Storm Water Infiltration Helps Replenish Aquifer at Guelph Wal-Mart

As a result of its proximity and initial dependence to the Speed River, the city of Guelph, Ontario is similar to other watershed communities where urban development has impacted the river’s ecology and functioning. Today, the community relies on groundwater to replenish its drinking water supply. Recently, a CULTEC storm water management system was installed at a new Wal-Mart site to help recharge Guelph’s aquifer. In addition, the existing municipal storm sewers were at capacity, prior to the Wal-Mart site development. Through storage of storm water in the CULTEC system, the site discharge rate was reduced and improvements to the municipal storm sewer were not required.

Commercial development inherently causes changes to the environment by creating impervious surfaces such as parking lots and roofs. During snow and rainfall events, storm water runoff is displaced by these areas, preventing natural infiltration into the soil. CULTEC underground storm water retention/detention systems work to capture and treat runoff to prevent pollution to the natural groundwater.

Engineers from Pitura Husson approved the CULTEC system, which consisted of 1,380 Recharger 330 HD chambers configured in eight storage beds. The Recharger chambers are dome-shaped with perforated sidewalls and fully open bottoms to allow for maximum infiltration. In addition, placed at the front of the system were nine CULTEC Stormfilter 400 In-Line Filters, plastic water quality units consisting of a series of pass-through filters to remove debris, silt and fines from storm water. Together, the CULTEC products form an effective storm water best management practice with underground installation that will maximize useable land area.

“The installation of the system was straightforward and a CULTEC representative was onsite to help with any questions we may have had,” said Joe Monteiro, the project’s subcontractor from Terra-Alta Construction Limited. “The entire process took less time than originally anticipated—less than a full day with only three workers.”

Source: CULTEC