A Resource for Water Quality Treatment
As part of Solid Green Day on October 27th, students and staff volunteered to replant and provide maintenance to a bioretention basin capturing runoff from Lot E-21.
Bioretention basins are engineered, landscaped depressions that receive and treat stormwater runoff. Parking lot runoff is filtered through vegetation, sand beds, and organic layers of planting soil to capture and break down pollutants before entering the drainage system. Several volunteers assisted by spreading out new sand, compost mixture, and installing several native plant species. In addition to removing pollutants such as nutrients, metals, and pathogens, bioretention basins with native vegetation provide habitat, flood control, and groundwater recharge.
A Teachable Moment
The final improvements not only brought new life to the bioretention basin but offered an educational opportunity in water quality best management practices to participants. It also serves as another demonstration site for green infrastructure on campus. This activity was led by Clemson Extension Water Resource Agent Haley Parent, with assistance from University Facilities. Our Landscape Services department donated the native plants, while sand and compost were sourced from Utility Services.
Leaving an Impression
The time and hard work put in by the volunteers amounted to a much-needed upgrade. Their concerted effort transformed the existing basin into a more effective means of preventing unwanted pollutants from entering the water system. Anyone familiar with the basin will instantly recognize the significant improvement right away.
Here is a shot of the bioretention basin prior to start of work.
And here is a photo of the basin once the volunteers had completed the task. Note the system of plants, rocks, and soil that work together to filter the stormwater.
