Courtesy Photo | Workers dig a bioretention pond on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va., to help...... read more read more
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RICHMOND, Va. -- Defense Logistics Agency Installation Support officials at Richmond, Va., have built six “bioretention” units on Defense Supply Center Richmond, home of DLA Aviation.
The units are designed to reduce the amount of contaminants washing through local waterways and into the James River and the Chesapeake Bay, Jimmy Parrish, DLA Installation Support environmental branch chief in Richmond, said.
Soils in the Richmond area contain a high percentage of clay, so the tightness of the soil causes the infiltration of rainwater to be slow, Parrish explained. During heavy rain falls, water washes various contaminants off vehicles, buildings, streets and parking lots into storm drains that feed into the natural waterways.
“Sediment runoff can bring with it many natural and toxic components that can cause harm to stream ecosystems,” said Steve Edlavitch, environmental engineer for DLA Installation Support’s Environmental Branch.
“Sediment-laden runoff containing fertilizers add nitrogen and phosphorous into the … ecosystem. These nutrients cause massive algae growth that leads to depletion in oxygen available for other creatures and decreasing the biodiversity in those affected areas. Runoff laden with agricultural sediments also leads to algae blooms that block the sunlight and hurt its ability to thrive,” Edlavitch said.
The bioretention units help by slowing down storm water runoff, causing sediments to settle out before entering the local waterways, he said.
“These units, which total nearly 8,000 square feet in size, are soil and plant-based filtration mechanisms that naturally remove pollutants and detain storm water, allowing it to soak into the ground,” Edlavitch said. “We tried to build these units where the storm water runoff would naturally collect. We used [material] such as mulch, fine gravel and clean top soil that are especially good at filtering out contaminants.”
Edlavitch added that the environmental branch also planted specific species of native plants that are known for their ability to draw in moisture to help absorb runoff.
“It’s really an all-natural process,” he said.
Parrish said the bioretention units help the environment in several ways.
“They allow more rainwater to actually infiltrate into the soils of the installation. By using nature’s unique filtration process as a means of keeping contaminants out of the storm water runoff and, subsequently, out of nearby waterways,” he said. “Many of the plants will [also] attract butterflies and pollinating bees.
“Mother Nature always has the ability to keep her environment clean,” he added. “We’re just giving her a helping hand.”
| Date Taken: | 08.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2011 08:56 |
| Story ID: | 75901 |
| Location: | RICHMOND, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DLA Installation Support builds natural filtration ponds at Richmond base, by Trinace Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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