Lightweight Brings Exceptional Particulate Filtration to Subsurface Stormwater Chambers
Key Insights:
Quick Facts
- Name: Airport MINI of Cleveland
- Location: Brook Park, Ohio
- Customer: Independence Construction
- Size: 14,425 square feet
Challenge: The project needed an effective stormwater management solution to handle runoff, particularly focusing on phosphorus sorption to prevent algae blooms in nearby Lake Erie.
How Lightweight Helps
- Our Solution: Lightweight expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) aggregates were used as a base for nearly 50 StormTech MC-3500 chambers. The chambers were embedded in a granular lightweight aggregate envelope to enhance particulate filtration and phosphorus sorption.
- Why Lightweight Works: ESCS lightweight aggregates offer a porous structure that improves stormwater filtration, increases water storage, and enhances phosphorus sorption, making it an ideal solution for environmental concerns related to runoff.
Final Results
- The project successfully incorporated advanced stormwater management that not only meets but exceeds regulatory requirements for phosphorus filtration.
Key Quote
“…lightweight aggregate…offers unparalleled benefits in both filtration and phosphorus sorption, ensuring the system meets environmental requirements while being cost-effective.”
Context:
- Considerations: Lake Erie has a history of toxic algae blooms, making phosphorus management critical. The lightweight aggregates used in the project provide a long-term solution for these environmental concerns.
- Lesson to Learn: Utilizing lightweight aggregates can provide both structural and environmental benefits in stormwater management systems, especially in areas prone to runoff-related pollution.
Lightweight Brings Exceptional Particulate Filtration to Subsurface Stormwater Chambers
The use of lightweight aggregates in stormwater management systems is gaining attention for their enhanced filtration capabilities and ability to address environmental concerns like phosphorus (P) runoff. One example is the $5-million Airport MINI of Cleveland dealership located in Brook Park, Ohio, which incorporates expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) aggregates to improve the performance of its stormwater management system.
The Airport MINI dealership, built on a former storage lot, spans 3.6 acres and includes a 265-space shared parking lot. With growing concerns over stormwater management and phosphorus pollution—issues exacerbated by toxic algae blooms in nearby Lake Erie—the project needed to integrate a system that could effectively filter stormwater runoff while adhering to local environmental regulations.
As a redevelopment project, the dealership was only required to manage 20% of the stormwater volume mandated by Ohio’s water quality standards. However, given the area’s history with phosphorus pollution, including the 2014 water crisis in Toledo, the project’s designers sought to implement a system that would go beyond the minimum requirements and offer superior phosphorus sorption.
Innovative Stormwater Solution Using Lightweight Aggregates
To tackle this issue, Independence Construction, in partnership with StormTech, Inc. (a division of Advanced Drainage Systems), installed nearly 50 MC-3500 chambers at the site.
The chambers were placed on a bed of nine inches of expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) and covered with 12 inches of lightweight aggregate.
The lightweight aggregate provided not only structural support but also enhanced the system’s ability to filter particulates and absorb phosphorus, offering long-term environmental benefits. This unique application of ESCS aggregates, known for their porous structure, helps mitigate phosphorus runoff, a major contributor to harmful algae blooms in bodies of water like Lake Erie.
Phosphorus Sorption and Environmental Protection
Concerns over phosphorus (P) loading have become a significant issue in regions around Lake Erie, where phosphorus runoff contributes to the formation of toxic algae blooms. The 2014 Toledo water crisis, which resulted in the shutdown of the city’s water treatment plant for three days, underscored the urgency of finding effective stormwater management solutions.
Lightweight aggregates like ESCS have proven to be highly effective in absorbing phosphorus, providing a buffer against P runoff in both urban and suburban environments. For the Airport MINI dealership project, the incorporation of lightweight aggregate in the stormwater chambers not only improved particulate filtration but also helped address regional environmental concerns.
The Airport MINI of Cleveland project is a prime example of how lightweight aggregates can be effectively integrated into stormwater management systems to enhance both filtration and environmental protection. By utilizing ESCS aggregates, the project not only meets but exceeds stormwater requirements, addressing critical issues like phosphorus sorption that have far-reaching environmental impacts.
About StormTech
StormTech, Inc., a division of Advanced Drainage Systems, is based in Rocky Hill, CT. Established in 2002, the company is a leader in producing subsurface stormwater chambers for parking lots, roadways, and heavy earth loads. These systems provide a cost-effective means to maximize land use while offering robust stormwater management solutions.
