Roadside Raingardens for Barton Basin CSO Control

SUMMARY: Patty Buchanan with MIG|SvR showcases the engineering design process that was used to solve a combined sewer overflow (CSO) problem in West Seattle using low impact development (LID) techniques, bioretention facilities (commonly known as rain gardens) in combination with underground injection control wells (UICs) to remove stormwater from the combined sewer system and control overflows into Puget Sound. Patty describes the analysis, engineering design and construction process for identifying the LID/green infrastructure system functional requirements and design considerations that go into determining what the system should look like and choosing where to install the facilities.

BIO: Patty is a civil engineer with 16 years of experience, managing and providing design services for a wide range of projects including housing authorities, schools, municipal utilities, surface water, streetscapes and site design. Patty works with cities, counties and private owners throughout the Pacific Northwest and California to model and integrate green stormwater infrastructure, along with other low impact development measures into their design projects. Patty’s projects include the Barton Basin where she worked with an expert modeling team to develop a new method to model the bioretention facilities and UIC wells for CSO control and the Renton Housing Authority’s Kirkland Avenue Townhomes where she was able to work with the owner and city to develop a fully sustainable site and stormwater system that treats 100% of the site and right-of-way stormwater onsite and in roadside bioretention areas.

LEARN MORE: (Annotated links for extended classroom inquiry)

Combined Sewer Overflow:

http://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/wastewater/cso.aspx

http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/wastewater/cso-status.aspx

http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/wastewater/cso/about/working-together.aspx

http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/Projects/SewageOverflowPrevention/CSOReductionProjects/index.htm

Low Impact Development Techniques/Rain Gardens/Bioretention

Barton: http://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/wastewater/cso/barton-roadside-gardens.aspx

http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/Projects/GreenStormwaterInfrastructure/RainWise/index.htm

http://www.sustainableseattle.org/programs/stormwaterdepave/rain-gardens/

Handbook: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1310027.pdf

http://www.12000raingardens.org/