When it Rains it Stores: Methods for Monitoring Green Stormwater Infrastructure from Philadelphia's Green City, Clean Waters Program.

Stephen White, EIT – Philadelphia Water Department Chris Bergerson – Philadelphia Water Department

GREEN CITY,CLEAN WATERS The City of Philadelphia’s Program for Combined Sewer Overflow Control

$2.4 Billion Investment over the next 25 years

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Traditional Infrastructure

Adaptive Management

$1.67 Billion

$354 million

$420 Million

PWD’s initial plan for performing monitoring of natural and engineered systems associated with our Green City, Clean Waters program and addresses the monitoring and assessment of surface waters, groundwater, rainfall, CSO discharges, sewer flows, and green infrastructure performance.

Green City, Clean Waters Comprehensive Monitoring Plan

Consent Order & Agreement: Deliverable III Submitted to: PA DEP December 1, 2012

Why Monitor Green Infrastructure 1. Evaluate Green Infrastructure Performance

2. Inform Future Designs

3. Inform Maintenance

4. Compliance

How are Monitoring Sites & Activities Selected?

Coordination with Pilot Program

Identifies •Stormwater Management Practice (SMP) type •Variables (or Conditions) in projects •Questions about the projects and how variables impact SMP effectiveness

SMPTypeId SMPTypeName 1 Stormwater Tree Trench 2 Stormwater Planter 3 Stormwater Bumpout 4 Rain Garden 5 Stormwater Basin 6 Infiltration/Storage Trench 7 Pervious Paving 8 Swale 9 Stormwater Wetland

12 Other

SMP Type of Monitored SMP(s)

SMP Type of PWD’s SMP(s)

Continuous Water Level Monitoring

Infiltration & Slow Release

Image by Louis Cook (PWD)

Continuous Water Level Monitoring Sites

Barometric Sensor Network

ASTM C1701/C1701M – 09 Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of In Place Pervious Concrete

Surface Infiltration Rate Testing of Pervious/Porous Surfaces

Simulated Runoff Test (SRT)

Simulated Runoff Test 1801120130530

Simulated Runoff Testing Sites

Surface Infiltration Rate Testing of Pervious/Porous Surfaces

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Data Management Model

SRT 1801120130530

•Estimated recession rate for SRT is 178 cf/hr •Volume of water applied 459 CF

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SRT 1801120130530 Reese Street Tree Trench (PennVEST) SMP# 180-1-1

Corrected Water Depth (ft) Field Notes Sump Depth Totalizer Reading

Soil Surface Infiltration Rate

Falling Head Tests ASTM Standards – ASTM D3385 and D5093

Low Cost GSI Monitoring Sensors

• What if we have to monitor hundreds of GSI sites?

• Budget and manpower constraints

• This is the 21st century

• Applications for both green and gray infrastructure

• Potential use in STEM education

STEM Education: Solar Sunflower

STEM Education: Snakes on a Playground

Nebinger Elementary School

Ping Floyd – The Well

Ping Floyd v2.0, a.k.a. Pong Floyd • Infrared distance

sensor • Range up to 5 meters • Compatible with slotted

observation well • Detects ping pong balls

floating at the bottom of the well

• Logs water level data to SD memory card

Thanks to PWD Everyone in the Office

of Watersheds

Questions? Contributors Jason Cruz Alexandra Atiyeh Alex Warwood Matthew Fritch Tommy Thompson Edward Lennon James Knighton