, DC Water (Washington, D.C.) wrapped up construction on the First Street Tunnel, an 822-m-long (2700-ft-long), 7-m-wide (23-ft-wide) stormwater pipe located approximately 10 stories beneath Bloomingdale, one of the District’s most historically flood-prone neighborhoods. In July, the First Street Tunnel passed its biggest real-world test to date. When a line of severe storms hit […]

The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) on June 30 awarded certifications to 46 additional individuals. This latest class of certificants brings the total number of credentialed green infrastructure workers recognized by the program to 108. NGICP is the first U.S.-wide initiative to build and recognize a workforce skilled in sustainable construction. The Water Environment […]