Fall 2010
Dr. Christopher Obropta, Ph.D., P.E.
obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu
Room 232 ENRS Building; 908-229-0210
TOPIC: Low Impact Development and
Sustainable Site Design
Meeting Time
Contact Info
Goals and Objectives of Course
Christopher Obropta, Ph.D., P.E.
www.water.rutgers.edu
obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu
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Concerned with maintaining the quality of our
environment
Apply physical, biological, and chemical
sciences to design solutions for
environmental issues
Stormwater Runoff
Result of Development
• Impervious Surface Additions
• Soil Compaction
• Removal of Trees and Vegetation
Infiltration, Interception, and Evapotranspiration Reduced
Overland Flow Increased
Stormwater identified as a leading source of
pollution for all waterbody types in the U.S.
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Three Basic Levels of Management
◦ Regional/Watershed Scale
◦ Community or Neighborhood Scale
◦ Site/Block Scale
Centralized Pipe and
Pond Control
Source: Bill Young
LID is an approach to land
development (or re-development)
that works with nature to manage
stormwater as close to its source
as possible. LID employs
principles such as preserving and
recreating natural landscape
features; and minimizing
effective imperviousness to
create functional and appealing
site drainage that treats
stormwater as a resource rather
than a waste product.
-USEPA
Source: Bill Young
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Conservation Design
◦ Cluster Development
◦ Open Space Preservation
Source: Pennsylvania State Department of Environmental Protection
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Infiltration Practices
◦ Permeable Pavement
◦ Disconnected Downspouts
◦ Rain Gardens, Bioretention Basins, Other Vegetated
Treatment Systems
Source: USDA NRCS
Rutgers Water Resources Rain Garden
Walnut Avenue School, Union County NJ
Collects and treats runoff from adjacent parking lot
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Runoff Storage Practices
◦ Rain Barrels and Cisterns
◦ Green Roofs
Rain Cistern
ACROS Fukuoka Building in Fukuoka, Japan
Rain Barrel
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Alternative Landscaping
◦ Native, drought-tolerant plants
◦ Reforestation
◦ Soil Amendments
Cardinal Flower
Turks-cap Lily
Blue Flag Iris
Switchgrass
Source: New Jersey Native Plant Society
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Environmental
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Pollution abatement
Protection of downstream waterbodies
Groundwater recharge
Reduced treatment costs and improved water
quality
Ancillary
◦ Reduced flooding and property damage
◦ Aesthetic value
◦ Public space/Quality of life
Encompasses green measures used in site
design for issues beyond stormwater
management
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Geothermal Energy
Solar Energy
Wind Power
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
Prepare a 10-12 page paper on a sustainable
practice. Due September 28th
Present your findings to the class in a 10-15
minute powerpoint presentation during the
week of October 4th