THE LIFE-CYCLE COSTS THE LIFE-CYCLE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF RAIN AND BENEFITS OF RAIN

GARDENS IN GARDENS IN MINNESOTAMINNESOTA

Chris Hartzell & Joe Chris Hartzell & Joe NietfeldNietfeld

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Rain GardensRain Gardens

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

RELEVANCERELEVANCE

MinnesotaMinnesota Push from communities and watershed Push from communities and watershed

management organizations to utilize rain water management organizations to utilize rain water gardensgardens

Incomplete or incomprehensible studies have Incomplete or incomprehensible studies have been done so far regarding rain water gardensbeen done so far regarding rain water gardens

DevelopmentDevelopment Cities are encouraging developers to utilize rain Cities are encouraging developers to utilize rain

gardens versus traditional storm sewer through gardens versus traditional storm sewer through the use of an incentivethe use of an incentive

Cities need to quantify benefit to their communityCities need to quantify benefit to their community

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Advantage of Rain GardensAdvantage of Rain Gardens Cheaper to build versus traditional Cheaper to build versus traditional

storm water conveyance methodsstorm water conveyance methods Greater beauty with a well maintained Greater beauty with a well maintained

gardengarden Recharges groundwater locallyRecharges groundwater locally Takes pollutants out of storm water Takes pollutants out of storm water

runoffrunoff Return to pre-development hydrologyReturn to pre-development hydrology

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

Disadvantage of Rain GardensDisadvantage of Rain Gardens Poor construction methods allow mosquitoes to Poor construction methods allow mosquitoes to

breedbreed City or resident does not follow through on City or resident does not follow through on

maintenance activitiesmaintenance activities Necessity for more landNecessity for more land Loss of land valueLoss of land value Only handle small storm water runoff eventsOnly handle small storm water runoff events They don’t provide flood controlThey don’t provide flood control Bio-retention is started after homes are builtBio-retention is started after homes are built Long-term benefits have not been studiedLong-term benefits have not been studied

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

PROBLEM STATEMENTPROBLEM STATEMENT

Since rain gardens are a relatively Since rain gardens are a relatively new concept, little is known about new concept, little is known about their long-term maintenance costs their long-term maintenance costs relative to traditional storm water relative to traditional storm water management practicesmanagement practices

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

PROBLEM STATEMENTPROBLEM STATEMENT

Infrastructure Systems Engineering Infrastructure Systems Engineering (ISE) practices such as life cycle cost (ISE) practices such as life cycle cost and cost benefit analysis could be and cost benefit analysis could be applied to rain gardens to evaluate applied to rain gardens to evaluate them over their entire life from them over their entire life from design to construction to long term design to construction to long term maintenancemaintenance

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effectiveness of rain Evaluate the effectiveness of rain gardens over their life cycles gardens over their life cycles relative to a traditional storm water relative to a traditional storm water management systemmanagement system

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

COSTS AND BENEFITSCOSTS AND BENEFITS Life Cycle CostsLife Cycle Costs

Design Design ConstructionConstruction Quality ControlQuality Control Long Term MaintenanceLong Term Maintenance

BenefitsBenefits Pollutant RemovalPollutant Removal Storm water reductionStorm water reduction

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

PARAMETERS AFFECTING PARAMETERS AFFECTING COSTCOST

Soil ConditionsSoil Conditions HydrologyHydrology LocationLocation Infiltration RatesInfiltration Rates Plant SpeciesPlant Species Land PricesLand Prices

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

EXPECTED PRODUCTEXPECTED PRODUCT

To be used as a…To be used as a… Storm Water Management ToolStorm Water Management Tool

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities DevelopersDevelopers

Decision Making ToolDecision Making Tool Will rain gardens work in the communityWill rain gardens work in the community Determine incentives to give to developersDetermine incentives to give to developers

“ A detailed “Best Uses” Guide showing the most effective uses of rain gardens from a life cycle perspective

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ISE 8105: Capstone DesignISE 8105: Capstone DesignInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInfrastructure Systems EngineeringInstructor: Vaughn VollerInstructor: Vaughn Voller

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?