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The vegetated strips near most parking lots (known frequently as bioswales) are typically part of a stormwater drainage system designed to reduce the risks of flooding and pollution. Ongoing bioswale maintenance for industrial properties is a must for them to function correctly. Do you have these systems on your property? Here is what you need to know.
Taking Advantage of the Benefits Bioswales Offer
Bioswales are a long-term solution for managing stormwater flow. The benefit is twofold: the vegetation in a bioswale helps stormwater runoff filter into the ground, offering natural filtration before it reaches groundwater. Bioswales also slow the flow of water to prevent erosion and subsequent flooding.
Bioswales receive stormwater that runs off from impervious surfaces and guides it along, preventing pooling and property damage. Your decision to install one or more bioswales is essential for keeping pollutants and toxins out of rivers and lakes. If you work with chemicals on your property, a bioswale can be what stands between an accidental spill and the safety of the local flora and fauna.
Following Best Practices When Designing Bioswales
There is more to a typical bioswale than meets the eye.
Construction Details
A well-designed bioswale will have a slight slope to help with directing stormwater. Be selective about the soil makeup. Sandy soil is a bad option; alkaline soils that sustain growing plants will be better. Besides keeping the plants healthy, this soil type will also work well to filter out metals from the stormwater. Remember not to compact the soil tightly. Doing so prevents the water from soaking in.
Straight or Curved
Most bioswales in industrial parking lots are straight. However, experts typically recommend a slight curvature if you want to make the installation functional and beautiful. The advantage of the curved design is that it can slow down the stormwater slightly to allow for better soil absorption. If you decide to go with the straight model instead, you can install check dams that also slow down the water.
Plant Choices
You are not looking to beautify the strip with annuals or perennials. Instead, focus on the types of plants that will slow the water flow, survive well in the local climate, and assist with filtering the stormwater. As a general rule of thumb, experts prefer native grasses with a close growth pattern. Moreover, these native plants should be able to handle periods of drought, making the bioswale a reliable component of industrial stormwater management systems designed to control runoff and reduce pollution.
Limitations
Although excellent at what they do, a bioswale is no match for water flow rates higher than five cubic feet per second. Even the addition of check dams and curvatures will not sufficiently slow down the flow to allow the bioswale to function properly.
Maintaining a Bioswale is a Critical Element of Keeping it Effective.
Maintenance is required to ensure the system stays effective whenever vegetation is involved. Even though they are not high-maintenance installations, there are some steps to take for bioswale maintenance for industrial properties.
- Trim and replace grasses and other plants you have chosen for the bioswale. Dead plants need to be replaced.
- Remove sediment that may have built up after the bioswale has been in use for a while. The sediment will build up quickly if you are near a road that uses sand during the winter months.
- Remove invasive plants with different water uptake capabilities, which could seriously diminish the effectiveness of the installation.
Of course, taking care of a bioswale means knowing when something looks off and then understanding how to fix it. For example, locating invasive plants early on and removing them can protect the integrity of the bioswale and will save you the expense of having to replant it. To ensure that it will continue to treat stormwater properly and prevent the formation of standing water, we recommend having it regularly inspected, typically twice a year.
Another reason to call in specialists for an inspection is a stronger-than-average storm with heavy rainfall. Technicians will look for anything from erosion to dead vegetation. At that time, they can also remove any sediment that has accumulated – and any debris accompanying it – as well as clean inlets and outlets.
Could your landscaping crew perform some of the maintenance? To maintain a stormwater management-targeted soil infiltration rate, it is vital to have an expert in the field inspect and maintain the bioswale simultaneously. Usually, landscaping contractors do not offer this service to their customers. It is best to speak with your landscaper to find out what services they can and cannot provide for Bioswale maintenance.
Inspecting and Maintaining a Bioswale Goes Beyond a Standard Eye-Level Assessment
Working with technicians whose expertise is in bioswale maintenance for industrial properties ensures that your stormwater management system continues to improve water quality in the local waterway for years to come. For example, some bioswales have an under-drain system. If you find that your bioswale has standing water for several days after the latest storm event, there is a good chance that the problem is below ground.
Technicians will use tools such as staff gauges to determine the water's infiltration rate. Similarly, they will monitor the in and outflow sections. The advantage of working with these experts is that they will give you an honest insight into your bioswale's current functioning without trying to upsell you.
Invite CatchAll to Handle Cleaning Your Storm Drains and Inspecting the Bioswales
We neither design nor construct bioswales. Instead, we focus on bioswale remediation and inspection, particularly as they affect your overall stormwater management system. We also provide storm drain cleaning and repair asphalt and grout when needed.
Do not leave the functioning of your stormwater system to chance. Call us today to schedule an inspection!
