Quote:
Originally Posted by 70SATMan
You would be surprised that personal consumption is less of a problem than the development itself. Hardscape creates runoff of water that would ordinarily supply the aquifers instead of being shunted into drains that end up in the ocean.
The aquifers themselves are not given the chance to recharge.
Developers are demanding increased footprint %s from the planning commission to maximize profits from developed land. My county should be focusing on decreasing hardscape and offering incentives for the replacement of concrete/asphalt with permeable solutions. I've done all that I can do on a personal level. Removed our asphalt drive and replaced it with paving bricks/sand, removed a concrete patio and replaced it with flag stone, created an off drive parking area with concrete block on side planted with grasses.
Hard to enlighten the people that just want to concrete over everything.
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You are absolutely correct on this. In fact I just took an exam (part of my state licensing) that deals with exactly these kinds of site planning issues a couple of weeks ago. Current-day (sustainable-design) philosophy encourages the use of swales, detention ponds and landscape areas that allow water to (1) be filtered by plant material prior to infiltration and (2) to re-enter the aquafer system directly. French drains, etc. are also encouraged versus traditional catch basins/storm drains running to (usually concrete-lined) drainage channels.
Good job on the update on your own land/property!
It gets more complicated depending on soil conditions. If you have very fine, clay-like soils, they can expand/contract wildly depending on moisture content. As such, you have to know what the best approach is from a development standpoint prior to doing anything. The traditional "el cheapo" developer solution is always to hardscape everything and plug in storm drains where they have to. NOT always the best, I agree 100%!