Infiltration over limestone 1

[LHA]

Fellow Geniuses:

I am soon going to attend a Regional Stormwater Management Manual Focus Groups in PA, USA. Our purpose is to help fine-tune the state Stormwater Management Manual to ensure that needs unique to each region is addressed.

I live in southcentral PA, and limestone and dolomite are very prevalent.

I want to ensure there is some guidance in the final document to assist designers in infiltration BMP in areas underlain with highly soluble bedrock.

Thank you in advance.


Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve

 

[sam74]

It sounds like your geology is similar what is here in East Tennessee. Our city government's local bmp manual is pretty good compared to others I have seen including TDEC. Here is a link to the section on Infiltration Systems.

http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/engineering/bmp_manual/ST-03.pdf

They don't give a great deal of guidance except to mention a minimum bedrock depth and to discourage the use of around possible sinkholes. Maybe you might have some luck researching the associated references.

I know we have done stormwater injection wells at sinkholes with state approval (TDEC) but that isn't really considered a BMP and an oil/water separator is usually required.

 

[LHA]

Thanks sam. Not much more in here than in PA's draft manual, but yours is a little more specific on design requirements and O&M.

Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve

 

[CivelRocks]

There exist a "Best Management Practice Manual & Infiltration Feasibility Report: Infiltration of Stormwater in Areas Underlain by Carbonate Bedrock within the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed". This "manual" was prepared for the Lehigh Valley Planning commission by the Cahill Accociates and USFilter. The manual discussed BMPs for limestone stormwater infiltration. I liked it but it appears the methods can be costly.

I am currently helping out with a job in the Mechanicsberg area which has a great deal of Limestone. Personally I have seen that it is not cost effective in any way to infiltrate into limestone. But I am a newbie just out of college.

http://www.thcahill.com/pub.html

I think you have to contact them for this info.

 

[LHA]

Civel:
I have that manual, and will reference it in my review.

BTW, you can get the manual directly from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, about $25 for bound copy and CD.

Small world, what firm do you work for? I'm with Buchart-Horn, in Hershey.


Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve

 

[CivelRocks]

Iha,

I work for a company called Regency Centers. We are a developer. My office is right on the Philly border in Bala Cynwyd.

 

[LHA]

Smaller world...I used to work for company called Light-Heigel. They have offices in Blue Bell and Warrington.

Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve