What is Green Infrastructure?
At the local scale, green infrastructure is an approach to managing stormwater by infiltrating it in the ground where it is generated using vegetation or porous surfaces, or by capturing it for later reuse.
What are the benefits of green infrastructure?
There are many benefits of green infrastructure, and they can generally be categorized into three major objectives: improved stormwater management, reduced costs, and enhanced individual and community well-being.
Green infrastructure practices can improve stormwater management by:
• Reducing stormwater volume
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Reducing impervious cover
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Decreasing and delaying peak discharge
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Preventing pollution
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Recharging groundwater
Green infrastructure practices can reduce costs by:
• Reducing energy needs
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Reducing potable water demand
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Reducing maintenance costs
Types of green infrastructure:
Infiltration systems
• Bioretention cell or rain garden
• Planter, tree box and tree pit
• Swale
• Permeable pavement
Green roofs
Rainwater harvesting
Downspout disconnection
Tree planting
Above information obtained from Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS1197. For more on green infrustructure from Rutgers CLICK HERE .
More information about rain gardens
To learn more about rain gardens, including why they are important, how they work, their benefits and how to construct a rain garden on your property click here: Rutgers Rain Garden Manual
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West Orange green Infrustructure feasibilty study
In 2013 the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) began a new initiative to assist the 48 municipalities across the five counties served by the PVSC with managing flooding and eliminating combined sewer overflows. PVSC is dedicated to leading efforts throughout the PVSC Sewerage District by using green infrastructure to intercept stormwater runoff, reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs), manage existing water infrastructure, and minimize frequent flooding events. To help with this effort, PVSC has entered into a partnership with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program. CLICK HERE to view the report.
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